<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>Trini Ross spent over 30 years in federal service, ultimately serving as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York — overseeing major cases involving violent crime, civil rights, and public corruption. In this conversation, she shares what that level of responsibility actually looks like day to day — from leading through high-profile, emotionally charged cases to managing a team under constant pressure and scrutiny.We talk about how she built her career in public service, the mindset required to make difficult decisions, and the moments that forced her to step back and reassess. She also reflects on leaving government, transitioning into private practice, and why she chose to build something new rather than follow a traditional path.This is a candid look at leadership, responsibility, and what it means to do the job well when the stakes are real.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Trini Ross spent over 30 years in federal service, ultimately serving as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York — overseeing major cases involving violent crime, civil rights, and public corruption. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this conversation, she shares what that level of responsibility actually looks like day to day — from leading through high-profile, emotionally charged cases to managing a team under constant pressure and scrutiny.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We talk about how she built her career in public service, the mindset required to make difficult decisions, and the moments that forced her to step back and reassess. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;She also reflects on leaving government, transitioning into private practice, and why she chose to build something new rather than follow a traditional path.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a candid look at leadership, responsibility, and what it means to do the job well when the stakes are real.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail Trini Ross spent over 30 years in federal service, ultimately serving as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York — overseeing major cases involving violent crime, civil rights, and public corruption.  In this conversation, she shares what that level of responsibility actually looks like day to day — from leading through high-profile, emotionally charged cases to managing a team under constant pressure and scrutiny. We talk about how she built her ...

Trini Ross: Leadership, Public Service, and the Weight of the Role

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Kathryn Hatfield and Stefani Schwartz, the founding partners of Hatfield Schwartz, a women-owned labor and employment law firm that has grown steadily since launching during the uncertainty of COVID.The two first met while practicing at a 60-lawyer firm and quickly realized they shared a similar vision for how a practice could operate — one grounded in partnership, autonomy, and strong client relationships.They talk through what was happening in their lives when they made the decision to leave, how they prepared financially and personally for the transition, and how they’ve navigated the dynamics of building and scaling a firm together.Along the way, Kathryn and Stefani discuss:• How they prepared for the financial realities of launching a firm • Why complementary strengths made their partnership work • What they’ve learned about hiring and mentoring younger attorneys • How they think about culture as their team continues to growTheir story offers a candid look at what it actually takes to step away from stability and build a practice with intention.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;em&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;b&gt;Niraj Chhabra&lt;/b&gt; sits down with &lt;b&gt;Kathryn Hatfield and Stefani Schwartz&lt;/b&gt;, the founding partners of &lt;b&gt;Hatfield Schwartz&lt;/b&gt;, a women-owned labor and employment law firm that has grown steadily since launching during the uncertainty of COVID.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The two first met while practicing at a 60-lawyer firm and quickly realized they shared a similar vision for how a practice could operate — one grounded in partnership, autonomy, and strong client relationships.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They talk through what was happening in their lives when they made the decision to leave, how they prepared financially and personally for the transition, and how they’ve navigated the dynamics of building and scaling a firm together.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Along the way, Kathryn and Stefani discuss:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;• How they prepared for the financial realities of launching a firm&lt;br/&gt;• Why complementary strengths made their partnership work&lt;br/&gt;• What they’ve learned about hiring and mentoring younger attorneys&lt;br/&gt;• How they think about culture as their team continues to grow&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Their story offers a candid look at what it actually takes to step away from stability and build a practice with intention.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Kathryn Hatfield and Stefani Schwartz, the founding partners of Hatfield Schwartz, a women-owned labor and employment law firm that has grown steadily since launching during the uncertainty of COVID. The two first met while practicing at a 60-lawyer firm and quickly realized they shared a similar vision for how a practice could operate — one grounded in partnership, autonomy, and strong client relat...

Stefani Schwartz & Kathryn Hatfield: From Colleagues to Co-Founders

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, we sit down with Juliet Starrett -a former Big Law commercial litigator, world-champion whitewater paddler, and co-founder of The Ready State, a global platform focused on mobility, recovery, and longevity.Juliet’s career didn’t follow a straight line. Before law school, she spent years competing internationally as an elite athlete. After practicing at a major international firm, she and her husband co-founded one of San Francisco’s earliest CrossFit gyms—then built a second business that eventually became The Ready State, serving busy professionals who want to move better, sleep better, and stay sharp over the long term.In this conversation, Juliet shares:<ul><li>how her athletic background shaped her tolerance for risk and reinvention</li><li>why she didn’t hate practicing law, but couldn’t see a long-term model she wanted to grow into</li><li>the financial groundwork she laid before leaving Big Law</li><li>what The Ready State is</li><li>why movement isn’t optional for attorneys who want sustainable performance</li></ul>If you’re rethinking your health, your habits, or your long-term trajectory in the legal profession, this is an honest and tactical listen.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;b&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/b&gt;, we sit down with &lt;b&gt;Juliet Starrett -&lt;/b&gt;a former Big Law commercial litigator, world-champion whitewater paddler, and co-founder of &lt;b&gt;The Ready State&lt;/b&gt;, a global platform focused on mobility, recovery, and longevity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Juliet’s career didn’t follow a straight line. Before law school, she spent years competing internationally as an elite athlete. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After practicing at a major international firm, she and her husband co-founded one of San Francisco’s earliest CrossFit gyms—then built a second business that eventually became The Ready State, serving busy professionals who want to move better, sleep better, and stay sharp over the long term.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this conversation, Juliet shares:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;how her athletic background shaped her tolerance for risk and reinvention&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;why she didn’t hate practicing law, but couldn’t see a long-term model she wanted to grow into&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;the financial groundwork she laid before leaving Big Law&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;what The Ready State is&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;why movement isn’t optional for attorneys who want sustainable performance&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’re rethinking your health, your habits, or your long-term trajectory in the legal profession, this is an honest and tactical listen.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, we sit down with Juliet Starrett -a former Big Law commercial litigator, world-champion whitewater paddler, and co-founder of The Ready State, a global platform focused on mobility, recovery, and longevity. Juliet’s career didn’t follow a straight line. Before law school, she spent years competing internationally as an elite athlete.  After practicing at a major international firm, she and her husband co-founded one of San...

Juliet Starrett: Movement, Career Pivots, and Building Control with Financial Readiness

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>Lateral moves look straightforward from the outside. In reality, most fail for reasons attorneys don’t always see coming.In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Melissa Peters, founder of MP Legal Search, to break down what’s actually happening in the lateral partner market — and how firms evaluate candidates behind closed doors.Melissa shares real-world insight into shifting compensation structures, how firms assess portability and fit, and the common mistakes that quietly derail otherwise strong candidates. The conversation cuts through the noise around lateral hiring and focuses on what matters now.They discuss:  • What firms really look for when evaluating lateral partners  • How compensation expectations are changing across the market  • Why strong books still aren’t enough on their own  • The most common pitfalls that derail lateral moves  • How attorneys can make themselves more marketable before they explore a transitionA practical, candid conversation for partners and senior attorneys considering a move — or simply trying to understand how the market actually works.🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lateral moves look straightforward from the outside. In reality, most fail for reasons attorneys don’t always see coming.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;em&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;b&gt;Niraj Chhabra&lt;/b&gt; sits down with &lt;b&gt;Melissa Peters&lt;/b&gt;, founder of &lt;b&gt;MP Legal Search&lt;/b&gt;, to break down what’s actually happening in the lateral partner market — and how firms evaluate candidates behind closed doors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Melissa shares real-world insight into shifting compensation structures, how firms assess portability and fit, and the common mistakes that quietly derail otherwise strong candidates. The conversation cuts through the noise around lateral hiring and focuses on what matters now.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They discuss:&lt;br/&gt; • What firms really look for when evaluating lateral partners&lt;br/&gt; • How compensation expectations are changing across the market&lt;br/&gt; • Why strong books still aren’t enough on their own&lt;br/&gt; • The most common pitfalls that derail lateral moves&lt;br/&gt; • How attorneys can make themselves more marketable &lt;em&gt;before&lt;/em&gt; they explore a transition&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A practical, candid conversation for partners and senior attorneys considering a move — or simply trying to understand how the market actually works.&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 Fan Mail Lateral moves look straightforward from the outside. In reality, most fail for reasons attorneys don’t always see coming. In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Melissa Peters, founder of MP Legal Search, to break down what’s actually happening in the lateral partner market — and how firms evaluate candidates behind closed doors. Melissa shares real-world insight into shifting compensation structures, how firms assess portability and fit...

Melissa Peters: What Really Drives Lateral Partner Hiring Today

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>A lot of people in Big Law hear the phrase “professional development” — but don’t always know what it actually means in practice.In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Hedieh Fakhriyazdi, Chief Engagement &amp; Development Officer at White &amp; Case, to talk about how growth really happens inside a global law firm — for associates, business services professionals, and everyone in between.Hedieh shares how White &amp; Case thinks about development beyond titles and promotions, including how associates get real leadership experience early, why listening matters just as much as training, and how employee-led affinity groups shape culture from the ground up.They cover: • What “engagement” actually looks like day-to-day  • How associates get a real seat at the table earlier than you’d expect  • Why development can’t just be classroom training  • How firms build trust by acting on feedback — not just collecting itIf you’ve ever wondered what a large firm can do better when it comes to growth, culture, and belonging, this conversation is worth your time.🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2033338/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A lot of people in Big Law hear the phrase &lt;em&gt;“professional development”&lt;/em&gt; — but don’t always know what it actually means in practice.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;em&gt;Sidebar Advisors Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;b&gt;Niraj Chhabra&lt;/b&gt; sits down with &lt;b&gt;Hedieh Fakhriyazdi&lt;/b&gt;, Chief Engagement &amp;amp; Development Officer at &lt;b&gt;White &amp;amp; Case&lt;/b&gt;, to talk about how growth really happens inside a global law firm — for associates, business services professionals, and everyone in between.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hedieh shares how White &amp;amp; Case thinks about development beyond titles and promotions, including how associates get real leadership experience early, why listening matters just as much as training, and how employee-led affinity groups shape culture from the ground up.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They cover:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; • What “engagement” actually looks like day-to-day&lt;br/&gt; • How associates get a real seat at the table earlier than you’d expect&lt;br/&gt; • Why development can’t just be classroom training&lt;br/&gt; • How firms build trust by acting on feedback — not just collecting it&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’ve ever wondered what a large firm can do &lt;em&gt;better&lt;/em&gt; when it comes to growth, culture, and belonging, this conversation is worth your time.&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 Fan Mail A lot of people in Big Law hear the phrase “professional development” — but don’t always know what it actually means in practice. In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Hedieh Fakhriyazdi, Chief Engagement &amp; Development Officer at White &amp; Case, to talk about how growth really happens inside a global law firm — for associates, business services professionals, and everyone in between. Hedieh shares how White &amp; Case thinks about...

Hedieh Fakhriyazdi: What Growth Really Looks Like Inside a Big Law Firm

A podcast exploring the careers, choices and strategies shaping today’s legal landscape. Hosted by Niraj Chhabra, each episode explores the intersection of law, career growth, and financial decision-making. Through conversations on leadership, professional development and business building, we unpack the moments that define success. For those thinking about what’s next or looking to grow and feel more fulfilled in their current role, these conversations offer a thoughtful look at building a meaningful and successful career in and around the legal world.

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