Name: Gina Mavica
Title: Partner
Company Name: Baker & Hostetler LLP
*Follow my company on Twitter @BakerHostetler
What year did you start your career in commercial real estate: 2003
Real Estate Associations/Organizations: New York State Bar Association; International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC); Commercial Real Estate Women of New York (CREW)
What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why?
I am truly honored to be a partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP. Partnership is the culmination of years of hard work and striving for excellence in the field of commercial real estate law. I have spent my career caring about my clients and their projects as if they were my own. While I was the first member of my family to graduate from college, I learned many lessons about the business world as the daughter of parents with two family-owned and operated businesses. Understanding that the legal and business sides of a transaction are equally important, I have tailored my advice to the needs of the deal. I pride myself on being a problem-solver rather than a deal-breaker.
Please reflect on a recent achievement and/or milestone for your company:
We are very excited that Baker & Hostetler LLP will be celebrating its 100th year as a law firm in 2016. Founded by 3 partners, Baker now includes more than 900 attorneys in 14 offices across the United States. It's a very exciting time to be a Partner in the firm. Having joined at the beginning of 2014, I am proud of the firm's history of and commitment to excellent client service. As real estate is a relatively new practice group in the New York office, we recently held a networking reception for over 170 of our real estate developer, owner and lender clients and contacts to facilitate introductions and possible deal-making. We take great pride in offering our clients more than just great legal service. We want them to know we care about their business and are constantly thinking of ways to add value.
Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why?
My mother, who taught me women do not have to sacrifice professional success for personal happiness - we can have it all.
What is the first thing you do when you arrive in the office in the morning?
Check my calendar for the day's meetings, calls and events and then prioritize my matters.
What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you?
I rely on my iPhone so that wherever I may be, I have access to my contacts, calendar and email. I find my travel time is best spent returning clients' calls, responding to emails and organizing my day - all of which can be done remotely.
What is the best advice you have received and who was it from?
"A tree doesn't grow crooked overnight." - Frank Mavica, Sr. (my father). I think this advice rings true in many aspects of one's life. The decisions we make on a daily basis (both personally and professionally) aggregate over time. Well planned and thought out decisions in the moment make for happiness and success in the future.
List 3 women that you would like to have drinks / dinner with and where would you go?
Alice Paul, Sandra Day O'Connor and Mother Teresa - somewhere relaxing, quiet and conducive to a long talk.
What is your favorite quote?
"I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." - Thomas Jefferson
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A school teacher. In a way, I feel I am a "teacher" to my clients since I counsel and guide them toward reaching the best possible result in every one of their transactions.
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