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MacGill P.C.
Notre Dame Law School, 2017
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
I decided to become a lawyer to help others. Our clients face business “making or breaking” disputes. They need to hire a skilled advocate to handle their issues. I enjoy filling this role and using our team to solve our clients’ most difficult problems.
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
I would probably be a consultant — I studied consulting as an undergraduate. This has come in handy in the day-to-day running of our law firm, where I put the organizational development concepts I learned to good use.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received in the law?
Every action we take in litigation should be prepared with a question in mind: How will this help persuade the court and the jury? There are no “throw away” motions, discovery proceedings or even sentences in a brief. Everything we submit in a case — from the simplest discovery request to the most complicated summary judgment brief — is prepared with intention and with this question at the forefront. It makes a difference.
Do you have a secret talent?
It’s no secret, but I was the president of the marching band at Vanderbilt University. I traveled around the country with the football and basketball teams playing my sousaphone with my 200 closest friends. Those years remain some of the most fun of my life.
What do you enjoy about litigation?
My favorite part of commercial litigation has been learning a great deal about a disparate series of industries. I have litigated high-stakes cases regarding agrochemicals, airplanes, railroads, fiber optics, multiple listing services, racecars, streaming movies, banks, construction and many other topics. Over the lifespan of each case, I develop a deep knowledge of the underlying industry. Because no two matters are alike, each presents a unique opportunity to expand my knowledge. It is impossible to be bored in this job.
Tell us about your work with Trinity Free Clinic.
I began volunteering with Trinity Free Clinic during the height of the COVID pandemic, working to administer COVID tests and vaccines on behalf of the state and county. Through this time, the clinic provided more than 18,000 COVID tests and 9,000 vaccines to Indiana citizens. As I volunteered, I learned more about the clinic’s mission: to provide health services to the uninsured and underinsured residents of Hamilton County. I continued volunteering post-pandemic, and I joined the board as its secretary. It is gratifying to put my legal skills to work for such a deserving cause, with volunteers working daily to make their community a better, healthier place — in 2022, we had over 13,000 patient visits.
How do you spend your free time?
I enjoy biking on the Monon, camping, listening to audiobooks, and traveling to see friends and family.
What makes a good lawyer?
A good lawyer needs to be able to share his or her knowledge with those entering the profession. It’s impossible to do this job (well) by yourself. I find mentoring younger associates and teaching them how to be litigators in a hands-on environment to be quite rewarding. I am fortunate that my role allows me to help each of our new associates grow into their roles of lawyers and advocates.
Who is someone who has mentored you in your career?
My partner, Rob MacGill, has mentored me since I entered private practice. Rob and I represent Fortune 500 companies across the country in high-stakes trial and appellate matters. He has taught me to tenaciously advocate for our clients no matter what is thrown at us in the years we spend developing the factual record for our matters. I have enjoyed learning from Rob how to develop deep connections with our clients and our witnesses — they know they are getting passionate representation from lawyers who believe in their cases.•
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