Coffee Break: Margaret Battersby Black of Levin & Perconti

Q: Describe your company.

A: My company is a law firm that specializes in helping victims of castsatrophic injury and death hold wrongdoers accountable for these injuries by obtaining compensation for their harms and losses caused to them or a loved one.

Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?

A: Yes. We are constantly investing in our staff and new talent. As providers of legal services, the work product we put out is quick and successful results and that can only be achieved with hardworking and talented lawyers and paralegals.

Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?

A: Tackling the backlog of cases from the pandemic that were stalled in the court system and are now all going to be ready for trial at the same time. Making sure that we aggressively work through those cases and bring the same great results to them and new clients who need our help too.

Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?

A: Trying to determine how and to what extent Chat GPT and other AI software may be able to be integrated into our industry in the future to allow us to be more efficient.

Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie executive, what would it be?

A: Learn strategies to allow you to make quick but thoughtful and effective decisions. Being stalled by an inability to make decisions can be paralyzing. You can be confident in your decisions but do not be afraid to rethink something if it is not working. By the same token, if you are making collaborative decisions, come to the table with recommendations and provide something value added rather than seeking out others to make the decision for you.

Q: Do you have a business mantra?

A: Be solution oriented, not problem oriented.

Q: From a business outlook, whom do you look up to?

A: My partners Steve Levin, John Perconti and Mike Bonamarte. We look up to each other. Some of us have experience, some have youth or new perspectives and we have all encountered challenges that are unique to each of us that the others can benefit from learning.

Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know?

A: I have been with my company since I was a law student and many other senior lawyers and partners at my office followed the same path. We are very much a “home grown” firm.

When I initially joined Levin & Perconti, one of the things that attracted me was its dedication to gender diversity and its proactive approach to empowering women in leadership positions. Over the years, I have personally witnessed the firm's unwavering commitment to this cause, and I am proud to have played a part in advancing its initiatives.

In a predominantly male-dominated field, our firm has made a steadfast commitment to cultivating an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages the growth and advancement of women within our ranks.

As a testament to our commitment to promoting women, I am proud to have risen through the ranks to become the managing partner of our firm. This achievement is not only a reflection of my dedication and abilities, but also a testament to the firm's genuine commitment to creating a level playing field for all its lawyers, regardless of gender.

Q: Was there a moment in your career that didn't go as you had planned? What lesson did you learn from it?

A: Yes. When I lost my first case at trial. I learned a lot about perservearance and that you learn far more about yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses when you lose a case than when you win a case.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Hang out in my backyard at our pool or fire pit in the summer. I spend a lot of my free time attending travel soccer games and kids baseball games, gymnastics meets or dance recitals or attending to family events involving both my immediate and very large extended family, most of whom live in Michigan.

Q: What book is on your nightstand?

A: None currently. I tend to read depositions from my cases at night, but hopefully I will have time for a summer read or two. My daughter is reading, “Are you there God it's me, Margaret.” I plan to read the book so we can discuss and watch it in the theaters.

Q: What keeps you up at night?

A: Things in the world that are threats to my family, my business or the world order that unfortunately, I cannot control.

Q: If you were not doing this job, what do you think you would be doing?

A: I think I would be managing people or processes in another industry, possibly financial, as I started my career there after college before deciding to go back to law school.

Q: What was your first paying job?

A: Babysitting and then as a shirt-stamper on men's dress shirts at a dry cleaner so they wouldn't get lost in the laundry.

Q: If you could put your company name on a sports venue, which one would you choose?

A: Probably one of the professional soccer teams because my family and I love watching soccer and it would be cool to have another reason to go.

Q: Two people to follow on Twitter and why. (besides your company)

A: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (to stay up to date on current happenings in Chicago law) and CNN (for world /national news).