It’s USLAW Women’s Connection Month, and Lisa Black of Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP in Elmsford (Westchester), New York, joins USLAW Live! co-hosts Jessica Dark and Pam Hallford as they discuss women’s leadership, law firm culture, and the evolving landscape of construction litigation in New York. Discover how Lisa’s female-owned firm fosters support and flexibility for litigators and working moms and dads, tackles high-profile RICO cases, and builds a collaborative network through USLAW. This conversation highlights progress in women’s representation in construction law and offers practical insights for balancing professional passion with personal well-being. Also, find out who reads memoirs, philosophy books, romance novels and who watches reality TV. 

1:40 Introduce Lisa Black, of Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP (BMS) in Elmsford (Westchester), New York

3:45 Women’s Connection Month intro and Lisa shares background on BMS and her long history with USLAW.

5:18 Lisa shares how she started the firm and its main practice areas.

7:20 The trio talks about the first week of March, which is Women in Construction Week, and Lisa shares what it’s like being a woman in the construction law field and the changes she’d seen.

9:25 Changes we’re seeing with more women attorneys coming out of law schools.

10:50 It’s never a perfect balance – As a female-owned firm, they have been able to see the unique challenges facing women in their practice and support those women, so they keep people around. Lisa shares what they are doing to meet the needs of female (and make) litigators in her firm.

12:25 How litigators control their schedule to a point, and how BMS balances running a firm and managing the needs of its team.

13:18 Its more about finding out what people are passionate about and what they are good at and supporting them in that sense. 

14:20 Hot topic – RICO everything. It’s pretty prominent in NY. 

15:30 Tell us what it was like returning to USLAW after a 7-year hiatus – did you see the same people, faces and connections? 

16:30 Why the Women’s Connection is such a great entry to the NETWORK.

17:20 Why Jessica will miss the 20th anniversary celebration of the USLAW Women’s Connection.

19:30 RICO cases, collaboration and litigation funding being discoverable.

23:50 What do you do outside of your litigation practice? Reading, riding and listening oh my!

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