Page 68 - NYLJ Professional Excellence 2021

DISTINGUISHED LEADERS

always waiting around the corner. An example is the recent
coalition we formed to address the appallingly low numbers
THOMAS M. of Latino judges in the Court of Claims. After having met with
the governor's representative, we feel positive that change
OLIVA will be forthcoming, but if it doesn’t, we have formed bonds
among us that will bear fruit in the future.

Name a lawyer or mentor whose leadership inspired you. I
Attorney at Peña & Khan will name two for the similar reasons. They are the Hon. Sallie
Manzanet-Daniels, Associate Justice of the New York Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department, and
the Hon. Carmen R. Velasquez, Supreme Court of the State of
What are some of your proudest recent achievements? New York, Queens County-Civil Term Part 38. Both are relent-
less pursuers of truth and advancing the cause of the under-
W hat I am most proud of is the continued represented. I met Sallie as we were both entering Hofstra Law
School together. She was the first president of the Latino Law
reaching out to other affinity Bar Associa-
tions to work towards common goals. So
Student Association at Hofstra and I was the first vice-presi-
often our organizations retreat to our own
Carmen is a past president of the LLAQ, of which I am the cur-
corners trying to corner the market on dent. I got a front row seat to her brand of promoting causes.
certain goals for fear of being co-opted. It rent president. Her continued counsel on sensitive matters has
takes a level of trust building and honest helped guide me and the organization through difficult times.
brokering to get competing organizations to see they are not
really competitors but are working toward common goals. How are the business and profession of law changing, and
Not every joint venture brings about guaranteed change but how should lawyers adapt for the future? If one thing has
the very act of getting different groups together prepares become clear in the last year, it is that nothing is static and
us for the next challenge, which as time has taught me is change is always, sometimes violently, on the march. As a result,
my counsel is to never fear to reinvent yourself. If my history is
correct, both Darwin and Lincoln thought they were washed up
long before their most important achievements were to occur.
Mental flexibility and acceptance, I find, is a help. I can’t say I am
always good at it but I try to see how I can be of service, do the
next right thing and understand what it is that I cannot change.

What is the best advice for someone considering a career
in law, or someone already in the profession who is seek-
ing to make a greater impact? Be prepared to be challenged
daily. Be prepared to work in one of the most people-intensive
industries in the world. Remember that the person who walks
through your door is often someone who feels he or she has
been hurt, aggrieved, or otherwise mistreated, or has done
wrong to others and you have to be able to advise and manage
expectations through your advice. Yes, it is quite challenging
but quite worth it. Be prepared to protect yourself morally,
spiritually and physically. With respect to looking towards mak-
ing an impact, I suggest the following: Appreciate how small
adventures in networking in early years lead to large results
in the future. It’s like making a snowman. You start by rolling
a small snowball slowly and eventually it builds up. As long as
you keep moving forward, getting involved, going to events,
and sharing just a little of your time here and there, you will
look back in 5 to 10 years and see a mountain of connections
that will be the foundation of many achievements. So often it
is the little things you have done that you will find adds up.

66 October 2021 | Photo: Peña & Khan