Explore the diverse journeys, perspectives and insights of a few of our Litigation partners as they navigate the dynamic world of litigation.

Read the full Q&A featuring Andrew Azarmi, Erika Lopes-McLeman, Kristen Rodriguez and Diora Ziyaeva’s unique stories and experiences.

1. Introduce yourself.

Andrew Azarmi: I’m Andrew Azarmi, a partner in Dentons’ Oakland office, where I lead the Firm’s Northern California Commercial Litigation practice. I’m proud to be from a family of mixed cultures and nationalities (my father immigrated to the US from Iran before the Iranian Revolution, my mom is a Caucasian American, my wife is Asian American and our children are multiracial).

Erika Lopes-McLeman: I litigate complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts, at the trial and appellate level. My practice covers a variety of sectors, primarily insurance, pharmaceuticals and financial services. I have particular expertise in litigating insurance coverage disputes and class actions. I am also a mentor to junior lawyers. I co-chair the Firm’s WomenLEAD Committee. 

Kristen Rodriguez: I’m Kristen Rodriguez, a Litigation partner at Dentons, where I’ve practiced for my entire career.

Diora Ziyaeva: I am a partner in Dentons’ New York office and US sector co-leader in Mining and Natural Resources. I come from Uzbekistan, from a family of writers, actors and theatre critics. My background is Armenian and Uzbek. I came to the US as an exchange student, so-called 'a little ambassador of peace,' in the late 90s after winning a highly competitive high school exchange program through the US Department of State. I then studied in Berlin and Tashkent towards my undergraduate degree in Law and Philosophy. I was the first female from Uzbekistan to attend Harvard Law School.

2. What inspired you to pursue a career in litigation, and how has your journey been navigating this industry as a diverse professional?

Azarmi: Coming from a diverse background has been an asset in my career, as among other things it has allowed me to view things from different viewpoints and through different lenses. Clients, judges, court staff and jury pools are increasingly made up of people from diverse backgrounds. Understanding that Americans do not view things through one lens has been vital to my practice and to trying to better communicate and connect with people from different backgrounds.

Lopes-McLeman: My clerkship in the chambers of the Hon. Stuart Rabner, Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court cemented my decision. I had a front row seat for some of the best appellate litigation in the country. My journey has been exciting, in no small part because of my talented litigation colleagues at Dentons, many of whom have served and continue to serve as mentors and sponsors as I progress through my career. 

Rodriguez: Growing up, I loved competing in speech and debate competitions. In fact, I was such a speech and debate nerd that I skipped my high school prom to compete at (and win!) the state championship. When I went to college, I was disappointed that my school did not have a speech or debate team; but, it did have a very successful mock trial team. I made the team and fell in love with the adrenaline rush of being in the (mock) courtroom. Although I had never considered going to law school, and had no lawyers in my family, my mock trial coach encouraged me to pursue a legal career. I never even considered any other type of legal practice other than litigation, and I still get that adrenaline rush every time I step into a courtroom! Like many diverse lawyers, I entered the practice of law at a large law firm without any inside knowledge about law firm culture, politics or career building. While navigating through the industry is a challenge, I have been fortunate to have mentors and champions along the way who have challenged me to be my best and helped me build my practice. 

Ziyaeva: All roads have led me to the practice of international arbitration and litigation. I think it combines everything that I am. I'm proud of my background in diplomacy and public international law. I'm qualified in both civil and common law traditions, and because of the languages I speak, I am able to communicate with different cultures. I can serve as a go-between and am motivated to bridge differences.

3. As a leader in your field, how do you mentor and support diverse talent within the Firm or the legal community at large?

Azarmi: I am fortunate to come from a Firm where its leadership is diverse on multiple fronts—genuinely, our clients tell us how refreshing we are in that regard—and to have built a team that is very talented and also very diverse. In my opinion, this makes our team more effective when it comes to addressing clients, judges and juries.

Lopes-McLeman: I provide diverse talent at the Firm with opportunities for substantive, hands-on experience on my matters, and I make myself available for “real talk” about building critical skills and navigating the profession.

Rodriguez: Developing the pipeline of legal talent should start early, so I seek out opportunities to mentor and develop the next generation of legal talent. For example, I started and coached a mock trial team at a predominantly Black and Hispanic high school and remain active with coaching and judging high school and college mock trial competitions around the country. I continue to mentor many of the students from my mock trial teams over the years, and I was particularly thrilled when one student from my very first team recently made partner at her firm. 

Ziyaeva: I increase visibility of our junior associates. I serve as practice advisor and help associates in their professional development. I dedicate time for meetings to discuss career and goals. The mentorship runs the gamut, from professional development down to simple personal encouragement when they feel overwhelmed.

4. What sets Dentons' Litigation practice apart from others, and how do you ensure that your clients receive top-notch representation in their legal matters?

Azarmi: The standards we set for ourselves at Dentons, and among my team, are very high. Our clients know that, and that is why they trust us with their most important matters.

Lopes-McLeman: We have a deep bench of experienced litigators who jump in and master a case no matter the subject matter or stage of litigation. We also have the geographic breadth that gives clients the confidence that they are getting expert, local advice. Most importantly, we are invested in our clients’ success. It is not just about winning “this case” for the client. It is about winning the next one. And the next. And so on.

Rodriguez: At Dentons, we pride ourselves on becoming business partners with our clients, not just litigators handling a one-off matter. We don’t believe in litigating by inertia. Instead, we strive to understand our clients’ businesses and their industries, and we make tactical decisions to align with our clients’ overall business objectives. Partnering with our colleagues around the globe, we help our clients see what’s coming around the corner so we can proactively plan for the future.

Ziyaeva: Our International Arbitration team is one of Dentons’ most diverse practice groups. It’s rare for us to have two consecutive clients with the same nationality or cultural background. The international nature of our work makes this easier, but I have sought to push for an even broader group of promising junior lawyers. They include individuals raised on four continents, who speak half a dozen languages and bring brand new global perspectives to our team.

5. Collaboration is often key in successful litigation. How does Dentons foster a collaborative environment within its litigation practice, both internally among team members and externally with clients?

Azarmi: We employ a team approach, and we genuinely partner with our clients so they know we are actively working on ways to get better at the work we do for them and to protect their interests.

Lopes-McLeman: Fostering collaboration starts at the top. Our incredible, trail-blazing head of litigation Sandy Hauser ensures that everyone in the Litigation group, both lawyers and business service professionals like our paralegals and docketing clerks, is constantly updated on matters the department is handling. In this way, we learn from each other in ways that lead to even greater client service across the board. For example, if a team in New York successfully defends a class action, a team in Chicago has a leg up in defending a similar action against a different client down the road. 

Rodriguez: Litigators often face complicated issues in subject matters that fall outside of our practice area expertise. At Dentons, we leverage the knowledge and experience of our colleagues in numerous practice areas and industries to help ensure that our clients have the full benefit of the Firm’s scope and reach.

Ziyaeva: I provide a valuable hands-on learning experiences to a diverse set of Dentons associates. This also sends a message to our clients, who tend to value international perspectives, that Dentons promotes lawyers with nontraditional backgrounds. They not only excel in legal excellence but also offer creative solutions to our clients.

6. What advice would you give to a young professional considering a career in litigation?

Azarmi: Go into this career if you enjoy (or even better, love) the work itself. That will sustain you during the challenges this job can present. Once you are in it, try to do everything you can to gain real experience—which usually means to show the partners you work with that you can be trusted with more and more responsibility. Lastly, try to remember that the work you do impacts the work of the partners you work with, who in turn have to answer to clients and courts—so taking ownership of a task creates goodwill up the chain, that can be pivotal to your career as you progress.

Lopes-McLeman: Learning through a cycle of observation and practice is critical. Find a successful litigator in a substantive area you enjoy and observe what makes them successful. Is it their ability to succinctly argue a point? Is it their dynamic writing style? Is it how they nurture their client relationships? Then, apply what you learn to your own practice. Ultimately, the most successful litigators develop their own style, making their own imprint on this profession.

Rodriguez: Litigators must be detail-oriented and creative. Train yourself early on to read materials carefully and with an eye towards the little details, as those just might make a big difference in the end. Knowledge is power, and so the more you know, the better equipped you will be to propose creative solutions. This is a skill set you should start developing even before law school. Another skill set future litigators should develop as early as they can is the art of relationship building. Say “yes” to as many professional development events that you can and get to know people in the profession. It’s not always easy, but networking is critical to developing clients, colleagues and contacts—all of whom are essential to a successful career in litigation.

Ziyaeva: Learning to be a clear writer is critical.

About Dentons

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com