Part of what makes Sullivan such a unique place is our people, so we'd like to introduce you to some of them in a series of posts. We asked associates around the firm why they chose Sullivan and what their experiences have been like since joining us.

Elke Trilla is an Associate in the Corporate Department of Sullivan's Boston office.

Elke's practice focuses on corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, venture capital transactions, restructurings, recapitalizations and ongoing corporate governance matters. She advises both domestic and international clients, including public companies, private equity groups, investors, established and startup companies across a variety of industries and geographic footprints.

Why did you choose Sullivan?

I chose Sullivan because in addition to its reputation for sophisticated transactional work, I was struck by the collegial environment and the entrepreneurial opportunities for attorneys. Sullivan’s leadership is supportive of initiatives raised by attorneys of all levels whether it is related to new client opportunities, pro-bono matters, diversity and inclusion initiatives, or civic engagement.  

Part of what makes Sullivan such a unique place is our people, so we'd like to introduce you to some of them in a series of posts. We asked associates around the firm why they chose Sullivan and what their experiences have been like since joining us.

Jillian Friedmann worked as a Summer Associate prior to receiving her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2020. While in law school, she was Executive Comments Editor for the Boston College Law Review, and also served as a legal intern to the Committee for Public Counsel Services at the Quincy District Court. She is currently a first-year associate.

Why did you choose Sullivan?

Part of what makes Sullivan such a unique place is our people, so we'd like to introduce you to some of them in a series of posts. We asked associates around the firm why they chose Sullivan and what their experiences have been like since joining us.

Nate Koslof worked as a Summer Associate in 2013 and then joined the firm full-time after graduating from Boston College Law School. Nate has experience in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, including representing various parties in contract, trust, property, real estate and insolvency-related disputes in both State and Federal court. He has represented clients at each stage of the litigation process, from pre-suit negotiations to trial and has also argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on a post-conviction habeas appeal. Nate is Co-Chair of Sullivan's Associates Committee.

Why did you choose Sullivan?

Having worked at a couple large shops as a paralegal before law school, I wanted to find a version of big law that was both intellectually fulfilling and personally sustainable for the long haul. Sullivan offers big firm resources, sophisticated client work, work-life balance and opportunity for early associate development. That’s the sort of balance I was looking for. Also, the people I met in the hiring process were wonderful and a big part of my decision.

Sullivan is pleased to announce that 46 lawyers across its three U.S. offices have been recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including six who were recognized in the 2nd edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.

Special congratulations to the six attorneys who were named to the Ones to Watch list, which was was created last year to "highlight the progress and achievements of rising legal professionals who are making impactful results in and out of the courtroom." Sullivan's attorneys on that list were:

Part of what makes Sullivan such a unique place is our people, so we'd like to introduce you to some of them in a series of posts. We asked associates around the firm why they chose Sullivan and what their experiences have been like since joining us.

Rachel Gants worked as a Summer Associate in 2019 prior to receiving her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2020. While in law school, she was a member of HLS's Tenant Advocacy Project, and also interned for Justice Richard Stearns at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Proficient in Spanish, Rachel was a Yale University Fox Fellow from 2012 to 2014 at the El Colégio de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico.

Why did you choose Sullivan?

I chose Sullivan for the opportunity to join a high-level practice, with respected attorneys domestically and internationally. But more importantly, I joined Sullivan because of the firm’s culture and the priority it places on building community and mentoring attorneys early in their careers. Even beyond the summer associate program and early in the first year, I’ve been consistently impressed by the time Sullivan attorneys take to attend social, pro bono, and mentoring events. It’s an incredible community to join early in your career, and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn more from colleagues and to find more ways to support pro bono work and new attorneys as I continue with my time at Sullivan.

Part of what makes Sullivan such a unique place is our people, so we'd like to introduce you to some of them in a series of posts. We asked associates around the firm why they chose Sullivan and what their experiences have been like since joining us.

Luke Breckenridge is a litigation associate in Sullivan's Boston office. While at Boston College Law School, he was a staff writer and staff editor for the Uniform Commercial Code Reporter-Digest and an active member of the Latin American Law Students Association. Luke also interned at the United States Attorney’s Office in Boston where he assisted the Affirmative Civil Enforcement unit.

Why did you choose Sullivan?

We are pleased to announce that Kimberly Herman, leader of the Intellectual Property Group, has been selected for inclusion in the third edition of the World Trademark Review (WTR) Global Leaders. This publication brings together the world’s foremost trademark practitioners and draws on market-leading research projects to identify the "best of the best" in trademark practice. This year’s WTR Global Leaders were recognized not only for their experience in creating, protecting, managing and enforcing essential brand rights, but also for their ability to innovate, inspire and go above and beyond to deliver for their clients.

To qualify for inclusion in WTR Global Leaders, individuals must be ranked in the Gold Tier of WTR 1000. 

Part of what makes Sullivan such a unique place is our people, so we'd like to introduce you to some of them in a series of posts. We asked associates around the firm why they chose Sullivan and what their experiences have been like since joining us.

Emily Brewer is a real estate associate in Sullivan's Boston office. Her practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate law, representing clients in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, debt and equity financing, as well as lenders and borrowers in loan transactions. 

Why did you choose Sullivan?

I chose Sullivan to get the best of both worlds – I wanted the opportunity to work on high-level matters that a big firm would offer, but with the culture and intimacy of a smaller firm. I was also attracted to the first-year program. I appreciated being able to gather experience in different areas before deciding what type of law I wanted to practice long term.

Summer at Sullivan 2019 kicked off with an all-hands welcome reception where partners, associates and staff all convened in our conference center space for a catered (and of course, bartended) evening to chat with our summer associates in this casual meet and greet. This was the first of many formal and informal events designed to encourage our summer associates to get to know their colleagues and become familiar with the firm’s many practice areas.

Sullivan takes pride in the real-world projects it provides to its summer associates. In fact, if the summer associates were not here working on these projects, the projects would be covered by first and second year associates. Not only is the work intended to give the summer associates a taste for what they will be doing when they return as first year associates, but it is intended to provide the summer associates with opportunities to work with and get to know attorneys of all levels in as many of the firm’s practice areas and offices as the summer associates would like.