Eddie Rishty is a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, where he represents some of the world’s most prominent real estate investors—including JP Morgan Asset Management, Carlyle, and one of the highest-net-worth individuals on the planet.
In this episode, Eddie opens up about his journey from getting waitlisted at Princeton to becoming a partner at one of the world’s top law firms. He breaks down what he looks for when hiring lawyers, how to stand out in competitive recruiting, and the habits that separate good attorneys from elite ones. Eddie also discusses faith, work-life balance, and how community service and character shape his definition of success.
Enjoy!
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(00:00) Coming up…
(03:14) Who is Eddie Rishty?
(04:10) Pre-college days
(05:56) Lessons from Eddie’s father
(07:38) Considering law as a young man
(08:51) What is a “strong work ethic”?
(10:30) “You have to be all in”
(11:28) Getting waitlisted from Princeton (his dream school)
(12:15) Going to NYU Stern
(15:18) What was the path you wanted to take?
(16:39) Eddie’s father passing away when he was a college sophomore
(18:28) The revelation that Eddie didn’t want to pursue finance
(20:00) Going into the billboard business
(22:40) Being a professional vs an entrepreneur
(23:36) Waitlisted at targeted law schools
(25:34) Transferring to NYU Law
(28:35) Recruiting for big law
(31:15) How to stand out while recruiting for big law / finance / accounting
(34:15) Choosing Debevoise & Plimpton
(41:42) Becoming a partner at Debevoise
(47:36) Traits that separate the elite
(48:54) Observing Shabbat in a 24/7 industry
(58:19) Have you gotten too comfortable?
(01:01:58) Representing JP Morgan Asset Management
(01:06:06) Representing one of the richest people in the world
(01:07:41) The making of a successful big-law interview
(01:09:50) Must-have skills to succeed in big law
(01:12:18) 2 candidates: which would you hire?
(01:18:31) Becoming the president of a nonprofit
(01:20:40) What is my legacy going to be?
(01:30:46) Momentum Moment
(01:35:32) Outro: 3 key takeaways
