<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Some career stories unfold neatly. <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#'>Andrea N. Rivers</a> story isn’t one of them, and that’s exactly why it resonates. This week on the <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#'>SideBar Advisors</a> Podcast, I sat down with Andrea, an associate in the Antitrust &amp; Competition group at <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#'>Baker McKenzie</a>, whose path into law has been shaped by grit, community, and a whole lot of real-life juggling. In this episode we talk about:  ⚖️ How she handled working full time through law school  🌱 The mentors who opened doors early on 💼 Navigating career moves between Akin Gump, Axinn, and now Baker McKenzie 🤝 Co-founding Black JD, Inc. to support first-gen and underrepresented pre-law students 👶 Balancing new motherhood with a demanding legal career For newer attorneys and JD candidates trying to find their footing, Andrea’s story is a candid look at the realities of starting out in Big Law.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Some career stories unfold neatly. &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Andrea N. Rivers&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; story isn’t one of them, and that’s exactly why it resonates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This week on the &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#'&gt;&lt;b&gt;SideBar Advisors&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Podcast, I sat down with Andrea, an associate in the Antitrust &amp;amp; Competition group at &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Baker McKenzie&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, whose path into law has been shaped by grit, community, and a whole lot of real-life juggling.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode we talk about:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; ⚖️ How she handled working full time through law school &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 🌱 The mentors who opened doors early on&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 💼 Navigating career moves between Akin Gump, Axinn, and now Baker McKenzie&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 🤝 Co-founding Black JD, Inc. to support first-gen and underrepresented pre-law students&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 👶 Balancing new motherhood with a demanding legal career&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For newer attorneys and JD candidates trying to find their footing, Andrea’s story is a candid look at the realities of starting out in Big Law. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Some career stories unfold neatly. Andrea N. Rivers story isn’t one of them, and that’s exactly why it resonates.   This week on the SideBar Advisors Podcast, I sat down with Andrea, an associate in the Antitrust &amp; Competition group at Baker McKenzie, whose path into law has been shaped by grit, community, and a whole lot of real-life juggling.   In this episode we talk about:    ⚖️ How she handled working full time through law school   🌱 The mentors who open...

Andrea Rivers: Building A Career In Big Law Lessons for First-Gen Lawyers Starting Out

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms">Send us a text</a>In this episode, we sit down with Neel Chatterjee, one of the nation’s leading IP litigators and a finalist for ALM’s Attorney of the Year award.We cover a wide-ranging conversation, including:<ul><li>His path into law and the mentors who shaped him</li><li>The bold decision to leave Goodwin for King &amp; Spalding and his vision for building out an IP powerhouse in Silicon Valley</li><li>Strategies for managing landmark cases involving tech giants like Facebook, NVIDIA, and eBay</li><li>The founding of Law Firm Partners United and the coalition’s amicus brief defending the rule of law</li><li>Why public interest and diversity remain central to his career</li><li>How he brings authenticity and humor into BigLaw culture—from snacks in the office to his tongue-in-cheek business cards declaring him “the very handsom man”</li></ul>Neel also opens up about his heritage and upbringing, and how those experiences shaped his worldview, his advocacy, and his drive to lead with purpose.This is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring conversation with one of the legal industry’s most authentic voices.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we sit down with &lt;b&gt;Neel Chatterjee&lt;/b&gt;, one of the nation’s leading IP litigators and a finalist for ALM’s Attorney of the Year award.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We cover a wide-ranging conversation, including:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;His path into law and the mentors who shaped him&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The bold decision to leave Goodwin for King &amp;amp; Spalding and his vision for building out an IP powerhouse in Silicon Valley&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Strategies for managing landmark cases involving tech giants like Facebook, NVIDIA, and eBay&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The founding of Law Firm Partners United and the coalition’s amicus brief defending the rule of law&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why public interest and diversity remain central to his career&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How he brings authenticity and humor into BigLaw culture—from snacks in the office to his tongue-in-cheek business cards declaring him “the very handsom man”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Neel also opens up about his &lt;b&gt;heritage and upbringing&lt;/b&gt;, and how those experiences shaped his worldview, his advocacy, and his drive to lead with purpose.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring conversation with one of the legal industry’s most authentic voices.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Neel Chatterjee, one of the nation’s leading IP litigators and a finalist for ALM’s Attorney of the Year award. We cover a wide-ranging conversation, including: His path into law and the mentors who shaped himThe bold decision to leave Goodwin for King &amp; Spalding and his vision for building out an IP powerhouse in Silicon ValleyStrategies for managing landmark cases involving tech giants like Facebook, NVIDIA, and eBayThe founding of Law Fi...

Neel Chatterjee: Leading With Authenticity in BigLaw & Building the Future of IP Litigation

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms">Send us a text</a>Bree Herman didn’t set out to specialize in legal accounting, but a childhood spent learning how to “find the missing penny” sparked a passion that eventually led her to launch Herman Ledger Services, a boutique firm supporting solo and small law practices with bookkeeping, trust accounting, Clio and QuickBooks integrations, and fractional CFO support.Today, Bree helps attorneys move from confusion to clarity by giving them the financial systems, compliance oversight, and strategic insight they need to run their firms with confidence.In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Bree joins Niraj Chhabra to discuss:  📊 Why so many attorneys struggle with bookkeeping and trust accounting  ⚖️ The biggest blind spots lawyers face when starting their own firms  💼 How to scale from solo practice to multi-attorney firm without losing control of finances  🔗 The power of integrating Clio + QuickBooks — and how it saves 5–10 hours a month  💰 When it’s time to move from outsourced bookkeeping to fractional CFO guidance  🌾 How life on her New Hampshire farm unexpectedly shaped her approach to entrepreneurshipFrom compliance pitfalls to multi-state payroll issues to planning benefits for growing teams, Bree breaks down the financial side of running a law firm in a way that’s approachable, practical, and empowering.🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bree Herman&lt;/b&gt; didn’t set out to specialize in legal accounting, but a childhood spent learning how to “find the missing penny” sparked a passion that eventually led her to launch &lt;b&gt;Herman Ledger Services&lt;/b&gt;, a boutique firm supporting solo and small law practices with bookkeeping, trust accounting, Clio and QuickBooks integrations, and fractional CFO support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Today, Bree helps attorneys move from confusion to clarity by giving them the financial systems, compliance oversight, and strategic insight they need to run their firms with confidence.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;em&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, Bree joins &lt;b&gt;Niraj Chhabra&lt;/b&gt; to discuss:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; 📊 Why so many attorneys struggle with bookkeeping and trust accounting&lt;br/&gt; ⚖️ The biggest blind spots lawyers face when starting their own firms&lt;br/&gt; 💼 How to scale from solo practice to multi-attorney firm without losing control of finances&lt;br/&gt; 🔗 The power of integrating Clio + QuickBooks — and how it saves 5–10 hours a month&lt;br/&gt; 💰 When it’s time to move from outsourced bookkeeping to fractional CFO guidance&lt;br/&gt; 🌾 How life on her New Hampshire farm unexpectedly shaped her approach to entrepreneurship&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From compliance pitfalls to multi-state payroll issues to planning benefits for growing teams, Bree breaks down the financial side of running a law firm in a way that’s approachable, practical, and empowering.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎧 &lt;em&gt;Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text Bree Herman didn’t set out to specialize in legal accounting, but a childhood spent learning how to “find the missing penny” sparked a passion that eventually led her to launch Herman Ledger Services, a boutique firm supporting solo and small law practices with bookkeeping, trust accounting, Clio and QuickBooks integrations, and fractional CFO support. Today, Bree helps attorneys move from confusion to clarity by giving them the financial systems, compliance oversight, and stra...

Bree Herman: Bringing Financial Clarity to Growing Law Firms

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms">Send us a text</a>When Emma Smizer started law school, her path was anything but traditional. From a rescinded Big Law offer to finding her niche in video game law, Emma carved out a career that blends creativity, advocacy, and authenticity.Now an associate at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein &amp; Selz, Emma is part of the firm’s Interactive Entertainment Group, advising top developers and publishers on everything from in-game economies and licensing to regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and intellectual property.In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Emma joins Niraj to talk about how she built a thriving career in one of the most exciting corners of the legal world, and what it takes to stand out early in your career.They discuss: 🎮 How a rescinded Big Law offer turned into an unexpected career opportunity  ⚖️ The rise of video game law and what makes it so complex and dynamic  💡 Building a client base early in your career through authenticity and visibility  👾 How gaming culture is shaping the next generation of lawyers  💼 The leadership lessons hidden inside virtual worldsEmma’s journey is a reminder that the most fulfilling careers aren’t always planned; they’re built through resilience, curiosity, and showing up with your authentic self.🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When &lt;b&gt;Emma Smizer&lt;/b&gt; started law school, her path was anything but traditional. From a rescinded Big Law offer to finding her niche in &lt;b&gt;video game law&lt;/b&gt;, Emma carved out a career that blends creativity, advocacy, and authenticity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now an associate at &lt;b&gt;Frankfurt Kurnit Klein &amp;amp; Selz&lt;/b&gt;, Emma is part of the firm’s &lt;b&gt;Interactive Entertainment Group&lt;/b&gt;, advising top developers and publishers on everything from in-game economies and licensing to regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and intellectual property.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, Emma joins Niraj to talk about how she built a thriving career in one of the most exciting corners of the legal world, and what it takes to stand out early in your career.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They discuss:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 🎮 How a rescinded Big Law offer turned into an unexpected career opportunity&lt;br/&gt; ⚖️ The rise of video game law and what makes it so complex and dynamic&lt;br/&gt; 💡 Building a client base early in your career through authenticity and visibility&lt;br/&gt; 👾 How gaming culture is shaping the next generation of lawyers&lt;br/&gt; 💼 The leadership lessons hidden inside virtual worlds&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Emma’s journey is a reminder that the most fulfilling careers aren’t always planned; they’re built through resilience, curiosity, and showing up with your authentic self.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎧 &lt;em&gt;Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text When Emma Smizer started law school, her path was anything but traditional. From a rescinded Big Law offer to finding her niche in video game law, Emma carved out a career that blends creativity, advocacy, and authenticity. Now an associate at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein &amp; Selz, Emma is part of the firm’s Interactive Entertainment Group, advising top developers and publishers on everything from in-game economies and licensing to regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and in...

Emma Smizer: Leveling Up Law, How Video Games Shaped a Legal Career

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms">Send us a text</a>After two decades in litigation, Courtney Schulnick, Esq. stepped away from the courtroom to pursue something equally demanding, helping others manage the pressures of law with clarity and balance.Now a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor, Courtney teaches attorneys and other professionals how to use mindfulness not as an escape from their work, but as a tool to perform at their highest level while protecting their well-being.In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Courtney joins Niraj to share how her career journey led her to mindfulness, what the practice actually entails, and why it’s a practical, evidence-based approach for thriving in high-pressure environments.We cover: ⚖️ The science behind focus, clarity, and resilience at work🧘 How becoming a mother forced her to slow down and re-evaluate what fulfillment looks like 💼 Why mental well-being is a competitive advantage, not a distraction from success 🌱 How stepping away from law allowed her to teach others how to stay engaged and fulfilled within it🎧 Listen to the full episode now 🔗 Learn more about Courtney’s work: <a href='http://www.CourtneySchulnickMindfulness.com'>www.CourtneySchulnickMindfulness.com</a> 📖 Download her free mindfulness workbook: https://mailchi.mp/97686ee6c88c/free-mindfulness-workbook 💻 Join Courtney’s free 15-minute drop-in mindfulness sessions every Tuesday at 12:30 PM ET via Jefferson’s: https://jefferson.zoom.us/j/95409363161#success

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2033338/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After two decades in litigation, Courtney Schulnick, Esq. stepped away from the courtroom to pursue something equally demanding, helping others manage the pressures of law with clarity and balance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor, Courtney teaches attorneys and other professionals how to use mindfulness not as an escape from their work, but as a tool to perform at their highest level while protecting their well-being.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;em&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, Courtney joins Niraj to share how her career journey led her to mindfulness, what the practice actually entails, and why it’s a practical, evidence-based approach for thriving in high-pressure environments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We cover:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;⚖️ The science behind focus, clarity, and resilience at work&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🧘 How becoming a mother forced her to slow down and re-evaluate what fulfillment looks like&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 💼 Why mental well-being is a competitive advantage, not a distraction from success&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 🌱 How stepping away from law allowed her to teach others how to stay engaged and fulfilled within it&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎧 &lt;em&gt;Listen to the full episode now&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 🔗 Learn more about Courtney’s work: &lt;a href='http://www.CourtneySchulnickMindfulness.com'&gt;www.CourtneySchulnickMindfulness.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 📖 Download her free mindfulness workbook: https://mailchi.mp/97686ee6c88c/free-mindfulness-workbook&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 💻 Join Courtney’s free 15-minute drop-in mindfulness sessions every Tuesday at 12:30 PM ET via Jefferson’s: https://jefferson.zoom.us/j/95409363161#success&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us a text After two decades in litigation, Courtney Schulnick, Esq. stepped away from the courtroom to pursue something equally demanding, helping others manage the pressures of law with clarity and balance. Now a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor, Courtney teaches attorneys and other professionals how to use mindfulness not as an escape from their work, but as a tool to perform at their highest level while protecting their well-being. In this episode of the Sidebar Ad...

Courtney Schulnick: Bringing Mindfulness to the Modern Legal Mind

Step into the world of law with host Niraj Chhabra as he engages in conversations with accomplished attorneys from diverse legal backgrounds. In this podcast series, we aim to inspire and enlighten the legal community by uncovering the remarkable stories and achievements of these legal professionals. Gain exclusive insights into their work both inside and outside the courtroom, discovering the profound impact they make in the field of law.

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