A White & Case Partner to Head ABA, In Her Own Words
March 19, 2008
Carolyn B. Lamm was elected in mid-February as president-elect nominee of the American Bar Association, the largest voluntary professional organization in the world. A partner in the Washington, DC office, Carolyn specializes in the areas of International Arbitration and Litigation. One of National Law Journal's
100 Most Influential Lawyers and 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America and the 2002 Woman Lawyer of the Year (Women's Bar Association of Washington, DC), the incoming president-elect reflects about the news.
Q: What do you want to accomplish during your one-year term?
Carolyn: There are several areas that I intend to focus on, the first of which is membership.
The ABA must represent
all lawyers. The Association should consider the variety of both economic and practice circumstances our members and prospective members are organized in when defining our programs to appeal to all. For instance, our dues structure and amount should not prevent lawyers from joining and what we offer must suit all circumstances.
With the assistance of many volunteers, I want to look at what more we can do to increase the value and the relevance the ABA can add. We will analyze each segment of the profession, including, among others, public interest, solo practitioners, young lawyers, older lawyers, small and large firm practitioners, corporate counsel as well as government lawyers. Each has different needs and expectations from the ABA. We need to identify and provide value for each.
Diversity is another area I will focus on. While diversity has many dimensions, I will focus on gender, race, ethnicity, and age, including both older and younger lawyers. I'm listening to what our Commissions, Caucuses, diverse practitioners and experts have to say on these issues, as well as bringing my own experience to the table.
The ABA has been making tremendous progress on these issues, but much remains to be done. I want to focus on an effort that will move us forward, because as a profession we are "just not there yet." Lawyers must be assessed on the basis of merit and skills and must have unimpeded access to opportunities.
I am using the time between now and August to listen at the Diversity Summit and other meetings and to meet with as many groups as I can to define what's needed and can be accomplished. I intend to do some fairly intense planning now so that I'll be ready to hit the ground running as president and accomplish my goals on membership and diversity within a year.
Q: Are there other areas about which you feel equally passionate?
Carolyn: Increased advocacy for the profession and for the public are important themes to advance. Given my background and our new Director of the GAO, Thomas Sussman, we will be able to bring a greater and positive Washington focus for the ABA. We will assist the ABA to have a greater voice and prominence on professional and legal issues, whether on the Hill or within the Administration. To the extent that I, as president, can be involved, to advocate the Association's issues in Washington or in the states, I will be. We ought to be there and be visible. That's one significant benefit the ABA can offer to members. It's one thing lawyers cannot do unilaterally or by themselves — our collective voice is much greater.
Every year, the ABA lobbies hard for the Legal Services Corporation funding [the group funded by Congress that employs lawyers in each of the states and communities to serve the needs of the poor] and access to justice, whether it's through legal services for the poor or the various ABA access to justice commission efforts. It takes significant effort to both maintain the current funding and/or to increase the funding going forward. The ABA also must address other issues, including protection of the attorney-client privilege and any efforts to regulate the legal practice.
It is also important to focus on increasing the ABA's place at the table to resolve big policy issues such as ensuring that the rule of law is central to the resolution of issues concerning the public such as global warming and terrorism. As lawyers, we ought to be there — with a constant presence — to ensure that the rule of law is part of the solution.
Q: What is the significance of a Washingtonian being appointed to this role?
Carolyn: All views are equally important, but every now and then it's of great benefit to the ABA to have someone from Washington, and it's been 50 years since that has happened.
Having a leader of the Association who knows how Washington works and has years of established networks may provide an advantage to the Association in its ability to identify the issues it can make a difference on and the level of influence it can have for the profession, on access to justice and on rule of law issues. Having spent 30 years practicing law in Washington, I know who to go to and have long-standing relationships that can be leveraged. Working with the ABA's Government Affairs Office, I will be able to increase the level of advocacy for the ABA.
A Washingtonian with know-how certainly adds dimension to the role. I also have a different vantage point on the issues and on policy formation, as it's a dimension of what we do all day, every day, here.
Q: What does your appointment mean for White & Case and your clients?
Carolyn: I hope both the ABA and White & Case will benefit. I am devoted to doing a superb job for the ABA and the lawyers of America. Fortunately, I have a tremendous group of lawyers at White & Case as well as volunteers and staff support who will assist me.
At the same time, I am equally devoted to my clients. My partners and associates will assist with the work during peak demands of the ABA. Previously our partner Orison Marden did both extremely well. I also note as I served as president of the DC bar, for example, I was able to carry out both sets of duties fully. I balanced the two roles and I am confident I will manage both with some help from my friends, colleagues and family.
Q: In particular, what in your background has prepared you for this new role?
Carolyn: I have worked in various positions in the ABA since 1977, so I know the ABA well from "the bottom up." I have held leadership positions in the ABA as chair of a division, in sections, as chair of very significant standing committees, as President of the DC Bar and in the National Conference of Bar Presidents, on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee and in the House of Delegates since 1982. I know most aspects of the ABA's work well.
I have always enjoyed the other lawyers I work with and the work that I do on professional activities and issues for the organized bar. It adds a dimension to professional life that would be lacking without it. It provides a way to make a difference on issues of importance for the profession and for the public. I have carried this strong connection to public interest and professional issues throughout my development as a lawyer.
Even with this breadth of experience, I always like to hear what others' views are before I formulate my own plans, and I'm looking forward to doing so for my upcoming term.
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Carolyn B. Lamm is an international arbitration and litigation partner based in the Washington, DC office of White & Case. She concentrates in international arbitration, international trade matters and international commercial litigation, and has substantial experience in federal court litigation, administrative law, and government contracts. She is involved primarily in the representation of foreign corporate clients and sovereigns. Ms. Lamm is a member of the Firm's Partnership Committee.
"Talking" features White & Case lawyers answering questions about emerging legal and business issues. For more information or to schedule an interview with Carolyn B. Lamm, contact Reilly Starr at rstarr@whitecase.com.
Any information contained in this interview is for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice.