All eyes are on Washington, D.C. and, while you might assume this reference is about politics, think again. While the city is very much at the epicenter of global interest following President Trump’s election victory last autumn, it is also home to one of the Firm’s most strategically important offices. The Reporter spoke to newly appointed Office Executive Partner Shamita Etienne-Cummings to find out more.

“It’s fascinating to get a complete overview of the practices, the strength and breadth of our talent and the huge potential we have.”
SHAMITA ETIENNE-CUMMINGS, OFFICE EXECUTIVE PARTNER, WASHINGTON, D.C.

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Shamita Etienne-Cummings. Earlier this summer, she began her new job as Office Executive Partner at one of our busiest and fastest growing offices, at the heart of global politics in Washington, D.C.

It’s a role Shamita is relishing as she looks to build on firm foundations in the US capital, just as the office prepares to welcome around 24 new recruits this October.

“It’s been a really enjoyable time,” she says. “I’ve been in the Washington office since 2008 as part of the Intellectual Property team, but it’s fascinating to get a complete overview of the practices, the strength and breadth of our talent and the huge potential we have, in my first few weeks in the job.

“We have so many skills in this office and it’s going to be a real privilege to work with everyone and to maximize synergies where possible.

“This office grew into the great place it is today under the leadership of my predecessor Vic DeSantis for 14 years. I hope to build on that success.”

Growing fast, breaking boundaries

When Washington, D.C. adds its new intake of associates in October, it will become the third biggest office in the Firm’s network.

The global significance of the office is already reflected in the number of global leaders and regional section heads based in D.C. Its continued growth is reflected in plans to expand from its current two 65,000 square ft floors at 701 Thirteenth Street, onto a further floor.

“The expansion is necessary to respond to the large growth we’re experiencing in all of our practice groups,” explains Shamita. “In particular, we recently added a National Security Group and we’re also expanding our White Collar and Trade Groups because of all the issues that are arising from Washington at the moment.

“In addition, we’ve also added a Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Group, and Financial Institutions Advisory Group, so we’re expanding not only our existing practices, but adding others to ensure we match our clients’ changing needs.”

Signs of the times

America’s recent change of administration has also led to a shift in the types of matters the office is dealing with on a daily basis.

Shamita explains: “We’re getting some very interesting calls from the administration on different matters and I know the Trade Group is answering a lot of questions from clients that we’ve never been asked before.

“This means our advice needs to cover different eventualities, depending on which way the administration goes with issues such as trade and sanctions.”

Strategic thinking

In terms of strategy, Shamita says the office’s priorities closely match those of the Firm’s 2020 growth plan. She comments: “Our aim is to attract the right talent to the right areas and to grow in a smart way.

“While our 2020 strategy is largely focused on growth in London and New York, Washington has grown along with these offices because there are areas of expertise (particularly in relation to National Security, Cybersecurity, White Collar, Trade and others) where we can offer a unique perspective due to our experience, talent and contacts in the Department of Justice, the FBI, Homeland Security, and the International Trade Commission.

“Those skills mean we provide vital support to other White & Case offices, both in the US and globally, that is critical to our clients and therefore an important contributor to the Firm’s US and global strategy.

“I think one of the great strengths of White & Case is that you can always build an incredibly strong team by using expertise from across the network and there are many times when we get a call and are able to help at a moment’s notice, and vice versa.”

Earmarking engagement

Another of Shamita’s priorities is increasing engagement in the office, to the benefit of the Firm and our clients.

She says: “While we all appreciate the value that technology has brought to our jobs (that it’s allowed us to be so much more responsive to our clients and colleagues), the flip side is that it can sometimes encourage us to hide behind that technology.

“So we really need to ensure we engage with each other, because unless we have those regular cross-practice conversations, we won’t get the best out of ourselves as a single, cohesive team.

“We need to make the most of our depth of knowledge and experience, so we’re fully prepared to help our clients on any cross-border issues we see coming down the line.”

One way Shamita is aiming to encourage engagement is through regular events where partners and associates can meet and engage in discussions informally. The team is also holding town hall events to better share information about current industry trends and developments in the office and across White & Case.

She explains: “We’ve been building out our space to open up our office, so we can promote greater collaboration, both internally and with other teams across the network.”

Recognising excellence, building a community

Shamita sees celebrating achievements as another key element of embedding this open culture.

She says: “We want to recognize great work across the office. For instance Karalyn Mildorf was recently named among Law360’s Rising Stars for 2017 in recognition of her work in the National Security practice and Gabriela Baca was selected to serve as an ABA Business Law Fellow for the 2017-2019 term.

“We are really proud of our young associates, many of whom are really making a name for themselves. Legal 500 ranked us highly for our cartel, civil litigation/class action, and merger control work, some of which are among the largest in American history.”

The office also boasts an impressive track record for social responsibility, as seen in its support of the Washington Urban Debate League, which aims to promote debate skills in urban high schools, giving them an insight into law.

The office handles many asylum cases and was particularly active in offering support and advice during the initial introduction of Donald Trump’s travel ban.

Shamita says: “Other examples of our social responsibility work include partnering with Goldman Sachs on a study into female access to financial lending across the globe, plus many of our attorneys are supporting the Firm’s study for the UN into human trafficking.”

Members of the office also regularly take part in fundraising events, including the 10k Lawyers Have Heart race for the American Heart Association this summer, the Dragon Boat Race to benefit the National Veterans Legal Services Program, and the Polar Bear Plunge – an icy swim that raises money for the Maryland Special Olympics.

All of these are team events that highlight the office’s camaraderie while supporting good causes.