They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Conor Shary of Hunton Andrews Kurth

Conor Shary

Age: 40

Law Firm: Hunton Andrews Kurth

Practice Area: Real Estate

Title: Partner

Location: Houston

Law School: Harvard Law School

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

Building on Hunton’s historic roots in Virginia and long-standing data center practice, our Houston real estate team has led data center transactions throughout the country. One such transaction is the development of an over 300 MW multi-building data center campus located in Prince William County, Virginia where I assisted the vertically integrated data center platform of Affinius Capital and Corscale Data Centers as primary counsel in the construction, development and financing of the campus with aggregate financings in excess of $1.75 billion to date. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the full life cycle of the campus and being part of all aspects of the development, which continues to this day.

I also represented Affinius Capital in the securitization of a portfolio of thirteen logistics facilities located across the country, many of which were still under construction. I served as primary counsel in the bridge financings totaling over $2 billion for those facilities and then led the real estate aspects of the securitization, which ultimately culminated in the closing of a series of notes issued by Goldman Sachs and Barclays totaling over $2.5 billion.

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 attorney, and the one that continues to guide my practice today, is that there is no such thing as overcommunication. It is essential to constantly communicate with fellow attorneys, supervisors, and clients—about availability, conflicts, desired work areas, and the status of projects—in order to build collaboration and facilitate access to the best deals. In this way, work can be adequately funneled to the appropriate team member, which creates economies of scale and ensures that all members of the team are learning and contributing to the client’s success. I try to pass along this skill set to younger attorneys so that their specific skills can be utilized in the best and most efficient way. I also emphasize and prioritize in-person, one-on-one communication, which I believe fosters collaboration, teamwork, and efficiency.

How do you define success in your practice?

For me, I tend to use my clients’ success as the benchmark for my own personal success as an attorney. When the client is successful, we in turn are successful. As a result, my clients view me not as an outside counsel, but more as a part of their team and akin to an in-house counsel. I always try to provide practical, efficient advice, and for that reason, clients trust me. For me, that is the measure of success.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?

I am most proud of the group we have built in Houston and not just the Houston real estate group, but the Houston finance group with which we work very closely. Not only do we spend significant time working together in the office, but we also choose to spend time together outside of the office. That camaraderie is reflected in the way we do business, and how we work together to find the best solutions for our clients. The fact that we choose to show up for one another and connect on many levels fosters relationships that withstand career fluctuations, while also contributing to the success of our collaborative endeavors.

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

I have been lucky to benefit from many mentors at Hunton, but one that stands out is Michael Boyd, the former head of Hunton’s Houston real estate section. His mentorship surpassed contributing to my legal skill (although that was a huge part of it); Michael instilled in me a deep appreciation for taking ownership of and accountability for the work of the team. In other words, the buck stops with me. In my own practice, I want the attorneys I work with to know that I have their backs and will never try to pass the buck. In turn, clients appreciate this ethical approach to legal work, and having this foundation creates an environment of trust, especially when having to deliver hard news or tough realities. I must have learned these lessons well, because when Michael left the firm to accept an in-house position, he passed his book of business on to me, which illustrated this trust in action for me to lead the group going forward.

Please tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.

“Step Out” by The Green.This song reminds me of my family and our happy place, Hawaiʻi, where we try to vacation as much as possible. Pretty much everything by The Green is on our playlist when we’re at the beach. “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. We first heard this song at Pine Cove, a camp we attend each summer as a family, and it always serves as a good reminder to keep perspective. It’s been going on repeat in our house when our two-year-old says, “Hey Google, play it again.”

Conor Shary of Hunton with his wife, Lindsay, and their four children at Hanalei Bay on Kauai.

Photo Illustration: Jonathan Hurtarte/Bloomberg Law; Photo courtesy of Conor Shary