For a May 13, 2022, story, McGuireWoods partner Andrew Russell told Law360 he taps into his experience as a former pro volleyball player in Sweden when he’s thinking about case strategy and mentorship.
Russell, a litigator in Century City, California, was one of several employment law attorneys who spoke with Law360 about the early life experiences that helped shaped them as attorneys.
Russell, who spent four years playing with Falkenburg Volleybolklubb, explained that in volleyball, teams need to form a game plan that capitalizes on teammates’ different strengths and abilities, and the same strategy applies to attorneys working together to build a legal case.
“We might have a lawsuit that has wage and hour aspects to it, it may have some discrimination or harassment claim,” Russell said. “I’m trying to focus on getting the best resources to my client, and I may be able to touch on a bunch of different areas of law, but if we have my colleagues here who are experts in data privacy, I can turn to them to leverage their better expertise to help with clients.”
Russell’s pro volleyball experience also shapes how he mentors associates and helps them develop their unique areas of focus.
“What I like about volleyball, it really is a team game where you need a variety of skills and the right balance of skills, and I think the law is the same,” Russell said.