2022 Women in Professional Services: Nicole Forchelli, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

In the last 12 months, what was your TOP career highlight? I recently resolved a property tax matter for a national drug store chain relating to a bundle of properties in Upstate New York. Because property tax law differs depending on what part of the state you are in, I had to really be creative in employing different methodologies from varying schools of thought to close the deal. After extensive negotiations, I obtained a real estate tax benefit of more than $350,000 for the client.

In the last 12 months, what ONE award were you most proud to receive? Being selected to the 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers list was a nice distinction. Selections are peer-influenced and research driven, so it is nice to know that my contemporaries appreciate the work that I do. Many attorneys who I respect and value are included on this list, so it felt good to be included with them.

What advice would you give the next generation of women in your industry? Support other women. In our field, being a woman still has its challenges. Also, be flexible. In law, cases rarely follow a linear path – how one adapts to unforeseen issues is a key driver of outcomes. The best attorneys I know are flexible and able to adjust effectively when confronted with the unexpected, and are not afraid to be creative in their approach.