They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Anne Barrett of Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.

In March 2024, I advised MetLife on a registered offering of seven different series of Japanese Yen notes, totaling over ¥112 billion in the aggregate. Foreign denominated deals bring unique complexities: we navigated the intricacies of local laws, market practice and time zones. I have spent a significant portion of my career representing MetLife in various offerings, but this one stood out as a complex and fast-paced deal, particularly because it involved Yen-registered notes, which is certainly not an everyday occurrence.

In June 2024, I represented Equitable on a complicated financing transaction that included issuing $600 million of pre-capitalized trust securities by a Delaware trust, exercising issuance rights of securities issued in 2019 (which in a full circle moment, were issued in the first deal I worked on for Equitable) and a tender offer for various debt securities totaling over $560 million in the aggregate. The many moving pieces required close work with Equitable and their financial advisers to work out particular deal specifics, followed by coordination with numerous third parties who were critical to the execution of such a successful deal.

What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?

How you do anything is how you do everything.

This applies to both practice and people. Developing relationships with colleagues in other practice areas and treating everyone with respect—from the head of a practice group to the mailroom—is critical. Being part of a team that you can rely on and that can rely on you is critical.

I have worked with some of my colleagues since I was a first-year associate. It is also much more fun to come to work when you know and like those with whom you work all day!

In terms of approach to practice, recognizing early on in your career that although something may seem like a menial task as a junior attorney, it is important and so is doing it well. Showing others that you can do the mundane things well inspires confidence that you will complete substantive and difficult tasks with a high degree of competency. Own any/every task and do everything you can to contribute.

How do you define success in your practice?

I view an endeavor as successful if I am proud of the outcome, which can manifest itself in a variety of ways—and it’s important to count even the small wins. It is, of course, gratifying to be involved with a transaction that makes the front page of the paper, but that is not always going to be the case. Success could be completing a novel transaction in the industry in which we practice while working through the ins-and-outs of each piece with all of the parties.

It could be guiding a client through a transaction that’s a new type for them, while getting to know their specific needs and personalities. Or it could be as simple as exposing associates at the firm to the work and helping them feel like they have contributed to a successful outcome while strengthening internal relationships and imparting some knowledge. If I have learned something and taught something, large or small, then that is a successful result.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?

I am most proud of my investment in the next generation of attorneys. I have had remarkable mentors while at Willkie, and the importance of a good mentor cannot be overstated. Keeping the next generation engaged and interested in what we do is paramount, and I’ve found that being genuinely interested and involved in someone’s personal and professional development is just as rewarding for me as it is for them.

Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?

Leslie Mazza, a retired partner from Willkie, has been pivotal in my approach to the entire practice of law. At the risk of sounding cliché, she is a trailblazer. She practiced in the corporate and finance realm as a woman during a time when that was exceedingly rare. Leslie taught me how to negotiate, be patient, and how to find a unique voice that works best for me.

She made a seat at the table available for countless women at Willkie and across the industry through her excellent work and perseverance. Leslie is a force, eloquent, thoughtful, and never frazzled.

She taught me not to take the opportunities we have for granted, while instilling in me that all women deserve to be part of the corporate and financial services industries. She taught me that investing in those with whom you work is always worth it.

Tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.

I love any live concert. I have to go with “Revival” by Zach Brown because it is one of the best encores I have seen in a long time. Sticking with the concert theme, “Get Off of My Cloud” by the Rolling Stones is a classic on repeat. They never disappoint!

Anne Barrett (top left, in orange) of Willkie Farr & Gallagher with her niece and sister at a Taylor Swift concert.

Credit: Anne Barrett and Jonathan Hurtarte/Bloomberg Law