They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Whitney Salinas of Simpson Thacher

Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.
I’ve been fortunate to have recently advised on several significant deals. I represented Blackstone and QTS Realty Trust in the commercial mortgage-backed securities and balance sheet financing related to Blackstone’s $10 billion QTS acquisition. Data centers are a complex asset class, and we dedicated ourselves to understanding the business, enabling us to negotiate maximum flexibility to help our clients achieve their strategic goals. The deal also marked the beginning of our relationship with QTS, which has become a valued client.

I recently represented BioMed Realtyin a $2.875 billion CMBS refinancing of a portfolio of its life science properties. The firm has a long-standing relationship with Blackstone and BioMed Realty, and it was really gratifying to partner with their teams to execute on a successful transaction despite volatile markets.

What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?
The most important lesson I learned as a first year was to listen intently and always take detailed notes. With our clients on the forefront of novel transactions, I find one of our best assets is being able to recall information that we, as a collective practice, have learned in previous transactions and use that as a basis to help find a creative solution to a problem. Given the breadth of our practice and the variety of transactions we work on, be able to find, share and rely on our collective experience for the benefit of our clients has allowed our group to add significant value on complicated and dynamic transactions.

How do you define success in your practice?
Success to me is executing on transactions in a collaborative manner. Our clients are incredibly sophisticated, moving on quick time lines in competitive markets, and I view our job as making sure they achieve their goals. There is no winning a deal or outperforming the opponent—it’s about collaborating with others, being creative and closing the transaction in a manner that makes the client happy, creates optimal flexibility for future transactions, and leaves everyone with the impression that they were part of the process. I love that at Simpson I get to collaborate with a team of incredibly smart lawyers who share the same goal.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with our clients. Getting to work with some of the world’s most sophisticated private equity sponsors, who are consistently at the cutting edge of market standards and the forefront on industry trends, is incredibly satisfying. I’m proud that I’ve gained their trust and get the opportunity to collaborate with them. It’s exhilarating to partner with a client over a long period of time and help them to not only achieve their immediate goals, but to have a hand in their long-term success and growth. Within Simpson Thacher, I take similar pride in helping to develop our team. Getting the chance to help young lawyers learn skills and navigate obstacles in the same way my mentors helped me when I was a young lawyer is deeply fulfilling.

Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?
I’ve been fortunate to have many outstanding mentors at Simpson Thacher, but Greg Ressa has had an immeasurable impact on my career. From day one as an associate, I felt like Greg was invested in my development. He not only taught me the legal skills that have made me successful—how to draft, negotiate, and think critically—but equally, if not more important, how to be commercial, collaborative and to invest in the development of associates. There are many lawyers who excel technically, but the business focus and commitment to development are what make our practice so special. Greg has also served as a trusted adviser and personal mentor. Having had both my children while an associate, Greg gave me unwavering support as I navigated the challenges of balancing priorities. He was the champion I perhaps did not anticipate, but for whom I am eternally grateful.

Just for fun, tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.
Anything by Taylor Swift—My 4- and 6-year-old love the songs, and there is nothing more fun than impromptu dance parties or singing along in the car with them!

Anything by the Indigo Girls—While a distant second to sing-alongs with my girls, I love sitting outside with my girlfriends, enjoying a summer night, and singing along to the Indigo Girls.

Whitney Salinas closed complex deals for private equity clients and portfolio companies exceeding $25 billion in 2021. She is a member of her firm’s Women’s Committee, which recruits female law school graduates and ensures they receive hands-on training and one-on-one mentoring to further their career development.