Lucille Karp is a partner at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, a New Jersey-based firm with 140 practicing lawyers across 13 offices in nine states. She serves as the firm’s General Counsel, co-chair of the transactional group, and co-chair of the hiring committee.

Lucy earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University’s College of Engineering and her JD from Widener University School of Law. Her legal practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including office, industrial, and retail leasing, as well as acquisitions, dispositions, and real estate financings. Her corporate experience spans M&A, financings, and general corporate counseling.

The role of law firm General Counsel requires a careful balance of legal expertise, risk management, and leadership. Gaining insight from someone with real-world experience can provide valuable perspective on navigating and succeeding in this unique position.

In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge podcast, host Elise Holtzman talks with Lucille Karp, Partner and General Counsel at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter. Lucy shares her journey to becoming General Counsel, the key skills that help her effectively manage risk, and how she balances her responsibilities. She also offers practical advice for lawyers interested in pursuing a similar path, emphasizing the importance of sound decision-making and leadership in law firm management.

2:04 – Lucy shares how she became General Counsel in 2018 and how she would define the responsibilities of her role.

7:43 – Key areas that General Counsels need to fully understand to be effective in their position.

10:15 – How Lucy balances the demands of her various roles within and outside the firm.

13:14 – The potential risks law firms face with AI, and how managing partners or committees can collaborate more effectively with General Counsel.

16:30 – Lucy’s approach to navigating difficult conversations and maintaining strong relationships as General Counsel.

19:00 – The essential skills and traits for private practice lawyers aiming to step into the role of General Counsel.

25:37 – Where General Counsels can find educational resources and support.

28:59 – Lucy’s straightforward yet crucial advice for lawyers on managing risk effectively.

McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP

Lucille Karp on Linked

New Jersey State Bar Association

Legal Management Resources

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at hello@thelawyersedge.com

The Lawyer’s Edge

Today’s episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.

Early Bird Registration will be opening this fall for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.

Joshua Wurtzel is a commercial and real estate litigation partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP, a Manhattan boutique law firm that represents businesses, non-profits, and individuals in complex and corporate matters. He has successfully represented public and private companies and prominent individuals in both federal and state court. With his focus on aggressive litigation and his ability to develop creative and novel solutions to complex disputes, he brings a unique, out-of-the-box perspective to his clients’ most pressing legal needs.

Before joining Schlam Stone & Dolan, Josh was an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in its Securities Litigation and Corporate Governance group. He also previously worked as an intern for the Honorable Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the Eastern District of New York. He’s a regular contributor to several legal publications (such as the New York Law Journal) and lectures on cutting-edge legal issues in the commercial real estate sector.

Bringing new clients into a law firm not only drives a law firm’s growth, but can also provide you with greater professional autonomy and an increased ability to call the shots in your own career. Despite the clear benefits to becoming a consistent business developer, many lawyers don’t pursue business development success or struggle to achieve it.

In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman sits down with Joshua Wurtzel, a commercial and real estate litigation partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP, to discuss his experience with building a book of business. Josh shares the challenges he faced on his journey to becoming a rainmaker and explains how networking and coaching have been instrumental in refining his approach to business development, team-building, and client relationships.

2:50 - Why Josh decided to start building his book of business and the early challenges and successes he encountered

6:22 - The impact of developing his book of business on Josh’s approach to client relationships

9:18 - How Josh landed his first clients and honed his networking skills

11:42 - The importance of building trust over time and different strategies for developing lasting relationships

15:22 - The business development challenges that Josh continues to focus on overcoming

18:23 - How Josh has adapted his business development strategies over time and why he prioritizes business development

25:02 - How Josh maintains the momentum of his business development efforts when immediate results don’t materialize

28:07 - The importance of building a team to support business development and manage client relationships

33:59 - Advice for associates, counsel, and junior partners looking to start building their own book of business and advance in their careers

38:29 - The role of self-confidence and belief in your success as a lawyer and aspiring rainmaker

Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP | Joshua’s Profile

Joshua Wurtzel on LinkedIn

Joshua Wurtzel on Instagram

Business Networking International (BNI)

USA 500 Clubs

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at hello@thelawyersedge.com

The Lawyer’s Edge

Today’s episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.

Early Bird Registration will be opening this fall for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.

Terri Adler is a visionary leader and creative attorney who focuses on the commercial real estate industry. As the Managing Partner of Adler & Stachenfeld, a boutique real estate law firm in New York City with nearly 50 attorneys, Terri has guided the firm’s growth to become one of the city’s leading real estate law practices.

With a wealth of experience in national and international real estate, Terri specializes in complex joint ventures and corporate real estate transactions. She is a passionate advocate for gender inclusion and mentoring women in the legal profession, helping them define and achieve their own versions of success. Terri was recently named one of Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Law for 2023, honoring her distinguished career and dedication to civic and philanthropic causes.

In an increasingly competitive legal landscape, maintaining a successful law practice requires adaptability, a strong culture, and a relentless work ethic. With law firm mergers and closures becoming more frequent, the ability to evolve is more crucial than ever to long-term success.

In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman speaks with Terri Adler about her career journey, from bucking her family’s expectations for her future to founding one of New York’s top boutique firms. Terri shares insights on building a resilient firm culture, promoting diversity, and leading a successful real estate practice in a rapidly changing industry. She also addresses the challenges of leadership succession and talent retention in today’s legal market.

2:14 - Terri’s background and career journey, from Utah to New York
7:21 - Why Terri chose real estate law and one persistent challenge in the industry
11:11 - How Terri’s leadership style and reputation help her close deals quickly
16:20 - The importance of strong culture and clear values in law firms
21:33 - Leadership succession and talent development challenges in the legal profession
27:39 - Terri’s thoughts on shifts in the legal industry and the impact on lawyers seeking new opportunities
30:58 - How values and purpose drive the survival of smaller law firms
35:15 - One essential lesson Terri learned as an ambitious, driven lawyer that you need to hear

Adler & Stachenfeld

Terri Adler on LinkedIn

Michael Brody-Waite

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at hello@thelawyersedge.com

The Lawyer’s Edge

Today’s episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.

Early Bird Registration will be opening this fall for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.