The 2023 WIPL Awards: Law Firm Lifetime Achievement

Former Finnegan partner, Linda Thayer, was posthumously named the recipient of Corporate Counsel’s Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Lifetime Achievement Award for making a lasting mark on the legal profession over her years of dedication, innovation, and hard work. Linda passed away on May 16, 2023, and is remembered for being a true partner, colleague, mentor, and friend.

Finnegan associates Lin Ao and Kenneth Guerra shared their fond memories of Linda with Law.com:

“I learned from Linda to never shy away from asking for help,” said Lin. “She openly shared her past experiences of struggling alone without letting anyone know and advised us to not repeat her mistakes by thinking we must handle everything on our own. She encouraged us to keep an open line of communication whenever possible, so that others can know how to meet us where we are. I have kept this advice close to heart, and it has benefited me greatly as a colleague, friend, mentee, and mentor. Following Linda’s lead, I try to check in on others when I can and make it a point to listen when someone approaches me in a time of need.”

“Linda taught me several lessons about the legal profession, life, and leadership,” said Ken. “For instance, when we started jointly leading our firm’s LGBTQ+ affinity group, Linda instructed me to memorialize projects and goals into simple, easy-to-read memos, regularly updating with challenges, tips, and successes. She explained this served as a roadmap so after our time, we would position our successors to stand on our shoulders. Regardless of whether Linda realized how relevant her advice would become, it taught me the importance of leading for the good of the organization, not just for the good of oneself. Linda taught me servant leadership through succession planning and how to put mission over self, a lesson I will carry forward through the rest of my career.”

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