Today we meet Greg Diskant, a Senior Litigator at Patterson Belknap and former Chair of the firm. In this special episode, Greg is interviewed by City Bar President Muhammad Faridi, a Patterson colleague. They discuss key moments from Diskant's illustrious career, including his clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Skelly Wright, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney, and his successful trial work in private practice. The conversation delves into leadership at the highest firm levels, handling the pressure of significant cases, and the joys of the intellectual demands that come with patent litigation. Greg also shares his experience co-authoring a recent, major City Bar report calling on Congress to pass a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Read the report: The Supreme Court Needs a Mandatory and Enforceable Code of Ethics (https://www.nycbar.org/reports/the-supreme-court-needs-a-mandatory-and-enforceable-code-of-ethics/)
Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:25 Greg Diskant's Early Career and Influences
12:19 Insights into Trial Work
18:34 High-Profile Cases and Public Interest Litigation
26:09 Balancing Professional and Personal Life
32:08 Law Firm Leadership and Mentorship
36:53 Client Relations and Bet-the-Company Lawsuits
40:07 Pro Bono Work and Democracy Issues
42:38 Supreme Court Ethics and Reform
52:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Today we meet Greg Diskant, a Senior Litigator at Patterson Belknap and former Chair of the firm. In this special episode, Greg is interviewed by City Bar President Muhammad Faridi, a Patterson colleague. They discuss key moments from Diskant's illustrious career, including his clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Skelly Wright, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney, and his successful trial work in private practice. The conversation delves into leadership at the highest firm levels, handling the pressure of significant cases, and the joys of the intellectual demands that come with patent litigation. Greg also shares his experience co-authoring a recent, major City Bar report calling on Congress to pass a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Read the report: The Supreme Court Needs a Mandatory and Enforceable Code of Ethics (https://www.nycbar.org/reports/the-supreme-court-needs-a-mandatory-and-enforceable-code-of-ethics/)
Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:25 Greg Diskant's Early Career and Influences
12:19 Insights into Trial Work
18:34 High-Profile Cases and Public Interest Litigation
26:09 Balancing Professional and Personal Life
32:08 Law Firm Leadership and Mentorship
36:53 Client Relations and Bet-the-Company Lawsuits
40:07 Pro Bono Work and Democracy Issues
42:38 Supreme Court Ethics and Reform
52:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Today we meet Whytne Brooks, Vice President of the Office of Governmental Affairs at New York Life Insurance Company. Whytne shares her journey from a small town in Maryland to becoming a litigator and then a lobbyist, emphasizing the vital role that mentorship and sponsorship played in opening up avenues for her career. Whytne’s story is one of capitalizing on unconventional opportunities and her soft-skill superpowers. She discusses the effects of COVID-19 on her career, how she navigates bias in the profession, and how she has risen through the ranks of the City Bar into its leadership on the Board of Directors. Additionally, Whytne offers personal insights into her routine, values, and passions, including her vegan lifestyle and love for Formula One racing.
Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3UZUGy5
Want to dive deeper into the mindset of successful in-house lawyers? Join us at our upcoming City Bar CLE Program: Current Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel & Those Who Advise Them (https://bit.ly/4bXVXwG) on June 18. (This program will be available on-demand thereafter.) Use this link (https://www.nycbar.org/events/) to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.
Episode Outline:
00:00 Introduction to This Lawyer's Life
00:20 Meet Whytne Brooks
00:53 Journey into Policy Work
03:45 The Role of Mentorship
06:12 Navigating Career Challenges
11:03 Current Work and Challenges
12:34 Differences Between Lawyers in NY and DC
15:31 Soft Skills and Relationship Building
19:57 Impact of COVID-19
22:56 Involvement with the City Bar
26:45 Future of the Legal Profession
29:23 Personal Insights and Reflections
37:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This Lawyer's Life
Today we meet Greg Diskant, a Senior Litigator at Patterson Belknap and former Chair of the firm. In this special episode, Greg is interviewed by City Bar President Muhammad Faridi, a Patterson colleague. They discuss key moments from Diskant's illustrious career, including his clerkship with Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Skelly Wright, his experiences as an assistant U.S. attorney, and his successful trial work in private practice. The conversation delves into leadership at the highest firm levels, handling the pressure of significant cases, and the joys of the intellectual demands that come with patent litigation. Greg also shares his experience co-authoring a recent, major City Bar report calling on Congress to pass a mandatory and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Read the report: The Supreme Court Needs a Mandatory and Enforceable Code of Ethics (https://www.nycbar.org/reports/the-supreme-court-needs-a-mandatory-and-enforceable-code-of-ethics/)
Join a diverse network of over 23,000 colleagues—in private practice, public service, the judiciary, government, academia, in-house, and law school—who share membership and expand your personal and professional horizon. By becoming a member today, you help shape the future of the profession as a critical link in one of its most influential organizations: https://www.nycbar.org/member-committee-career-services/membership/
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:25 Greg Diskant's Early Career and Influences
12:19 Insights into Trial Work
18:34 High-Profile Cases and Public Interest Litigation
26:09 Balancing Professional and Personal Life
32:08 Law Firm Leadership and Mentorship
36:53 Client Relations and Bet-the-Company Lawsuits
40:07 Pro Bono Work and Democracy Issues
42:38 Supreme Court Ethics and Reform
52:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
