To kick off the new year, Nelson Mullins is featuring newly elected partners in a Q&A throughout the month of January. Join us in celebrating the firm’s newest partners by getting to know them.

Shaina Stahl joined in 2018 during the firm's combination with Florida-based Broad and Cassel. She focuses her practice on complex business litigation, engaging her technical and business experience as an engineer to better resolve conflicts and find solutions.

1. What has been the biggest hurdle you have overcome in your career?

I spent the first four years of my career at a large firm in New York City. I absolutely loved the firm and the people in it, but I was not willing to spend one more day living in the city. My firm at the time did not have an office in Orlando, where I wanted to move. I had to decide whether to try to find another firm or leave the firm culture and try to find a job in-house or outside of law. I strongly considered drastically shifting career paths, but I fortunately chose a firm that had the right type of commercial litigation work with a variety of cases and the flexibility to bring in my own work.
 
2. Describe how you feel about your career now that you’ve made partner.

The best part in my career about making partner is not having to worry any more about trying to make partner. 
 
3. What are your key components to being successful in your career?

Be responsive. I am always surprised when I cannot get in touch with another professional or when I hear stories from clients about how they always had to chase down their other attorneys. I return emails and phone calls promptly. I listen to what others are asking me to do, and I make sure it gets done. I once heard someone say that people either cause anxiety or relieve anxiety. I strive to make sure I relieve anxiety for my clients and the other attorneys I work with.
 
4. Who had the greatest influence in your career that helped drive you to partnership?

I was lucky enough to work under Todd Norman, my current team leader. He believed in me from the first day on the job and gave me more responsibility than I was used to. He expected a lot out of me, and he is not someone I wanted to disappoint, so I rose to the occasion. I hope everyone has the opportunity at some point to work with someone who can generate this type of interest and excitement for work. I am pretty sure it was his idea that I should strive toward partnership, and I am so thankful for his guidance.
 
5. What’s the best piece of advice you would give an associate who wants to make partner?

I absolutely loved the short (and now quite dated) book The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law. When a new associate starts on my team, I always lend out my copy. If you follow the guidelines, you will be the type of person who creates an internal market for your work.