Lynn Neuner grew up hearing her father tell her that “loving your work is a gift.” With numerous awards, accomplishments, and legal wins on her resume, she has found that advice to be exactly right. “I feel extraordinarily lucky because I truly love what I do,” said Neuner. “Bringing this passion to work each day is foundational to how I lead.”
Neuner’s legal career began in the summer of her second year in law school when she joined the law firm Simpson Thacher. Through the years, she has embraced a variety of leadership roles by serving on a number of committees inside and outside the firm. Neuner said her committee work within the firm gave her a holistic view of the partnership and the services they provide, which helped her build strong relationships with colleagues across different practice areas. Outside of the firm, Neuner said she enjoyed her bar committee work because it gave her an opportunity to learn more about law and allowed her to give back to the profession and the community.
As a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Neuner currently focuses on litigation involving securities, commercial disputes, insurance coverage, and false advertising. She has tried cases in federal and state court and conducted dozens of hearings before the National Advertising Division.
Neuner’s work enables her to collaborate with the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic on a variety of issues affecting veterans across the country. She also represents individual veterans in direct appeals to the Federal Circuit and with benefits applications to the Veterans Administration.
Neuner credits her Yale Law experience with helping prepare her for a challenging career.
“Yale Law School afforded me valuable opportunities to develop leadership skills I continue to exercise today,” said Neuner. “The Law School’s encouragement of public service continues to inform my commitment to pro bono work.”
Some of the best advice Neuner has received from litigator mentors boils down to this: “stay versatile in your practice scope, think of the trial from day one, and always keep the story in mind.”
“These points have served me well in my career development, and I pass along the same advice to young litigators starting out in the profession,” said Neuner.
Being compassionate and treating others, including her adversaries, with absolute respect is another important leadership skill, she added.
“If I am doing my job well, I hope that others will find that I have followed these guideposts,” Neuner said.
Fostering a culture of learning and mentorship is also key to helping others succeed, Neuner said.
“I have been lucky to learn from many talented colleagues at Simpson Thacher, and I prioritize mentoring the next generation so that they are well-prepared to serve our clients’ needs and to make the firm even stronger in the future,” she said.
October 2021