1. Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Fiander ’16L

Morgan Fiander '16L grew up just outside of Seattle, Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in French and International Studies with a focus on Europe. Morgan also completed the Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne in Paris. While attending W&L Law, Morgan was the Class of 2016 President, Co-President of the Women Law Students Organization, a student caseworker in the Virginia Capital Case Clearinghouse, and a chair of the Phi Alpha Delta Charity Auction. During law school, Morgan interned with an international human rights organization and worked for the Commonwealth Attorney's Office in Waynesboro, as well as working with Professor Russ Miller as a research assistant.

Discuss your career path and how it led you to working for Fried Frank.

My interests changed pretty drastically from when I entered law school to 2L summer, after OCI had already taken place. I started with a small civil litigation boutique in New York right after passing the bar and moved to a mid-size firm after about a year and a half. In those first three or so years I was able to get significant hands-on experience in court appearances, depositions, and drafting major motions and briefs which is what helped me stand out when I looked to apply to larger firms. I spent about four years with one firm doing work similar to what I am now doing at Fried Frank. My decision to come to Fried Frank was ultimately based on a desire to work on a broader range of larger, more complex matters primarily in New York, with a team based in New York, and the Fried Frank Real Estate Litigation team is consistently considered to be a top group for this work.

What sort of legal issues do you handle on a day-to-day basis?

Within our Litigation Department, I focus on Real Estate Litigation matters. This practice encompasses any sort of dispute, issue, or question arising out of a real estate deal, most often a distressed deal. We handle commercial lending and leasing disputes, receiverships and foreclosures, construction disputes, joint venture disputes, and advise on enforceability and liability questions on real estate-related transactions. On any given day I could be drafting pleadings and motions, managing discovery projects, preparing a diligence memo in connection with a real estate transaction, drafting demand or other letters, or conducting research on any number of issues.

What do you like about your current job?

I really like having a specialty that is as broad but also nuanced as real estate is. While every matter I work on relates in some way to real estate, the issues that we deal with, and why we have the matter, really vary from case to case, and client to client. I also enjoy working in a space that makes me feel more connected to the city I work in-real estate is always a hot topic in New York City, and you can feel the impact of your work when, for example, you can see a building you are litigating over out your office window or see articles written about other buildings or matters you are working on. The people at Fried Frank make the practice even better-everyone is both incredibly smart and friendly, at the top of their game, and takes pride in and ownership of their work. It is really a great environment to learn and grow in.

What are some practices you have in your daily life as an attorney to maintain wellness?

I prioritize exercise. Mostly running, and I am often training for a marathon or other race distance. It is extremely helpful for both my physical and mental health; I sleep and eat better, am in a better mood, am actually better at my job, and overall feel better than I do when I am not exercising regularly. I try to find one other thing for myself weekly, whether it is volunteering, going to a museum, trying a new restaurant, just something that can reset me after a hard week. Planning ahead can be difficult so having a list of things I'd like to do at any given time and can jump into last minute is helpful.

Which W&L classes and/or experiences do you think were most helpful in preparing you for this job?

I really enjoyed all of the Moot Court programs. I competed in Negotiations, Appellate Advocacy, Client Counseling, and Mock Trial, including a couple regional competitions, and really found the experience to be helpful for thinking on the spot and creative problem solving. I would recommend every student participate in at least some part of these competitions, even if you do not want to be a litigator, as the critical thinking and speaking skills translate across the board. As far as classes, any seminar or other class focused on writing has proved helpful-particularly those courses with a subject matter I did not know much, if anything, about, prior to the class. I think it can be really valuable to have to do a deep dive on a topic that you may not have ever thought you would encounter.

What advice do you have for prospective law students?

Be open minded and take calculated risks. There is so much to learn and explore, and even if you have an idea of what you might want to practice, you could be pleasantly surprised with something completely different. Don't take any experience or opportunity for granted!

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Outside of Work

Hobby

Running, visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and reading

Book/Podcast Recommendation

Book: We Keep the Dead Close, by Becky Cooper; Podcast: The Financial Feminist

Favorite Travel Location

Recent favorites include Bali and Mexico City

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