Marie Pollio serves as partner and is co-chair of Shipman & Goodwin’s finance department. She also has been a member of the firm’s management committee for the last four years, where she collaborates with the other members to lead Shipman in both present-day and future-looking strategic and operational initiatives.
As co-chair of the finance department, she oversees 25 lawyers and multiple sub-practice areas. As partner, she provides strategic, practical advice to several national banks and other financial institutions in connection with their roles in complex financial and capital markets transactions and default and workout situations.
What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far?
I am proud to partner with my clients as I provide them with legal, strategic and practical advice in their role on multibillion-dollar, complex financing transactions involving industry leaders in all sectors nationally and internationally. I’ve built a highly profitable practice that saw 33% growth last year.
What’s the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally?
Succession. I’m striving to build a team and mentor junior lawyers with the ultimate goal of passing my practice to the next generation so that my success is sustained and retained by my firm. Through my management roles, my goal is to have a similar influence on other partners and practices.
What’s one of the biggest professional challenges you’ve overcome?
Women are underrepresented in my Wall Street-based legal practice. Initially, I found it challenging to make my voice heard.
I focused on producing high-quality work, which helped me earn respect across the industry and contribute meaningfully, leading to inbound referrals from the biggest players in the industry.
How are you involved in the community?
I work 10 to 20 hours a week for the Farmington High School Boys Soccer Booster Club, where I currently serve as president and previously served for three years as treasurer. I’m proud to be one of the leaders helping further Farmington’s rich student-athlete legacy through fundraising, event planning and mentorship.
What are your keys to maintaining business success?
My keys: listening to clients’ goals and understanding their business; taking the time and care needed to produce high-quality service consistent with those goals; leading with empathy; being generous with my time and effort to support, nurture and encourage colleagues and developing lawyers; flexibility in new and challenging situations.