Lawson
(courtesy
photo)
Over
the
course
of
the
past
several
years,
law
firm
leaders
have
too
often
found
themselves
dealing
with
difficult
situations
on
multiple
fronts,
all
at
the
same
time.
From
political
strife
to
natural
disasters,
the
leaders
of
some
of
our
nation’s
largest
law
firms
have
had
to
deal
with
near-constant
disruptions,
all
the
while
figuring
out
how
to
put
their
firms
in
the
best
place
for
the
future.
What’s
it
like
behind
the
scenes
at
one
of
these
firms?
How
can
a
managing
partner
lead
with
action,
instead
of
mere
optics?
Who
better
to
ask
than
the
leader
of
a
prominent
law
firm?
I
recently
had
the
pleasure
of
chatting
with Kristina
Lawson,
managing
partner
of
Hanson
Bridgett
—
one
of
the
largest
California-based
Am
Law
200
firms
—
to
get
her
thoughts
on
the
matter.
As
a
former
mayor
and
current
Chair
of
the
Bay
Area
Council,
Lawson
is
someone
who
truly
understands
how
the
legal
profession
intersects
with
California’s
most
pressing
challenges,
including
wildfires,
political
volatility,
regulatory
gridlock,
and
now
protests
tied
to
recent
ICE
raids.
Here
is
a
(lightly
edited
and
condensed)
write-up
of
our
lively
conversation
on
law
firm
leadership
during
challenging
times.
Staci
Zaretsky
(SZ):
As
the
first
woman
to
serve
as
managing
partner
of
the
firm,
how
do
you
think
your
leadership
differs
from
that
of
your
predecessors?
Kristina
Lawsom
(KL):
While
I’m
proud
to
be
the
first
woman
to
serve
as
managing
partner
of
Hanson
Bridgett,
I
don’t
view
leadership
through
a
gender
lens.
I’ve
had
the
benefit
of
learning
from
my
predecessor,
Andrew
Giacomini,
who
led
the
firm
for
nearly
two
decades.
His
tenure
provided
a
strong
foundation,
and
I’ve
worked
to
build
on
his
legacy
by
bringing
my
own
perspective,
priorities,
and
strengths
to
the
role.
I
am
deeply
committed
to
collaboration,
creating
opportunity,
and
staying
true
to
our
values.
I
focus
on
fostering
meaningful
relationships
—
within
the
firm,
in
our
communities,
and
with
our
clients
—
and
empowering
people
at
every
level
of
the
firm
to
lead
and
succeed.
I
believe
in
values-based
leadership
that
drives
all
that
we
do.
That
approach
has
led
to
our
continued
growth
and
success
—
and
it
reflects
the
kind
of
leader
I’ve
always
strived
to
be.
SZ:
From
wildfires
to
ICE
raids,
how
is
your
experience
as
a
former
California
mayor
impacting
the
way
you’re
guiding
the
firm
through
the
state’s
latest
turbulence?
KL:
As
a
proud
Californian
and
former
mayor,
I
know
that
crisis
leadership
requires
empathy,
clarity,
and
action.
Our
communities
have
faced
enormous
challenges
—
from
wildfires
to
economic
instability
to
political
unrest
—
and
those
events
demand
not
just
legal
guidance
but
strong
leadership.
My
experience
in
public
service
has
certainly
helped
shape
and
inform
my
community-oriented
approach
and
leadership
style.
When
ICE
raids
affected
California
employers
earlier
this
year,
our
team
moved
quickly.
We
published
legal
alerts,
hosted
an
open-access
webinar
for
employers,
and
made
sure
resources
were
available
to
clients
and
the
greater
business
community.
During
the
wildfires
in
Southern
California,
we
opened
our
offices
as
places
of
refuge,
launched
a
fire
relief
program
for
affected
employees,
and
mobilized
our
pro
bono
team
to
support
recovery
efforts.
This
work
reflects
a
core
belief:
law
firms
have
a
role
—
and
a
responsibility
—
to
play
in
helping
communities
weather
disruption.
We
lead
with
values,
we
act
quickly,
and
we
show
up.
We
view
our
firm
as
part
of
the
fabric
of
California,
embedded
in
the
communities
we
serve.
SZ:
Please
tell
me
a
little
more
about
your
values-based
leadership
at
the
firm,
and
how
you’re
showing
up
to
assist
lawyers
and
staff
members.
KL:
Our
strategic
plan
describes
how
we
are
“Leading
the
way.”
For
me,
that
doesn’t
just
mean
setting
an
example;
it
means
letting
your
values
guide
you
and
creating
opportunity
for
others
to
succeed.
Values-based
leadership
means
we
always
ground
our
decisions
in
integrity,
respect,
and
collaboration.
Those
aren’t
just
words
—
they’re
our
guideposts,
especially
in
challenging
moments.
I
show
up
by
listening
to
our
people,
being
present,
and
creating
space
for
honest
conversation.
Whether
you’re
a
first-year
associate
or
a
longtime
member
of
our
operations
team,
my
goal
is
for
everyone
to
feel
respected,
supported,
and
empowered
to
grow.
We
invest
in
professional
development,
expand
access
to
leadership
opportunities,
and
foster
an
inclusive
culture
where
people
can
bring
their
whole
selves
to
work.
It
also
means
being
bold
when
it
matters.
During
the
wildfires
this
year,
we
didn’t
hesitate
—
we
acted
quickly
to
care
for
our
employees
and
our
community.
In
less
tumultuous
moments,
we
keep
pushing
forward,
embracing
new
ideas,
and
holding
each
other
accountable
to
our
shared
goals.
Ultimately,
values-based
leadership
is
a
journey.
It’s
about
evolving,
listening,
and
never
losing
sight
of
what
matters
most:
our
people
and
our
purpose.
SZ:
You’ve
spoken
publicly
about
the
responsibility
of
law
firm
leaders
to
defend
the
rule
of
law
and
democratic
institutions.
How
has
that
commitment
shaped
your
leadership
in
today’s
political
climate?
KL:
For
me,
as
a
lawyer,
defending
the
rule
of
law
is
pretty
straightforward
—
and
it’s
not
political.
You
either
stand
up
for
what’s
right,
or
you
stay
silent.
I
believe
deeply
in
the
rule
of
law
and
the
strength
of
our
democracy.
So
for
me,
silence
isn’t
an
option.
While
I
respect
differing
viewpoints,
I
also
recognize
that
the
legal
profession
carries
a
unique
responsibility
to
safeguard
democratic
institutions
and
ensure
access
to
justice.
Law
firm
leaders
must
lead
by
example
and
be
willing
to
speak
out
and
act
in
accordance
with
those
values.
Thankfully,
I’m
not
alone.
Committing
to
uphold
the
rule
of
law
isn’t
situational,
it’s
foundational.
In
today’s
political
climate,
it’s
more
important
than
ever
that
we
don’t
lose
sight
of
our
oath.
In
terms
of
how
that’s
shaped
my
leadership,
I’ve
placed
greater
focus
on
creating
space
for
honest
dialogue,
offering
a
steady
voice
in
uncertain
times,
and
speaking
up
with
courage
when
it
matters
most.
I
believe
that
can
play
a
big
role
in
inspiring
confidence
in
us
as
leaders.
SZ:
Many
firms
are
reassessing
the
future
of
diversity
and
inclusion
amid
political
backlash.
How
has
Hanson
Bridgett
responded?
KL:
At
Hanson
Bridgett,
DEI
isn’t
performative
—
it’s
core
to
who
we
are
and
more
important
now
than
ever.
We’ve
built
a
workplace
where
diversity
is
celebrated,
where
belonging
is
cultivated,
and
where
our
policies
reflect
our
values.
When
the
political
climate
turned
hostile,
we
didn’t
back
down.
In
fact,
we
doubled
down,
because
we
know
that
inclusion
drives
better
outcomes
for
our
people,
our
clients,
and
the
profession.
Our
DEI
programs
comply
with
the
law
and
are
rooted
in
real
needs.
Take
our
associate
sabbatical
program:
it
began
as
a
response
to
data
showing
that
women
attorneys
were
disproportionately
leaving
the
profession
during
the
pandemic.
Now,
it
benefits
all
high-performing
associates,
helping
prevent
burnout
and
improving
retention
across
the
board.
We
also
continue
to
collect
and
act
on
data,
invest
in
professional
development,
and
listen
to
feedback
across
the
firm.
Our
people
and
clients
expect
leadership
on
these
issues.
And
we’ve
heard
from
law
students,
candidates,
and
longtime
colleagues
that
they
appreciate
our
consistency
and
courage.
We
won’t
let
political
winds
dictate
our
values.
We
believe
in
fairness,
opportunity,
and
the
power
of
diverse
perspectives.
That’s
not
changing
—
and
neither
are
we.
On
behalf
of
everyone
here
at
Above
the
Law,
we’d
like
to
thank
Kristina
Lawson
of
Hanson
Bridgett
for
taking
the
time
to
help
answer
some
pressing
questions
on
the
challenges
involved
with
running
a
law
firm
during
an
era
of
upheaval.
Staci
Zaretsky is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
can
follow
her
on Bluesky, X/Twitter,
and Threads, or
connect
with
her
on LinkedIn.