Gillen of Bond: Proud of every project or transaction

Name: Megan Gillen Title: Member (partner) Company: Bond, Schoeneck & King Attorneys 1998 [email protected] Real Estate Associations: Board of Directors 43 North Forest Owners, Inc. What recent project or transaction are you most proud of? I am most proud of every project or transaction, large or small that makes my client happy. To me, that's what it is all about. Getting a call from a client means they need something that is important to them, they need my help. Whether it is an asset purchase, a sale, a refinance, a contract to be drafted or negotiated, or myriad other things a client might need - it doesn't matter. My task is to get it done for them - professionally and cost-effectively using all the resources at my disposal. I know when I accomplish that, I feel it in my gut and I see it in their smiles. It is then I am most proud. Who has been the strongest influence on your career and why? My law partner, Bernie Kennedy. We knew each other as teenagers but our working together was serendipitous. I was a modern dancer then, temping in his office, and when he branched out on his own, I went with him. Bernie encouraged me to attend law school and continues to encourage me. I've learned by his example - to work hard, play hard, not take myself too seriously and always try to do the right thing. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in the office in the morning? I pour my first cup of freshly brewed hazelnut coffee. There is nothing like it to start my day. I think about it on the way in. Everything else flows from that. What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you? Lists, lists and more lists. I like to have a plan when I want to be most time-efficient. A list helps me prioritize and reminds me what needs to be done. Besides, I like crossing things off the list! 4. The best advice I ever received is from my 91-year old Dad. His mantra is: Do what you love and makes you happy! 5. List 3 women you would like to have drinks / dinner with and where would you go? a) Isadora Duncan - Discussing art, dance, life on the beach in the south of France with a Chateaneuf du Pape and creamy Camembert on warm bread. b) A toss-up between food writer Ruth Reichl (she's hilarious and I love talking about food; she would cook for me) and Annie Leibowitz (we'd go wherever her photographs are, share a nice bottle of Pinot Noir and she'd tell me how she sees what she sees behind that lens!). c) My Mom - This would be the best of all. We would take that trip to Italy we planned before she died. We would sit outside in Cinque Terre sipping a Brunello di Montalcino, eating lobster, and talk about everything! 6. Favorite quote? Gandhi (we share the same birthday): "Where there is love, there is life." 7. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an airline pilot (like my Dad) or a modern dancer. I enjoyed flying lessons but ultimately became a modern dancer for 17 years before deciding to go law school.