Women Worth Watching 2015
Julianne M. Hartzell
This Partner at Marshall, Gerstein & Borun is an IP Litigation Star
Julianne Hartzell is a leading partner in Marshall, Gerstein & Borun’s intellectual property litigation (IP) practice, and was recently appointed chair of the firm’s medical devices practice. Julianne has a reputation as an accomplished IP litigator and trial attorney, representing clients as lead counsel in district court, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and arbitration proceedings.
Julianne has increased the firm’s pro bono participation, is a founding partner of its diversity committee, recruits new talent as chair of the recruiting committee, and actively mentors associates. She also has devoted significant time to serving the legal community as a past board member of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court; a board member, past president, and committee chair of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law; and a committee member of the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association and the International Trademark Association.
“The most important quality a woman leader should have is confidence,” said Julianne. “You have to believe that you can accomplish the goals that you set for yourself, so that you can convince those people in control of the opportunities to give you the chance to prove it.”
“Don’t let fear stop you from trying something new.”
Julianne received the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women’s 2012 Alta May Hulett Award, which recognizes women lawyers who have significantly contributed to the advancement of women in the legal profession and whose careers exemplify the highest level of excellence. She has been has been selected to Super Lawyers® Illinois Rising Stars lists (2011–2015), was invited to be a Litigation Counsel of America fellow, holds a Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, was recognized as one of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2014 “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch,” and was selected a 2013 “Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property” by American Lawyer Media (ALM) and Martindale-Hubbell.
Education: JD, The University of Michigan Law School; BS, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
My First Job: Lifeguard and summer camp counselor
What I’m Reading: “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
The most important quality a woman leader should have is…
…confidence. You have to believe that you can accomplish the goals that you set for yourself, so that you can convince those people in control of the opportunities to give you the chance to prove it.
The career advice I’d give my former self:
Make sure you love the work you are doing and respect the people you are doing it with.
Words I live by:
Don’t let fear stop you from trying something new.
The one thing I’d do differently in my career, knowing what I know now, is…
…building my professional network earlier. As a young lawyer, I worked so much that I didn’t want to spend time going to conferences and being active in the community. Once I got involved, I loved the people I met and valued the resulting opportunities that have come my way.
When I really need to focus on a project, I…
…essentially lock myself in the office and start with the easiest part of the project. Once I’ve started, I find that I get sucked in and become engrossed in finishing what I’ve begun.
My biggest career leap (and what I learned from it) was…
…the first time that I was the first-chair lawyer responsible for getting a case ready for trial. I gained so much experience that helped me understand importance of early strategic planning, keeping an eye on the big picture, organization, and managing a trial team. It was overwhelming, but an incredible opportunity.
Being a woman in my profession has been…
…frustrating at times, but ultimately rewarding as I have gotten to know so many amazing women lawyers, especially through the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives In Law.
I’ve learned that failure is…
…survivable.
I maintain a healthy personal life by…
…prioritizing new experiences, travel, and time with people who are important to me. I try to make time for a big trip every year. Favorites have included rafting the Grand Canyon, trekking to Machu Picchu, snowmobiling in Yellowstone, hiking in Zion, and scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef.
I knew my present career was what I wanted to do when…
,,,I first stepped into a courtroom when I was interning in the prosecutor’s office in Detroit. The chance to stand up in court to present the case that I prepared while also having to think on my feet to deal with the unexpected was addictive.
