2021 Women in Professional Services: Brenna Strype, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

Name: Brenna Strype

Title: Associate Attorney

Company Name: Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

In the past year, what project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?
I think everyone needs to be very proud of their adaptive nature after making it through 2020. No one foresaw the toll the pandemic would take not only on our country, but also on working in a legal field that centered almost entirely on in-person interactions and meetings. While most were happy to see 2020 come to a close, making it through with a better understanding of how the profession can move forward digitally is a crucial step to bettering our practices as we continue navigating this new legal landscape.

What steps have you taken to ensure the continued success of your firm?
In order to be a successful firm, it is crucial that everyone is a team player. That includes sometimes taking on projects or work to assist your coworkers in any way you can. I am lucky to work at a firm that operates in that manner and I had the opportunity to demonstrate that last year. Even when certain departments in our firm slowed down, many other were ramping up and gracefully asked for, and accepted, the assistance of their colleagues. This ensured work was getting done in a timely and efficient manner, even in the midst of an entirely new landscape that legal work became in 2020.

How have you adapted and changed in the last 12 months?
The last twelve months have been a trying time for everyone in the country, but has illustrated how crucial it is to be able to adapt to an everchanging world. Our firm has adapted well to working remotely, while maintaining a collaborative environment through the utilization of video calls to conduct daily business. While everyone certainly misses face-to-face interaction, it has been a rewarding experience observing all departments within the firm, including the ever-important IT department, adapt their practices to a remote setting without the work or the clients suffering in the slightest. However, like most places, we are looking forward to seeing one another and everyone else in person again as soon as it is safe.

What books or social media influencers would you recommend to other women?
In our present lives, any type of medium, whether it be books, television or social media are so crucial to our understanding and interpretation of the world. That has been especially apparent over the course of the last year with social distancing in place. While I am also an avid reader, my best suggestion for a social media recommendation would be @sharonsaysso on Instagram. She is a great follow for current events and news explained in a simple and coherent manner.