Distinguished Leaders: 'Brush Aside' What You Cannot Control, Says Law Firm Leader Eric Ostroff
Raychel Lean | May 27, 2022
Eric Ostroff is managing partner at Meland Budwick in Miami.
What is one word people use to describe you?
Solid.
What is your favorite thing about being in the legal profession?
Coming up with creative solutions for complex problems.
What would you like to abolish from the legal profession?
Unnecessary face time for junior lawyers.
What is your No. 1 survival tip in a work crisis?
Focus on what you can control, brush aside what you cannot.
What do you think you are better at than some?
I don’t think about it that way. I’m not focused on how I compare to others. I try to be self-aware about my strengths and weaknesses.
What has been the most significant change in the legal profession in the past 10 years?
The move to remote court proceedings, depositions, mediations, etc.
What advice do you have for aspiring legal professionals?
Don’t do things a certain way just because others have done it that way in the past. Be deliberate about everything you do. Find mentors who have achieved what you want to achieve, and learn from them.
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your younger self when you were graduating?
Focus on learning both the technical skills of lawyering as well as the business side of law.
What are you most proud of achieving in your career?
Having earned the faith of my partners, who selected me to replace Judge Peter Russin as the firm’s managing partner, and then navigating the firm through the global pandemic.
What’s your idea of an idyllic retirement, and are you going to pursue it?
Frankly, I haven’t given any thought to retirement. Talk to me in 20 years!