During the month of March, Strauss Troy is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting several of its female attorneys. We sat down with them to get their thoughts on important topics such as the importance of Women’s History Month, breaking down barriers faced by women in the industry, advice they’d give to other women in the field, and who inspires them.
Today we are highlighting Emily T. Supinger. Emily is a Shareholder at Strauss Troy focusing her practice on litigation in the Cincinnati office.
Q: What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
A: Women’s History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the many contributions women have made in communities across the country and all over the world, which have often been overlooked, undervalued, and unrecognized. Drawing attention to the achievements of women in various aspects of our society – education, science, art, sports, government, and community – provides a source of inspiration for young women and girls. Dr. Myra Pollack Sadler wrote, “[E]ach time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less.” Women’s History Month allows us to include women’s history within current historical narratives.
Q: What advice would you give to women in your field?
A: You cannot be a good attorney by copying what other attorneys do. This is especially true for female attorneys who may approach problems from a different perspective than their male counterparts. Your approach to the practice of law must be authentic. Capitalize on your strengths. Be assertive. Argue with respect. And always be the most prepared.
Q: How are you breaking barriers faced by women in your field?
A: I believe that being a mentor to other female attorneys is a wonderful way for women to empower each other and overcome barriers in our profession. I have found that mentoring not only provides practical guidance to younger attorneys, but also helps identify measures we can take to ensure that women are represented at every level, including the judiciary, private practice, the public sector, and corporate counsel.
Q: Who is a woman that inspires you, and why?
A: Architect, Zaha Hadid, was an absolutely groundbreaking architect. She was the first woman to design a museum in the United States, the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, located just a few blocks from my office in downtown Cincinnati. Her designs were imaginative, experimental, and unprecedented, and were often met with resistance, especially early in her career. She was unapologetically herself in an industry dominated by men.
To learn more about Emily and her practice group, visit her page here: https://www.strausstroy.com/attorneys/emily-supinger/