Legal All-Star – Melissa McCord – Quarles & Brady

Melissa McCord was working as a journalist but felt something was missing. She talked to people with concerns or problems for her articles and felt frustrated she couldn’t solve their problems.

A friend suggested McCord become an attorney so she could better help people.

“At first, I thought ‘no way,’ but I took the LSAT and did very well, so I went to law school,” said McCord, partner and national vice chair of Quarles & Brady’s Business Law Practice Group. “I saw how my skills as a journalist transferred well to law school and the practice of the law.”

While attending Marquette University Law School, she applied for an internship at Quarles & Brady. She originally worked in corporate law when she talked with someone who worked in finance law.

“Talking to that attorney and listening in on a call with one of her clients opened a whole new world to me,” said McCord, who represents lenders and borrowers in complex commercial finance transactions.

That attorney became one of McCord’s first mentors, training her and bringing her in on client conversations. Another mentor trained her about drafting and emphasized the importance of establishing good relationships with clients. A third mentor helped McCord improve her business development skills.

“I think that’s why I enjoy working so much with new attorneys — training and mentoring them — because I want to give back what I received from my own mentors,” she said.

Katrene Zelenovskiy, co-managing partner of Quarles’ Milwaukee office, said McCord stands out because of her personality and helps identify solutions to different problems.

“She is fearless in standing up for what she believes is right and colleagues consider her an ambassador for associates and other young attorneys,” she said.