They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Lara Samet Buchwald of Davis Polk

Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.
In 2019 and 2020, I served as litigation counsel to EdgeMarc in its Chapter 11 case. The litigated issues were central to the entire case and I had to be creative, hard-charging, and technical, all on an exceedingly tight timeline. We also worked tremendously hard to build consensus and steer the case to a successful sale and plan confirmation.

In 2019, 2020, and 2021, I secured a number of litigated victories against litigation trusts, including on behalf of individuals and large financial institutions.

What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?
The overarching lesson of my first year was to work harder, work smarter, and work more creatively.

I spent a substantial amount of time as a junior associate learning from talented partners and counsel. And what they made clear—through words and actions—is that there is no substitute for hard work and the determined pursuit of excellence. That lesson was reinforced by the associates on my teams, who routinely emphasized those fundamental building blocks for success and client service.

I also internalized the lesson that success was not simply about working more; it was about working smarter. When you work with tremendously gifted lawyers, you realize that they work tirelessly to understand their audiences and tailor their advocacy to resonate with their audiences.

Finally, I observed the importance of working creatively—sleuthing to master the facts and understanding the “why” of the dispute. Once you do, you have the opportunity to offer new and creative viewpoints. That is something I recall vividly—that senior lawyers solicited those perspectives from everyone on the team, no matter their seniority.

These are lessons that guide me today, and that I actively work to pass on to my teams and mentees.

How do you define success in your practice?
I define success as delivering what our clients need. And that can look different based on circumstances. Sometimes it is litigating aggressively through trial and appeal. Sometimes it is finding creative ways to reach a consensual resolution. The permutations are endless but there is one common denominator, which is clear and regular communication with our clients so we make reasoned decisions together and succeed as a team.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?
I am most proud of mentoring young lawyers, particularly women and diverse associates. I benefited from the guidance of many colleagues over the years and when I reflect on my growth and on my lawyering style, I still see the influence of colleagues like Frances Bivens, Ben Kaminetzky, Elliot Moskowitz, Dana Seshens, Larry Portnoy, Marshall Huebner, Dan Kolb, Bob Fiske, and others—all of whom are tremendous talents and teachers.

I have an obligation to give back in the same way and, to that end, spend a fair bit of time mentoring. Associates know that I have an open door—figuratively now, but it will be physically open at some point soon. And I take quite seriously my obligation to keep that door open and guide as many young lawyers as I can.

While I could point to tangible case successes, mentoring successes are equally tangible. I can look around the firm and see lawyers that I mentored succeeding as senior associates, counsel, and now partners. And I can look to the private sector, to academia, to government, to politics, and beyond, and see other lawyers that I mentored flourishing in their chosen career paths. It is gratifying.

Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?
There are two “greatest” mentors in my life.

My father, Joseph Samet, was a restructuring partner for many years with Baker & McKenzie. I was not a child who dreamed of lawyering. But even then, my father taught me the important lessons of hard work, professionalism, resilience under pressure, and giving back. They are lessons that would have served me well in any profession, but have guided me through this one.

The other is Judge [Naomi Reice] Buchwald of [the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York]. I clerked for Judge Buchwald and she deeply impacted my career. She demonstrated the value of hard work, rigorous thinking, and treating everyone in the courthouse—staff, lawyers, litigants—with respect. She organized her chambers as a team and reinforced daily the importance of bringing together different perspectives.

In full disclosure, she is not only a professional mentor these days; after the clerkship, she introduced me to her son, who I married.

Just for fun, tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.
My kids have taken over my summer playlist, which is filled with Disney soundtracks, both vintage and modern.