Donielle McCutcheon, '09: Profile on Making Partner at Sidley Austin

How I Made Partner: Sidley Austin's Donielle McCutcheon

"In my experience, associates and counsel who are promoted to partner not only have a track record of excellent technical skills, but also the business acumen to understand their clients’ businesses and industries and provide practical solutions to their clients’ problems."

Office: Chicago.

Practice area: Health care.

Law school and year of graduation: University of Chicago Law School, 2009.

How long have you been at the firm: 9.5 years.

How long were you an associate at the firm: About nine years.

Were you an associate at another firm before joining your present firm? No, I have been at Sidley since I was a summer associate in 2008.

What year did you make partner at your current firm? 2018, effective January 1, 2019

What’s the biggest surprise you experienced in becoming partner? The firm is fairly transparent about partner expectations, so there have not been any real surprises. As is our culture, it has been really wonderful to be welcomed to the partnership so quickly and experience the overwhelming support of my partners through opportunities to collaborate on client projects and pitches, efforts to elevate my profile, and, of course, ongoing mentoring, which all of us still need.

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you partner? I am confident that such decision was not made based upon one client, matter, or relationship. In my experience, associates and counsel who are promoted to partner not only have a track record of excellent technical skills (writing, analysis, advocacy, etc.), but also the business acumen to understand their clients’ businesses and industries and provide practical solutions to their clients’ problems. As for a personality trait, good judgement is always at the top of the list.

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