Elizabeth Kurpis

Lawyer, Brand Consultant & Contributing Editor

Tell us about your journey and how you’ve gotten to where you are today.

I went to Boston University for undergrad and Villanova for law school [near Philadelphia]. I knew I wanted to be in New York City after school and went into full force recruitment [for] New York [based legal jobs]. It worked out and I [went to work] at Chadbourne & Park, focusing on private equity and hedge fund formation. Hedge funds and private equity funds interested me from the beginning because it was an elusive area in business [at the time]. It was very opaque, and I wanted to know what was going on behind it. I did that for the first three to four years of my career. I [later] took a six-month sabbatical and when I came back [to Chadbourne & Park] we had a new Partner hire who was looking for an associate dedicated to her risk management practice. Although I loved working with her, after a number of years, it became a bit stale. I was good at [client development], thankfully, and bringing in clients, including friends in finance [but also] fashion. There’s no body of law that controls fashion and it’s a bit more of a general umbrella. In an effort to spice things up a bit, I decided to pivot my career trajectory a bit and began marketing and “selling” a new fashion law practice at my firm. I completed the Fordham law school fashion law certification program while simultaneously pursuing new clients. Ultimately, I left and started my own practice. Big law firms aren’t a fit for a lot of [fashion] clients for a variety of reasons. The fees are very high, and it’s a highly structured environment. To keep my sanity, and my clients, I decided to step out on my own. In my role now, I serve more as an outside general counsel for them where they can come to me with any legal (or even business) issues that arise. I work on the matters that I can handle, and refer, yet still manage, those that I can’t. They love having someone who is in the thick of the fashion world and also understands how it works.

What are some of the motivators that have propelled you to do what you do? And what have been some of the rewards and challenges?

I get gratification out of being part of something from the ground up. My clients really trust [me] and follow what [I’m] saying. I [advise] the general counsel or the business leader, and I’m someone separate from the [client’s] brand itself. It’s exciting and rewarding in how appreciative they are. I’m following what I’m passionate about, but doing it on my own terms, outside of the constraints of big law after being in it for 10 years. It’s challenging having to send bills and collect fees. In a perfect world I’d work pro bono because I truly enjoy just helping people, but as we know, especially now, things are far from it.

What’s one leadership lesson that has stuck with you throughout your career?

Many Partners in big law set artificial deadlines for work product, [leading to] unnecessary anxiety. Staying late was part of the job (or even staying over) [and] as a junior or mid-level associate, it was looked at as a “right of passage.” One Partner I worked for later in my career always made a point of not doing this. In fact, one of the first things she said to me jokingly was “I’m really good at pushing back deadlines.” Except she wasn’t kidding. She, as I and almost every other lawyer in New York, hated being an associate. She made it a point of what not to do to other associates. This idea stuck with with and I continue to employ It today: not passing on the treatment [you received] when you were in that position and making a conscious change to treat others the way you wish you were treated. In other ways, break the cycle.

You are a contributing editor to several publications. How did this come about?

It’s unusual for lawyers, but I happen to be creative too. A huge stress relief for me is baking and being creative and writing falls along the same lines. As a lawyer, you are expected to write and publish articles, which I obviously did on legal matters as well. But in my free time, I prefer to write about things I find interesting, whether fashion or travel-related…[and] it’s been a fun creative outlet.

Rapid Round

What's one thing we wouldn't know about you based on your professional biography?

I went to law school not intending to practice law. I thought I’d enter the business world, but I decided to stick to legal when I started to get recruited after my first year in law school. It’s a hard paycheck to turn down when you’re 25! And the big firms specialize in wining and dining new recruits.

What is the best decision that you've made?

Leaving big law because I enjoy what I’m doing now more than I was able to in the past. I have more freedom and flexibility with my schedule and the clients that I take on.

What’s the most important business or general life discovery you’ve made in the past year?

Being in the fashion industry, there are always fun events and dinners and parties. After having my second child, I had to remind myself (and still continue to) there will always be another event or party [but] it’s important to have your priorities in check, whatever that is for you. For me, putting my family first and making time for them is most important to me. I’ve heard it a million times that the days are long, but the years are fast, and it’s so true. I cant believe my first born is almost five!

When is the last time you tried something new for the first time?

I’ve been staying downtown [Manhattan] for the last six months, but I had been living uptown for the last twelve years! A change I never saw coming.

How do you stay balanced?

A lot of sleep and making sure I’m not up all night. [Also] reading or scrolling through interior design or gardening Instagram accounts. But it’s tough, especially with two children utilizing your body as a jungle gym all hours of the day.

Who is your female leader icon?

Eleanor Roosevelt. I think she changed what it meant to be a [U.S.] First Lady focusing her time around human rights, gender equality, etc., which was trailblazing at the time. I read a story about how she was good friends with Amelia Earhart, and one night after a State dinner, they commandeered an Eastern Air transport jet taking a joy ride in their black tie gowns. She sounds like someone I would be friends with, someone who understood the importance of her role, but also knew how to have fun with it.

What is your must-have to get your workday started?

I do enjoy a nice big cup of tea – earl grey or green. I’m a morning person generally so it’s not hard for me to get started.

What three words sum up your career?

Keep it moving. Looking back at my career, I started at a large New York law firm and stayed in big law for ten years. I should’ve left earlier, [but] my job was comfortable. But you have to keep it moving; don’t let things get stagnant to the point where you feel stuck, or worse, depressed. The moment I left I thought I’d feel a tinge of sadness, but it was in fact the opposite. It felt as though 1,000 pounds were lifted off my shoulders.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Take credit, not responsibility. I think a lot of women are constantly apologizing for things. You have to appreciate what you’ve added to something versus apologizing or thinking “I should’ve done this better”.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.