June 22, 2009 - The Dallas Business Journal has named Vinson & Elkins Litigation Partner Veronica Lewis to Top Business Lawyers in the DFW Metroplex 2009.
A Q&A with Vinson & Elkins Partner Veronica Lewis
First Job: When I was 16, I worked as a waitress at Kip’s Big Boy restaurant. I made $1.65 per hour plus tips and was thrilled. There’s no better way to learn the importance of customer service than as a waitress.
Why Law: I decided I wanted to become a lawyer when I was very young, because I believed lawyers could make a big difference in the quality of people’s lives. I remembered my mother explaining to me how much better things were getting because of all the important work that lawyers were doing.
Why Business Defense: I enjoy the diversity of my work and my client relationships the most. It has given me the opportunity to learn about a wide spectrum of industries, from media and entertainment to healthcare and egg farming. Along the way, I have met and formed great relationships with an array of talented and committed professionals. In most matters, the clients – whether they are plaintiff or defendant – are facing significant challenges, and I have the opportunity to work closely with them.
Defender Misconceptions: I think the stereotype is that there are lawyers who are always defense counsel and that their goal is to do two things – hide facts and delay. The reality is that most do complex commercial litigation of the type I handle and end up on both sides of the “V.” It’s frequently only a matter of who files the lawsuit first, and even when I am acting as defense counsel, I am also frequently pursuing counterclaims of cross-claims. It is a huge mistake to build a defense strategy on a plan to avoid disclosure of certain facts or delay the proceedings. It is far more effective to embrace the facts and aggressively seek an expeditious resolution.
Greatest On-the-Job Challenge: My biggest challenge by far is juggling my family and professional demands. I have three girls who are 13, 9, and 4 years old, and my professional life can be very unpredictable and time-intensive at points. Luckily, I have a very supportive husband and mother, as well as two great brothers in Dallas. I also have the good fortune of being at Vinson & Elkins, which has really committed to supporting the development of its women lawyers.
Greatest Failure: Early in my career, I focused almost exclusively on developing expertise in all the technical aspects of practicing law. As a result, I failed to anticipate some developments that had broad impacts on the legal profession and the business community.
Top 2008 Case: My defense of Tyler Perry in a copyright infringement trial. It was a tremendous honor to work with such a gifted artist – a skilled writer, director, and producer of movies, plays and television productions. The case was very important to him and, as a result, very important to me. The case raised interesting legal issues relating to copyright infringement and had the potential to significantly increase the litigation exposure of artists like Tyler who tour and perform at numerous venues nationwide. I came into the matter late and there was no room for error. All worked out in the end, as we were able to get a unanimous jury verdict.