They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Jarryd Anderson of Paul, Weiss

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

Following the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March 2023, First Republic Bank’s special committee of independent directors brought me on as lead advisor through the banking turmoil as the bank explored various strategic options, including a $30 billion rescue package from 11 of the largest banks in the United States.

My unconventional path from government to in-house at major banks to private practice proved helpful during this period. I had spent time at the Federal Reserve during the 2008 financial crisis and the Dodd-Frank paradigm shift, so I was very familiar with the government’s crisis playbook and could offer a unique perspective in analyzing various strategic decisions. While there was ultimately no way to avert the FDIC’s receivership (and eventual sale to JPMorgan Chase), I’m incredibly proud of my work guiding the board through this difficult period.

Last year, I also represented several large banks threatened by severe stress on the banking system. I advised those clients on how to address bank regulators’ systemic risk considerations and helped to develop remediation plans, which put my clients on more solid footing.

These actions ultimately helped stave off another bank collapse and significant financial loss. I also guided several non-bank financial institutions, including ADP, in navigating regulatory concerns that arose as a result of pressure on the banks.

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

If you don’t take control of your own career, someone else will. You should always have a vision and direction for where you’re headed, and never stop honing your craft. Nurturing a strong sense of self and setting clear goals have brought focus and momentum to my career, and ultimately allowed me to identify and grasp opportunities as they have come up.

This mindset has transformed my practice into one of the most diverse bank regulatory practices in Big Law, with a wide range of important and influential clients who trust and rely on my advice in their most critical transactions and business decisions. This has also propelled me to national recognition and to become one of the youngest practice group co-heads in my firm.

Another lesson I learned early on was to build my own personal “board of directors,” so to speak. Cultivating strong relationships with people both within my peer group and a generation or two above has been invaluable as I’ve progressed in my career.

The wisdom and support of seasoned mentors is unmatched when you’re faced with unique questions of law or policy and don’t yet have the benefit of 40 years of experience, for example. Being able to tap those resources will allow you to achieve the best possible outcomes for your clients.

How do you define success in your practice?

To me, success is ensuring that I am effectively servicing the Paul, Weiss platform—my partners and clients—and reaching and surpassing our high standards of excellence. Because this is my first year at the firm and the Financial Services Group practice that I co-lead is new to Paul, Weiss, my immediate goals are for my team to become fully integrated into the fabric of the firm, to seamlessly complement existing client services and to add exceptional value for our clients.

Down the road, I envision success as ensuring that the Financial Services Group is equipped, at scale, to offer comprehensive service to banks and financial institutions across the industry. To regularly exceed expectations and be viewed by banks and other financial institutions as among their most trusted advisors would be the ultimate success. I aspire to be relied upon not just as a lawyer who can answer “black letter law” questions, but to be the first phone call in times of crisis, and to guide each client through the most important decisions in their company’s life cycle.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?

Being appointed co-chair of Paul, Weiss’s new Financial Services Group is a dream come true. I’m so proud to be able to build this practice from the ground up and incorporate my vision for where I want us to go.

A big part of that vision is recruiting the right people to the team and instilling key values like camaraderie, collaboration and excellence—hallmarks of both Paul, Weiss culture and my own. Bank regulatory work is really a team sport and I’m now in the best possible position to build a championship team of brilliant, like-minded lawyers.

Providing top-tier client service is of course our central goal, and I’m proud of the work my team has done thus far and excited for the road ahead. We know that clients have so many options for legal counsel in the market, so I’m proud of myself and of my team each time a client selects us to represent them. When they choose you, it’s a big responsibility and a big honor; that feeling just never gets old.

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

Meg Tahyar, who leads Davis Polk’s Financial Institutions practice and is a giant in the bank regulatory community, has been an exceptional mentor and champion of mine for over a decade. Her influence has touched nearly every aspect of my practice. She brought me into the guild of banking lawyers, taught me the customs and traditions of private practice, and today, she continues to bless me with invaluable wisdom and insight.

But beyond bringing me into the fold, Meg has set an incredible example for me with her tremendous success over the years. I’ve learned how to produce world-class work product; how to communicate with clients, regulators and other stakeholders; and how to stand out in a competitive marketplace.

She’s taught me how to develop my voice as a thought leader; how to build a team and market a business; and the importance of having one foot in academia alongside an active legal practice. Everyone has only 24 hours each day, but I’ve learned from Meg how to maximize the value of time.

The most important lessons Meg has taught me are how to balance my personal and professional lives—to prioritize both family time and billable time—and to stay true to who I am because the world will embrace me all the more so for being authentic and centered in my core values.

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

“Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. As a native Philadelphian, you know it’s not really summer until you hear this song at a neighborhood cookout or on the radio. It’s especially nostalgic, and doubles as a love ballad to Philly.

“Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly & Maze. If I play this song and close my eyes, I can see my grandmom and dozens of family members doing the electric slide in the backyard—I can almost smell the ribs. The vibrancy of those memories reminds me of the Basquiat quote: “Art is how we decorate space; music is how we decorate time.”

Jarryd Anderson of Paul, Weiss at the Chicago Marathon in 2023.

Credit: Jarryd Anderson and Jonathan Hurtarte/Bloomberg Law