Tony
Froio
(courtesy
photo)
Many
lawyers
hope
to
be
able
to
someday
handle
a
trial
from
start
to
finish,
but
not
many
are
able
to
do
so
because
of
the
way
their
firms
are
structured.
How,
then,
can
a
would-be
trial
attorney
gain
the
skills
that
are
needed
to
make
their
dreams
come
true?
I
recently
had
the
pleasure
of
chatting
with
Anthony
Froio,
managing
partner
of
Am
Law
200
firm
Robins
Kaplan,
to
get
his
thoughts
on
the
matter.
Here
is
a
(lightly
edited
and
condensed)
write-up
of
our
lively
conversation
on
what
attorneys
may
experience
when
working
at
a
trial-focused
Biglaw
firm.
Staci
Zaretsky
(SZ):
After
spending
three
decades
at
Robins
Kaplan,
I’d
love
you
to
tell
me
about
some
of
the
benefits
of
working
at
a
true
trial
firm
like
the
one
you
now
lead.
Tony
Froio
(TF):
There
are
numerous
advantages
to
working
at
a
trial-focused
firm.
Firstly,
our
partnership
is
deeply
committed
to
trial
excellence,
investing
significant
time
and
resources
in
training
lawyers
at
all
levels
to
ensure
proficiency
in
every
phase
of
trial
proceedings.
Through
our
dedication
to
alternative
fee
arrangements,
we
provide
clients
with
access
to
trial
opportunities
that
may
otherwise
be
unattainable.
We
prioritize
assembling
diverse
and
dynamic
trial
teams,
ensuring
that
the
best
team
is
matched
with
each
client
and
case
to
deliver
optimal
results.
Furthermore,
we
empower
young
lawyers
by
offering
them
opportunities
to
contribute
meaningfully
to
cases,
including
active
involvement
in
trial
proceedings.
Our
firm
boasts
one
of
the
most
comprehensive
trial
skills
training
programs
available,
allowing
our
lawyers
to
refine
their
skills
and
apply
them
effectively
in
real-world
cases.
In
addition,
our
firm’s
Minneapolis
office
houses
a
dedicated
courtroom,
providing
our
attorneys
with
the
invaluable
opportunity
to
practice
trial
proceedings
in
a
real
courtroom
environment.
SZ:
Many
Biglaw
associates
find
it
difficult
to
gain
experience
handling
matters
from
start
to
finish
early
on
in
their
careers.
How
does
your
firm
differ
in
this
regard?
TF:
Compared
to
many
Biglaw
firms
where
associates
may
struggle
to
gain
experience
handling
matters
from
start
to
finish,
we
take
a
proactive
approach
to
staffing
our
cases
with
an
eye
toward
the
actual
trial.
We
carefully
balance
expertise,
diversity,
and
skill
sets
when
assigning
teams
to
cases,
ensuring
every
member
has
a
meaningful
role
to
play.
Our
partners
are
committed
to
not
only
staffing
cases
appropriately,
but
also
to
keeping
the
entire
team
engaged
throughout
the
case’s
development.
This
commitment
serves
both
our
clients’
interests
and
our
goal
of
providing
young
lawyers
with
opportunities
to
play
key
roles
in
the
full
spectrum
of
case
management.
Of
course,
we
prioritize
client
and
case
budgets,
recognizing
their
critical
importance
in
this
process.
By
staffing
with
the
whole
case
in
mind,
we
offer
associates
unparalleled
opportunities
to
gain
hands-on
experience
and
contribute
to
matters
from
inception
to
resolution.
SZ:
Mentorship
is
incredibly
important
for
young
lawyers,
but
some
are
struggling
to
make
connections
within
their
firms.
As
a
mentorship
maven,
how
can
partners
best
guide
Biglaw’s
future
rainmakers?
TF:
Partners
can
best
guide
future
rainmakers
by
actively
involving
young
lawyers
in
cases
from
start
to
finish,
allowing
them
to
gain
firsthand
experience
in
all
aspects
of
case
management.
Partners
should
introduce
young
lawyers
to
clients
as
key
team
members,
providing
them
with
lead
roles
on
significant
assignments
with
clients’
approval.
By
offering
leadership
roles
on
assignments
such
as
motion
hearings,
depositions,
and
other
meaningful
casework,
partners
can
empower
young
lawyers
to
take
ownership
of
their
professional
development.
It’s
crucial
to
make
them
integral
and
valuable
members
of
the
team.
Additionally,
partners
should
prioritize
including
young
lawyers
in
pitch
opportunities
and
industry
group
presentations,
which
provide
tangible
experiences
that
foster
their
growth
as
future
leaders
in
the
firm
and
encourage
and
reward
the
development
of
their
own
business
plans.
On
behalf
of
everyone
here
at
Above
the
Law,
we’d
like
to
thank
Tony
Froio
for
taking
the
time
to
help
answer
some
pressing
career
questions
for
prospective
trial
attorneys.
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
X/Twitter
and
Threads
or
connect
with
her
on
LinkedIn.