New Quarles associate leaves her marks on Howard Dean, domestic violence

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New associate Leila Sahar is in her “try everything” mode.

Just weeks into her work with the commercial litigation group at Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, she said she’s still getting a feel for how her practice will take shape.

“Right now I’m just trying to do as many different things as possible – class action, product liability, construction cases, bank foreclosures,” Sahar said. “I think it’s a huge advantage to work on as many different things as I can right now. There are so many different niches in commercial litigation; I want to try on as many as possible before I develop a specialty.”

Sahar is confident that pre-practice experiences such as working on voter protection matters for the Democratic National Committee, helping indigent victims at the Georgetown University Domestic Violence Clinic and even her time as captain of a women’s ice hockey team have prepared her for what’s ahead.

“I don’t think I ever experienced such diversity – from racial to socio-economic, age, everything — until I worked with the Democratic National Convention,” Sahar said. “It taught me how to talk to people.”

And her work with her law school domestic violence unit taught Sahar that even the most difficult cases can be inspiring.

“At first, I didn’t want to do the clinic. I thought it would be very emotional and depressing,” Sahar said. “But it was uplifting. You’re empowering people. And it’s now really an issue that is close to my heart, and I’m going to continue doing (it). It sort of energizes me.”

A self-proclaimed “mock trial nerd” since high school, Sahar said she looks forward to trial work. But, even if her cases don’t all go to trial, she expects to enjoy the process.

“For me, litigation is an exercise in putting together the pieces of a puzzle,” she said. “I really enjoy it, and it’s not hard to get through the day at all.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What do you consider your biggest achievement, so far? Why?
Leila Sahar: I think my biggest achievement centers around my involvement in politics. I had the privilege of serving as one of President Obama’s unpledged delegates or “super delegates” for the 2012 election, and before that I was appointed to leadership positions in the Democratic Party by two of the former DNC chairmen. With that in mind, my biggest achievement was getting myself into a position that people far, far above me in the ranks saw something in me. Howard Dean, in particular, really took a leap of faith with me, and it still flatters me to this day.

WLJ: What is the best part of being an attorney?
Sahar: Speaking up and being an advocate for others. Even as a kid, I was much more inclined to speak up for my friends than for my own purposes. Now, I get to do that in some capacity every day.

WLJ: What can you spend hours doing that’s not law related?
Sahar: I really like to travel. My latest excursion was trekking the Inca Trail in Peru with my cousins. But, on a day-to-day basis, I spend my downtime with friends, reading or just relaxing.

WLJ: What trait do you most like in others?
Sahar: Genuineness and a sense of humor. Which, when I really think about it, don’t always go together that well. But what can I say? I want people to be both real and funny. Is that so much to ask?

WLJ: What do you consider to be the most overrated virtue?
Sahar: Standing at 5-feet-and-1-inch tall, I’ll say height.

WLJ: What was your least favorite course in law school? Why?
Sahar: Copyright. The topic can be really interesting, but equally as often, it is very tedious. Plus, this class and teacher just didn’t seem to have a great dynamic, and class dynamics can really make or break a course for me.

WLJ: What was your most useful course in law school? Why?
Sahar: The last semester of law school I was in my school’s Domestic Violence Clinic. Apart from being the most rewarding in substance, it also gave me the best practical training for being a lawyer. My clients and my cases were my responsibility, not my superior’s. Plus, I had the opportunity to appear in court at least once every two weeks.

WLJ: If you could develop one CLE course for credit, what would it be about?
Sahar: Probably something combining legal ethics and social media

WLJ: Which famous person would most like to have a drink with? What would you drink?
Sahar: Donald Driver. I think I’d have to go with Miller Lite, if for no other reason, to show off my Wisconsin pride in front of Donald.

WLJ: What is your greatest fear?
Sahar: I’m not sure. Maybe drinking too many Miller Lites in front of Donald Driver?