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Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, 2015
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
Having played college baseball, I have always loved the sport—even after my playing days were over. Had I not pursued a legal career, I would have pursued working in the front office of a Major League Baseball team.
Who is someone who has inspired you in your career?
My wife. We met in our first year of law school, and she also practices in Indianapolis. She pushes me to become a better father, husband and lawyer every day.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Take ownership in everything you do and always ask why. Young lawyers constantly receive new information and instruction on how to do things. I was fortunate to receive the advice to question everything and not rely 100% on what I’m told without vetting it first. Because at the end of the day it’s my name behind any work product.
What makes a good lawyer/judge?
A good lawyer takes the time to understand his or her client’s needs and goals, rather than assuming them, and then uses this information to provide concise and pragmatic advice. Second, in an age where responsiveness is demanded, a good lawyer understands when to take the time to analyze a question or issue rather than jumping to an incomplete or incorrect conclusion solely for the sake of quickly responding.
What is something you wish people knew about lawyers?
Not all lawyers are adversarial. Most are able to assist clients in achieving common business goals with a counterparty while also protecting their client’s interests.
Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment you’ve had in your career.
As a young lawyer, I learned not to rely solely on what someone was telling you just because he or she is older than you or has been practicing law longer than you. I learned quickly that it’s up to me to take ownership in my work, uncover the truth, vet any information myself and ask why.
Tell us something surprising about you.
While playing quarterback for my high school football team, I threw an interception and the defender ran 85 yards the wrong way for a safety (two points) in favor of our team. I can confidently say that I threw an interception that helped our team. I’d like to say that we won the game because of this, but we still lost.
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
When I was 7 years old, my late grandfather was sworn in as a judge in Delaware County, Indiana. I had the honor of holding the Bible as he was sworn in. Being part of this moment was one of my earliest memories, and I think it served as the starting point to entering the legal profession.
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