Susan is a Transactional Lawyer Whose Practice Focuses on Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance & General Corporate Law. She is a Strategic & Practical Problem Solver Who is Driven By Integrity & A Passion For Achieving The Best Results For Her Clients.

Q: When did you know you would pursue a career as an Attorney?
SY: I was young. I always thought that I would be a litigator because I loved to ask questions and argue over the answers. I took my first trip to New York City during college and fell in love. I came back from that trip with one goal, how do I get back to New York City? The answer – business school. So, I pursued the language of business – accounting – and became a CPA (it just so happened that my dad was also CPA). I worked as a tax accountant for two years and loved it. But I always knew that it would be short term – I wanted to be a lawyer. It wasn’t until I got to law school that I realized I wanted no part of being a litigator and that may heart was in the corporate transactional world. 

Q: Can you share with our audience, the types of law you specialize in?
SY: I am a corporate transactional lawyer – mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and general in house counsel work. Think Board Room – not Court Room (I leave the Court Room to my litigation colleagues). 

Q: What aspects of the daily job of being a lawyer interest you the most?
SY: Being a strategic problem solver. Listening to the issue and trying to find a way to resolve for it. 

Q: What is your approach or philosophy to winning or representing a case?
SY: I take a very practical approach to practicing law. We can’t always win everything, so it is important to really zero in on what really matters to the client and his or her business. Creating a relationship of trust and understanding with each and every client is crucial to a successful legal practice. 

Q: If we interviewed all your past clients … what is “one” common word that comes up when they describe working with your law firm? 
SY: Results

Q: What was the most challenging part of law school for you?
SY: Learning the lingo. In my first year of law school, Black’s Law Dictionary was my best friend. 

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue a career as an Attorney?
SY: I’d give the same advice to anyone – make sure you want it. Law school is hard work and it’s expensive. Being a lawyer is hard work. It is empowering and rewarding; but it isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK. Figure out if it is right for you. Shadow someone. Talk to retired lawyers. Talk to practicing lawyers. Take the time to do your homework – and if that is a taking a break between college and law school, that’s OK. If you really want it, you’ll go back. Don’t be afraid. 

Q: What is it about your job that most excites you?
SY: I get to work with amazing people – not only within my firm but outside my firm as well. 

Q: What's your advice for women in male-dominated fields?
SY: Remember that you belong. 

Q: What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today? 
SY: Failure. I used to believe that it was always right there on the cusp waiting to catch and drown me. Now, I realize that even if it does catch me, it’s OK. 

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?
SY: You have to learn when it is OK to say “no.”    

Q: Which woman inspires you and why? 
SY: Wonder Woman. She’s strong, compassionate, successful and her own force. 

Q: What are some of the challenges you feel women face today?
SY: I feel like women believe they have to be everything to everyone. We don’t. We just have to be true to ourselves. 

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?
SY: Be confident. Know that you belong and deserve to be there just like everyone else around you. 

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?
SY: I schedule everything. If I didn’t, work would become my entire schedule. 

Q: What would be the title of your autobiography?
SY: Dear future ME …   

18 Things About Attorney Susan Young

1. What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee? 
Eric Church – but not at Starbucks – I’d prefer to meet at a bar!

2. What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Workout

3. Among your friends, what are you best known for? 
My sense of humor

4.What’s your favorite international food? 
Mexican

5. Best and worst flavor ice cream? 
Is there a bad flavor? 

6. What’s your favorite quote or saying? 
You can’t control or change the words that were said to or about you or even the things that may have happened to you; but you can change your perception of those words and those things. 

7. If you unexpectedly won $10,000, what would you spend it on? 
An international trip

8. Are you a morning person or a night owl? 
Honestly, I can be both. 

9. What would your perfect vacation look like?
I’m a tourist at heart … so anything where you can see and learn. 

10. Favorite Dessert? 
All. 

11. Do you read reviews, or just go with your gut? 
Always read reviews!

12. What’s your signature drink?
I keep it simple – beer. 

13. What would you sing at Karaoke night? 
No way … not alone!

14. What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play? 
To watch – Football. To play – Hmmmm …

15. If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be?
I would have traveled more. 

16. What were you like in high school? 
The same!

17. What was your favorite subject in school? 
Math

18. Cake or pie? 
Both!