Ryan Ulloa, 39, Partner at White & Case, Miami, Florida

Practice area: Commercial litigation

Law school and year of graduation: University of Pennsylvania, 2010

The following has been edited for style.

How long have you been at the firm?

Ten years.

What was your criteria in selecting your current firm?

After law school, I returned to my home state and did two clerkships in South Florida. I knew I wanted to stay in the region to start my career, and I was looking for a law firm with a national and international reputation, as well as a strong footprint in Miami. White & Case was one of only a handful of firms at the time that met my criteria. I was also impressed that White & Case had been in Miami over 25 years then and had grown the office with strategic local hires. Culturally, there was a tight-knit feel to the litigation group in Miami, which is harder to find in a firm with an international platform.

What do you think was the deciding point for the firm in making you a partner? Was it your performance on a specific case? A personality trait? Making connections with the right people?

It’s always a combination of things—certainly personality traits and relationships matter, but you cannot rely on those alone to be promoted. You need all the attributes of a successful lawyer to make partner. You may find yourself emphasizing one attribute over another at different stages of your associate career, but you can’t afford to neglect any entirely. For example, in the early part of your career, you spend a lot of time learning your craft, either by watching others or getting your first opportunities. In this stage you are—perhaps, unwittingly—building your reputation, but that might not be your focus as the second or third associate on a team. In the back half of your associate career, you’re still honing your craft but now you’re also building more enduring relationships with clients and partners at the firm as the lead associate. You want clients and partners alike to see you as capable, reliable and solution-oriented, and you will get countless chances to leave that impression (or not).

Who had or has the greatest influence in your career and why?

I feel very fortunate to have had many positive influences on my career. Growing up, I had two excellent role models in my home. My mom and dad taught me the value of hard work and the importance of your reputation as a professional, which served me well at every stage of my career.

I had the privilege of clerking for two brilliant judges, federal district Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga and Florida appellate Judge Melanie G. May. Clerking for them was my introduction to the law. They taught me about judicial decision-making, the rule of law, the role of courts, and the art of written and oral advocacy. Their mentorship did not end with the clerkship, and I regularly lean on that experience.

At White & Case, different partners contributed in different ways. Some showed me the nuts and bolts of litigating, or how to elevate my written advocacy. Others helped me think strategically about cases—to develop trial themes early and to always be ready to try the case. Finally, some partners taught me how to navigate the firm itself and its resources and opportunities. They introduced me to others and vouched for me and my skillset.

Finally, starting my own family taught me humility. I might be litigating a multi-million-dollar dispute during the workday, but I am still on diaper duty at night. That helps me keep the intense demands of the job in perspective. Each of these influences has shaped my career in important and meaningful ways.

What advice would you give an associate who wants to make partner?

I would tell them to be open-minded and flexible. You may have a specific vision of how you think your career will go. But, with rare exceptions, it never plays out that way. By being too rigid, you risk missing an opportunity that might make a difference in your career. Perhaps the opportunity is not the one you were looking for, or perhaps the timing isn’t perfect. Say yes anyway. It may provide you with a new skill, introduce you to a new client, show you a different area of the law, or familiarize you with another attorney at your firm. There is almost always a meaningful opportunity to be had.

For example, I didn’t see myself doing arbitrations before a partner asked me to work on a new case many years ago. I was hesitant at first because I had never worked with the partner and, as a two-time law clerk, I saw myself in the courtroom. But, in the end, I cross-examined my first witness in the final hearing, and have done several arbitrations since then. As a bonus, I enjoyed the work tremendously. I have a ton of examples like that—big and small. Each was unexpected and ultimately gratifying.

When it comes to career planning and navigating inside a law firm, in your opinion, what’s the most common mistake you see other attorneys making?

Too often I see attorneys being too passive about their careers at the firm. Client demands will ordinarily rule the day. And there is no better success than helping your client achieve their desired result. But in between those moments, there are always lulls. Failing to maximize those lulls is a mistake. Law firms are such big, dynamic organizations that there are always opportunities to capitalize on. You can join a pro bono matter, attend a training, visit another office, join a firm initiative, and the firm will almost always support you in these endeavors. These are the experiences that can truly enrich your legal practice and help make you a better and more interesting lawyer—and human!

What challenges, if any, did you face or had to overcome in your career path, and what was the lesson learned? How did it affect or influence your career?

As a first-generation lawyer, from the moment I entered law school I felt behind. While law school is technically new to all law students, it often seemed like some classmates had the playbook. They either knew where to get the best outline for a class, or which professors could help you land a particular clerkship. I did not have “the playbook.” My parents were Cuban immigrants and had not attended law school. But it ultimately presented me with an opportunity to write my own. And when I did, I found ready and willing mentors to help me along the way. It taught me the value of mentorship in practicing law and has made me into an enthusiastic mentor to the next generation of lawyers.

Knowing what you know now about your career path, what advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell younger Ryan to get out of his comfort zone earlier and more often. It is too easy to get complacent working for the same lawyers, on the same matters, for the same clients. Take on that new matter that you know nothing about or team up with that new partner you’ve never worked for. It’ll almost always work out just fine. At worst, you’ll learn something you don’t like. But it’s more likely you’ll learn something you do like. Or something you can use in another case. Perhaps most importantly, it’s valuable to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Especially in litigation, you constantly find yourself in a hearing or a deposition that takes an unexpected turn. In those moments, you will be glad you stretched that one time.

Do you utilize technology to benefit the firm/practice and/or business development?

Yes, I’ve often used technology to better serve our clients. In litigation, this often comes up in the discovery phase of a case. If there is some way to be more efficient for our clients, without sacrificing the quality of the work, I will always bring it to the client. Client dollars are best reserved for the most impactful work that will drive the result they’re seeking, and not wasted on routine tasks that can be replaced or hastened by technology. If I see an opportunity to do that, I will not hesitate to explore it. For example, we’ve had success using Technology Assisted Review and data analytics for certain matters. In close consultation with the client, we were able to review large quantities of documents quicker and more efficiently.

How would you describe your work mindset?

I know it’s cliché, but I truly believe that “hard work, works.” There is no substitute for it. I have found in my career that the best lawyers also work the hardest. And I try to employ that in my own practice. Try as we might, we can’t control what is outside our control. But you can control your effort, preparation, and dedication to the case. That is where I focus.

If you participate in firm or industry initiatives, please mention the initiatives you are working on as well as the impact you hope to achieve.

Outside the firm, since my time as a law clerk I have tried to continue my service to the courts in my community. I’ve chaired the last couple of committees that help vet candidates for positions as U.S. Magistrate Judges for the Southern District of Florida. Although the district judges make the ultimate selection, we accept applications, vet and interview the candidates, and decide on a list of five or six candidates to recommend to the court. It’s satisfying when you see one of the outstanding candidates take the bench and serve our community. I’m also on the Local Rules Committee for the Southern District of Florida and I’m a member of a few Federal Bar Association committees.

At White & Case, I am on the office recruiting committee and take an active role in forging the future of the office and the department. I have participated in various mentorship programs within the firm. Right now, I am mentoring two litigators in our New York office as part of a diversity mentoring initiative. The impact I hope to achieve is simple: I benefitted from so many mentors in my own career, that I hope to pay even a fraction of that forward. As lawyers, it’s our obligation to leave the bar just a little bit better than we found it. I’d be delighted to play even a small part in that.