As part of Law.com’s “How I Made It” series, partner Andrea Griswold reflected on her path to becoming co-head of Skadden’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Group in the Americas. Drawing on her time in private practice and at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, she described business development as relationship development, built by consistently delivering excellent work and earning the trust of clients and the government over time.
She also shared why she wanted to become a practice group leader, noting, “I have the privilege of shaping our white collar practice at Skadden — from mentoring associates and strategically deploying resources to overseeing complex matters. Most rewarding is the opportunity to help junior attorneys sharpen their skills, build their individual practices and develop the judgment that comes only through hands-on experience.”
On balancing client work with management responsibilities, Ms. Griswold said: “How do I judge if I am successful? If I find myself only being reactive — responding to incoming management requests and not anticipating and planning — then I recalibrate. It’s important to be in front of and prepared for issues and opportunities that may come up within the group.”
Read the Q&A: “How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Think of It as Relationship Development, Not Business Development,' Says Andrea Griswold of Skadden,” October 26, 2026.