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Lawdragon Q & A with:Neal mAnneWhen Neal Manne, 56, was formally introducedas co-managing partner of Houston-basedSusman Godfrey in September 2011, the legal pressmore than took note. Steve Susman and LeeGodfrey are the only lawyers at the 32-year-old worldclassboutique to hold the title of managing partner.As both are now in their 70s, adding Manne as a thirdmanaging partner effectively anointed him the heirapparent. So it’s not surprising the news of his ascendancyto the helm of the litigation powerhouse knownfor multimillion-dollar verdicts and six-figure associatebonuses was treated as something like a coronationManne wasn’t plucked from the firm’s obscure partnerranks. He joined the firm in 1988 after spendingseveral years in Washington, DC, as chief of staff forU.S. Senator Arlen Specter and chief counsel to theU.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee onjuvenile justice. Since then, Manne has made a namefor himself as a star litigator as deserving of the spotlightas Susman, one of the most famous trial lawyersin the U.S. and the colorful half of the firm name. He’swon major trials for both plaintiffs and defendants,representing a varied array of clients from energy companiesto modern art icon Robert Rauschenberg.Manne’s reputation extends beyond his private practiceto his pro-bono work. In 1994, the NationalWomen’s Political Caucus named him as the national“Good Guy of the Year,” along with then Vice-PresidentAl Gore, for his successful representation of PlannedParenthood and other women’s health clinics.LAWDRAGon: What made you decide to take on themanaging partner role at this time?NEAL MAnnE: I’ve spent most of my career practicinglaw at Susman Godfrey, and I deeply appreciate theopportunities I’ve been given here, including the opportunityto serve as a managing partner. I have beeninvolved in firm management, both formally and informally,for many years, so perhaps I was a naturalchoice. But I’m very glad my partners elected me, and Iwill do what I can to ensure that we all work togetherfor many years to come. That said, Susman Godfrey hasnever spent a huge amount of time on firm management.Serving as managing partner really won’t affectmy own litigation practice.LD: How has it been since you officially took over as managingpartner? What’s the biggest adjustment for you?NM: Actually, there hasn’t been much of an adjustment.I recognize that my partners are essentially unmanage-bY Xenia Kobylarzable, because we have a very democratic system inwhich every lawyer has an equal vote on almost allissues of firm governance, and anything “decided” bythe managing partners can be reconsidered at ourweekly meeting of all our lawyers. Recognizing thishelps me avoid most of the frustrations one could haveas managing partner. We’ve also got guys namedGodfrey and Susman who are also still managing partnersand very much involved in running the firm.LD: What skills as a litigator do you think serve youwell in your current position?NM: Good trial lawyers are problem solvers. They areable to identify what is important and what is unimportant.They focus on the end-game. They are persuasiveadvocates. I use each of those skills in my trialpractice, and I use each of them to some extent asmanaging partner.LD: Tell us about business development or marketingplans that Susman Godfrey is planning to undertake, oris currently undertaking, in your first year at the helm.Are you planning to just stay the course or go coloroutside the lines?NM: For our entire 32 years as a firm, our very bestmethod of business development and marketing hasbeen to win cases. That’s still the plan. The headlineon our website says it all: “Susman Godfrey: The WayTo Win.” We’ve targeted some new types of cases,and offered even more attractive alternative feearrangements to clients. But the bottom line remainsthe same: Win. We also have undertaken a major initiativeto increase the number of female and minority lawyers(including partners) at our firm. We’re already seeingprogress. By the end of the year, 50% of the lawyersin our Los Angeles office will be women.LD: With all the doom-and-gloom about firms’ prospectsthese days, what makes you optimistic about thefuture of your own firm and the market in general?NM: Our firm always has been extremely nimble inadapting to changing market conditions, and in offeringclients the financial benefits of our efficiency andskill. We’re trial lawyers who can try any type of case,anywhere. That’s what we do, and that’s all we do. Byconsistently winning verdicts or big settlements inmajor cases, we have developed a very strong andresilient brand. Consequently, our firm has doneextremely well even during the last years of instabilityin the legal profession.See the full Q&A at www.lawdragon.com/lawyer-limelights/neal-manne.500Photo by: Felix SanchezL A W D R A G O N 167 I s s u e 13