Fabiana Pierre-Louis of Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads in Cherry Hill

Fabiana Pierre-Louis was the first woman of color to serve as attorney-in-charge of the Trenton branch of the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey, and then came to hold that same distinction as attorney-in-charge of the office's Camden branch. In those roles, in addition to overseeing the offices' criminal caseloads, she handled her own prosecutions. More recently she returned to the Cherry Hill office of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, where she had been an associate previously, and now practices as a partner in the firm's white collar and government investigations practice. Pierre-Louis, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, is active in various professional and community groups.

What are your proudest professional achievements over the last couple of years?

Becoming the first woman of color to supervise both the Trenton and Camden branch offices at the U.S. Attorney's Office is certainly one of my proudest achievements over the past couple of years. There are three offices in the District of New Jersey—the main office in Newark, and the branch offices in Trenton and Camden. The fact that two different U.S. Attorneys had the confidence in me to entrust me with the responsibility of running two out of the three offices in the district means a lot to me.

What has been your experience with diversity in the profession, and how does it factor in to your day-to-day work as an attorney?

As a black female attorney, diversity is something that is ever-present. In my work in public service as well as in private practice, I have tried my best to ensure that diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of conversations regarding hiring as well as leadership opportunities. The legal profession and the clients we serve benefit from an inclusive environment where equal opportunities to grow and succeed are available to everyone.

What can organizations employing lawyers do to better address diversity?

I think it starts with employing a diverse workforce. Organizations need to make a concerted and deliberate effort to seek out talented diverse attorneys. I think oftentimes organizations are hesitant to go outside their comfort zones when it comes to recruiting talented attorneys of color, but we are out here. And whether it's reaching out to the local affinity bar associations or making connections to create a pipeline through the area law schools, there are many ways to identify and recruit talented diverse candidates.

Name a mentor, or someone you admire, and why.

My parents are the people that I admire the most. They both came to the United States from Haiti with nothing more than a dream of a better life for themselves and their family. I think they have done an extraordinary job of achieving that dream. To leave behind your family, friends, and the only home you have ever known and go to a place where you don't speak the language and have no guarantee of success requires so much courage. They are two of the strongest, most selfless people I know for making such significant sacrifices. They are the only reason why I am where I am today.

What is your best advice for someone looking to make an impact in the legal profession?

Be courteous and respectful to others, even adversaries. If you have a reputation for treating people poorly, you will likely not find yourself in a position to make a positive impact in the profession. The people that have made the biggest impact in my career are highly regarded as leaders of the bar and phenomenal lawyers, but, above all, they are great people who treat others, whether they be judges or janitors, with respect.