Alumni Spotlight - Milwaukee Office
Jenn Jin
Partner Joe Pickart sits down with alum Jennifer Jinn for a conversation about the impact her time with Husch Blackwell has had on her career.
Joe:
Jenn, you’re an alum of both Husch Blackwell and of its Milwaukee predecessor firm, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek. Can you describe your history with the firm?
Jenn:
Husch Blackwell was my first legal job out of law school. I started with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek as a 2L and worked with a lot of different practice areas. I never thought I would become a tax attorney, but I got a chance to work with the tax team and loved the people, loved the leadership, and loved the work that we were doing that summer. After graduation, I had the opportunity to join the firm and spent eight formative years with WHD/Husch Blackwell.
Husch Blackwell was a great fit, but I later had the opportunity to join the WEDC, the lead economic development organization for the state of Wisconsin. I doubt I would have gotten the opportunity with WEDC if not for the support that Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek and Husch Blackwell provided to me in developing my interest in international trade work. It was through that that I really started to meet the different players within the state.
With the support of Joe Pickart, who was my mentor and the leader of the tax team, I really learned how to think like a lawyer – to see the big picture, that is, to really understand an issue, find creative solutions, and resolve concerns. Bringing that experience to the rest of my career has been invaluable.
Joe:
You've gone from being in private practice, to working for a governmental agency, then to working in house at Briggs & Stratton, and now you’re general counsel at Neenah Enterprises, Inc. What special skill set do you bring to this job?
Jenn:
The thing that I bring to my everyday business life is the diversity of my background. I have experience representing a wide range of different companies through my work at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek and Husch Blackwell. I bring the experience of understanding how governmental entities think based on my work within the state, and finally being in-house, I was able to bring all that experience together to look at how everything fits into the big picture. I now build a strategy and a framework to be successful in whatever I’m dealing with. So I see myself as a problem solver: any kind of complex issues that come about, regardless of whether they’re strictly legal issues or not, I’m there to help provide the support, guidance, and leadership to find a solution and drive towards it.
Joe:
How do you interact with governmental entities in your current position?
Jenn:
As GC, I have to make certain that I build the right relationships with the administrative agencies that are regulating us, so whether it’s defending against a taxing authority or working with the EPA, I must understand the nuances of the rules that guide those particular entities. I have to put myself in the position to understand what their priorities are and ensure that our in-house programs are meeting all of those priorities’ expectations and requirements.
Joe:
When you meet with or about government entities, do you share with them or your colleagues that you formerly worked for the government?
Jenn:
I’m truly proud of the work I did with WEDC. Interestingly, I had a conversation recently where we were talking about how we wanted to resolve an issue relating to a governmental entity which involved a wide range of different players. As soon as I referenced that I had the experience both representing taxpayers in litigation against state departments of revenue, the IRS, and municipalities, and that I also worked on the government side for WEDC, I was instantly credentialed. And that makes sense, because those two experiences help me better understand the government’s priorities and methods of accomplishing their goals, which allows us to better connect with officials when we need to or, if necessary, better prepare for tough negotiations.
Joe:
What is a typical day for you now as GC?
Jenn:
I think that the nice thing about being a lawyer in general is that there is no normal. Every day is going to be different. Oftentimes you have a game plan for what you think you’re going to accomplish, and you’ll have to figure out how to roll with the punches that come your way. But the part that I really enjoy is the problem solving. It’s about applying your perspective in a way that is going to help to resolve whatever concerns come across your desk.
Joe:
I’m going to ask both ends of the same question. First, what is your most valued outside counsel behavior?
Jenn:
I like it when outside counsel peek around the corner for me and are able to flag things that I should be thinking about or resolving ahead of the time. The relationships that I really enjoy are those where they can come to me in a way that says, for example, we had a deal, and you have to make sure that you meet this reporting deadline. I know that they’ve got my back, and they’re able to make sure that I keep on track of things that often might disappear behind the scenes.
Joe:
Next, what outside counsel behavior most annoys you?
Jenn:
Oftentimes I really want someone who’s going to direct the process and make things easy, efficient, and effective. I’m reaching out to outside counsel because they are the expert in the area, and I really need them to tell me this is the way that it should proceed; this is how we’re going to make sure that we do it the best way we can. Outside counsel who can’t lead in that way don’t help me.
Joe:
I expected that you would mention rates. How rate sensitive are you as a GC?
Jenn:
I always want to make sure that I’m being a steward of the organization. But there is a lot of value in working with someone who’s going to get it done well for you, so it’s a balance. I want to feel like I’m getting the value for my spend, and sometimes that comes at higher rates. But I don’t want surprises. We need to jointly manage expectations.
Joe:
I’m going to switch gears on you. What do you like doing outside of the office? What are your hobbies?
Jenn:
One of the big things that I have always loved to do is travel. I have gone to over 40 countries at this point in my life, and I hope to be able to continue to visit as many other countries as I can.
Joe:
What country is next in your bucket list?
Jenn:
I don’t have one right now. Starting in this new position, I want to first prioritize understanding the company, my colleagues, and our goals before thinking about a big trip.
Joe:
Do you have a country in mind that you haven’t gotten to that you want to get to at some point?
Jenn:
I don’t really have a number one, but I’d love to see Jordan, Egypt, and Israel. Those places may not be the best places to go next. But someday!
Joe:
If you could return to only one country for a visit, what would that country be?
Jenn:
The two that come to mind are the ones that are probably the most difficult to go to currently: Cuba and Russia. They are so unique and different.
Joe:
What is a favorite memory from your time at Husch Blackwell?
Jenn:
The reason I really loved my time at Husch Blackwell was the team environment where we were able to sit around the room and spitball and strategize and work together to find a solution. I can remember so many times when you, Ross Anderson, and I would sit around and talk through the best way to reach the tax commissioner or judge in a tax case. Our job was to break down a very technical subject matter in a way that made sense to a non-tax professional so that, at the end of the day, we made the complex tax issue into a simple fairness issue, with our client on the right side of that question.
Joe:
So, I have just one more question for you. At HB, we have so many talented associates who are just starting their careers and are asking themselves how to balance work and life. What piece of advice would you give them?
Jenn:
As I’ve gotten more senior, I’ve come to realize that there’s a lot of pressure we put on ourselves to fit into the mold of what we think success looks like. But the trick is to be authentic to yourself and to own what you can bring to the table in your relationships with colleagues, clients, friends, and community members. It will all work out.