‘Every Young Lawyer should have a Mentor’
Please, give a brief introduction of yourself
My name is Xerona Duke Phillips. I am qualified to practice law in Nigeria and New York, USA, and presently work as a Media & Entertainment, Intellectual Property and Project Finance Lawyer at the law firm of Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun (ACAS-Law).
I graduated with an LL.B. from the University of Nottingham, an LL.M. with Distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. I also hold a Certificate in Business and Law, from the Wharton School of Business.
Have ever you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?
I think one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face, has been to stop comparing myself to my peers. I’ve learned that, we all have our personal ambitions and goals, which are very different from those of others. It’s easy to compare yourself to people around you and feel that you don’t match up, but I try to remind myself of what I am trying to achieve, keep my head down, and each day, work towards it. Just because a person is ahead of you, doesn’t mean you’re going to the same destination.
What was your worst day as a Lawyer?
Prior to joining my current firm, I was part of a team handling a matter for a high profile client. On what turned out to be one of my most difficult days as a Lawyer, the senior Attorneys on the matter happened to be away from the office, and were unreachable. The client contacted the firm, requesting urgent advice, and as I was the only one available at the time, I had to handle it. It was incredibly stressful, because the time frame for a turnaround was very short, and I had no one to consult with. Nevertheless, I flexed my research muscles, drew on my experience, and in the end, presented the client with a well-rounded opinion, which was later applauded by my superiors upon their return.
What is your most memorable experience as a Lawyer?
After passing the New York Bar, I worked at the New York City law firm of Chadbourne & Parke (now merged with Norton Rose Fulbright) in their Litigation and Project Finance departments. Our project finance team, was working on a deal that was to close imminently. We worked around the clock – leaving the office at 3am, and back at our desks by 7 am, all the while sleeping with one eye open, in case an email came in that needed immediate attention. The day before the project was to close, I remember sitting with the team around the table in the firm’s conference room, going through the checklist of documents, and then stacking all the documents on top of each other on a trolley for easy movement. The stack was over 5 feet tall! The deal closed successfully, and that experience, particularly the mental image of the tall stack of documents, will be with me for a long time.
Who has been most influential in your life?
(Cue the violins) My mother, has been most influential in my life. Einstein said, “creativity is intelligence having fun”. She is a creative, as well as a very practical ,lady and has taught me to imbibe Einstein’s attitude in everything I do, especially as a Lawyer, because as Lawyers, we have to come up with creative solutions to our client’s problems. The more creative you are, the greater the edge you have over the other Lawyers. She pushes me both consciously and unconsciously to be my best, break barriers, and do and achieve what has never been done before.
Why did you become a Lawyer?
I was born to parents, both of whom were Lawyers, so I definitely was influenced to study law. However, in the course of studying the course, I realised that, particularly due to my varied interests, law would afford me versatility and an expansive knowledge base, and therefore, an excellent foundation to enter most industries. What made me actually practice law was studying for the New York Bar, and experiencing for the first time, a new perspective on the law. It was suddenly a chess game to be played, and agreements that I previously viewed as dull, suddenly took on a new face.
What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in law?
DO IT. Even if it’s not what you plan to do for the rest of your life, you will find that it gives you a solid foundation, from which to leap into your future endeavours. Experience different practice areas, to know which is best suited to you. Have a mentor, or someone you can call on for guidance. Finally, when assigned a task, make sure you understand what is expected of you. It is better to ask a silly question, than to make a big error that could potentially cost a great deal of time and money.
If you had not become a Lawyer, what other career would you have chosen?
Had I not become a lawyer, I would have pursued a career in the creative industry, or as an entrepreneur from the get go. However, having taken the path I did, I now find that I’m in a great position to do all these things, but, with the added benefit of having my legal knowledge to guide me. The creative arts, have always been a large part of my life. So, in addition to my legal pursuits, I am also a songwriter and music producer, as well as a New York Film Academy certified Film Director and Producer.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I plan to have achieved a status as one of the foremost experts on Entertainment and Intellectual Property law, and have successfully combined all my passions into a profitable business venture.