As a member of the bank’s in-house legal department, Lisa counsels clients on workouts and bankruptcy issues and guides outside counsel on bank policy. She also chairs the department’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.

What does an average day look like for you?

I wouldn’t say I have an “average” sort of day. They really vary. And since we have all been working from home, the kinds of things that fill my days now are a little different from the kinds of things that filled my days before. For example, I cover a handful of markets, so I still work with our law firms and clients in those markets, but I am not travelling to those markets, which I used to do on a pretty regular basis. I have also had to understand some of the impacts of COVID-19 on my clients and the bank’s customers, which is obviously new.

Beyond those changes, I spend a lot of time counseling my clients on various workout and bankruptcy issues, act as a liaison between my clients and our law firm partners, provide a lot of guidance to our outside counsel on bank policy and how that influences our approach in a given situation, provide training on bankruptcy and workout issues and am a member of several working groups focusing on more specialized issues.

What led you to PNC?

I think it was more the position that caught my attention. I wasn’t really looking to move, but when I came across the posting for a workout lawyer, and I looked at the experience the position required, I was able to check a lot of boxes. The job was exciting and new and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. The fact that PNC has such a presence and a good reputation in Pittsburgh made me comfortable with my decision.

What was it about PNC that appealed to you?

Particularly in Pittsburgh, PNC has a strong reputation. The bank is very active and visible in the community and is generally known to be a good place to work. The legal department is almost the same size as Cohen & Grigsby was at the time so, again, there was a certain familiarity and comfort that was appealing.

What do you enjoy most about working in-house?

I like being embedded in, and getting to know the business, especially a complex business like a financial institution. The bank, and the legal landscape governing banks is dynamic, so I learn something new every day.

We hear that you are involved with PNC’s Diversity and Inclusion program. Tell us about that role.

I currently serve as the chair of the PNC Legal Department’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. I was a vice chair before that, and I started on the Council by establishing our summer program. I actually ran the summer associates program and served on the recruiting committee at Cohen & Grigsby, which is why I was initially invited to do this work in the legal department.

As far as what I do on the Council, I work with an incredible group of people who are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. I largely oversee the administration of the Council and facilitate the programs and the projects that members of our department are interested in hearing and Council members want to present. Of course, I also participate in many of the programs we put on, and then I am a liaison to the PNC umbrella D&I organization. I also spend time working with many of our partner law firms to find ways to collaborate on D&I initiatives and provide support in their efforts to improve diversity and inclusion within their organizations.

How did you become interested in the type of law you are currently practicing?

I always thought I would go to court, and I liked the idea of having a discrete or niche area of the law as my guidepost, so when the need for bankruptcy lawyers arose as I was just starting my career, it made sense to me to start taking on that kind of work and learning the Bankruptcy Code. I never looked back.

In what ways did your time at Dentons Cohen & Grigsby (formerly Cohen & Gribsby) help prepare you for what you are doing today?

I only did creditors’ work and I represented a number of financial institutions when I was at Cohen & Grigsby, which meant that when I came to PNC, I was able to understand the lender side of the equation. My clients’ needs when I was in private practice were pretty consistent with the needs of my internal PNC clients. And then, as I mentioned, I did a lot of recruiting and working with law students and new law school graduates. That work equipped me for the work I did when I first joined the D& I Council.

Tell us about a few of your favorite memories of the firm?

One of the best experiences of my career was working with Bill Kelleher. I know that isn’t a specific memory, but it’s the thing I appreciated the most about my time at Cohen & Grigsby. Bill is knowledgeable and experienced and I learned so much about bankruptcy and the practice of law from him. Even when we disagreed on a particular matter (which happened from time to time) he brought so much credibility and confidence to his position. I learned how important those characteristics were in being a good advocate. Plus, sometimes it was just fun to argue!

Are there any aspects of working in a law firm that you miss?

I miss the people! Specifically, I worked with a great team in the Creditors’ Rights group, but beyond that, I developed so many strong relationships with lawyers throughout the organization. I also mentored many a summer associate and new lawyer, many of whom are partners now and many of whom I still keep up with.

Any advice you would give your younger self?

I would advise against spending too much time plotting out my career, and more time developing skills like tenacity and agility. It is so easy to get set on a particular course and then feel stuck. Be intentional in positioning yourself to take advantage of whatever unexpected opportunity or experience comes your way.

What do you like to do outside of work? Any special interests?

I have gotten really into hot yoga in the past 6 or 7 years, and last year, I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training course. I taught a 5:30 a.m. heated power yoga class through the winter, but, as with many other things, the studio had to shut down in mid-March. We are up and running virtually now, so I still teach a weekly class online.

Do you have advice for lawyers who are interested in following a similar career path?

I would start by referring to the advice I would give my younger self! I wish I could say that I am exactly where I planned to be, but the truth is, I went were the opportunities were, I gravitated toward good people and good mentors, and I kept an open mind. I think the law firm is the best place to get the foundational legal training to go in house later, so I can say that for those who are interested in going in house, it makes sense to put in some real time in the law firm environment, honing your craft and building relationships.

How has the pandemic affected you and your work?

Logistically, I save a lot of time by not commuting to work and back every day, which I appreciate. I am still able to do most everything at home that I did in the office, but I miss the human interaction. Substantively, given the nature of what I do, as this pandemic goes on I anticipate I will get much busier and I have already seen some evidence of that.