They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Keyonn Pope of Reed Smith

Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.
We represented the Estate of Thelonious Monk in a transaction involving monetization of some of the Estate’s intellectual property assets. The transaction included negotiating the release of Monk’s “Palo Alto” album, which Monk performed live at Palo Alto High School, in 1968, and an anonymous school custodian secretly recorded. Monk performed at the behest of an eager student with a vision of healing racial tension between residents of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto.

We successfully represented a leading healthcare company in federal litigation involving assertion of its most famous trademarks. Despite being retained as trial counsel midway through the case, we developed and executed an aggressive strategy resulting in favorable settlement following a 20-hour mediation.

What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?
In my first year of practice, I learned the importance of attention to detail. The devil actually does lie within them in a lawyer’s work. This lesson remains very cogent today: The subtle nuances of legal matters are where the rubber meets the road. The most important dispute or deal closing can become derailed by ignoring the smallest requirements, such as case citations, and today it has become even more essential to pay close, careful attention to every element of a clients’ business.

In 2020 – even more so than when I began to practice law a decade ago – the subtle nuances also can drive value and prevent errors, and all clients are value-conscious and error averse. In my estimation, there is no such thing as a “small detail” if a lawyer is focused on prevailing. Learning this lesson early has helped me in my practice.

How do you define success in your practice?
I define success simply: Achieving clients’ desired outcomes. In litigation, success may mean prevailing at trial or achieving a favorable settlement – pragmatically resolving disputes in ways that make sense. In the deal world, it means getting the deals done and closed within the deadline and in a way that makes sense for the client. In a broader practice context, I also define success as training, mentoring and contributing to the advancement of younger lawyers, the lifeblood of our firm, our local legal community and the profession as a whole. I also judge my success in this realm in terms of how well I am able to promote diversity in the ranks of young associates and law students, with a goal that they are no less diverse as our society with respect to their gender, race, ethnicity, disability status and sexual orientations.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?
Being a lawyer is a privilege that I am most proud of when I can use that privilege to advocate for those individuals and groups that have been less privileged. I take particular pride in my community engagement and opportunities to provide pro bono services that make a difference in the lives of an individual, a family or a community. I view the opportunities that I have because of my status as a lawyer as areas where I am proudest to be a lawyer. I have been able to visit incarcerated men and women, establish scholarships that help economically disadvantaged youth and young adults advance toward meaningful careers, and serve on boards that bring enriching opportunities to the community and uplift its diverse residents. The fact that I am a lawyer is what has afforded me the opportunity to give back in this way.

Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?
My maternal grandparents, who had a significant role in my upbringing, and who were neither lawyers nor even college-educated, were my greatest mentors in the law. The lessons they taught me are the bedrock of who I am and how I practice every day. Among the most essential values they imparted to me are: taking pride in your work and working hard, integrity, and remembering those who are less fortunate. I learned a great deal from many of my law school professors and my early professional mentors, all of them trained lawyers, but their later counsel and advice merely amplified what my grandfather and grandmother taught me and that has been my foundation.

Just for fun, tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.
As a doting father of a toddler, I find myself listening to more children’s music than I would have ever imagined. When I am not catering to my son’s musical preferences, two of my favorite songs are “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye and “It Ain’t Over” by Maurette Brown-Clark. Released 40 years ago, “What’s Going On” remains remarkably relevant, addressing timely topics such as racism, war, police brutality, and massive protests. “It Ain’t Over” is also timeless with instrumentation and vocals featuring hints of jazz, classical, and gospel music, and lyrics encouraging us to push through overwhelming circumstances by leaning on our faith. As an aside, Maurette Brown-Clark and Anthony Brown (the song’s composer) are friends and clients of mine.