BBA Spotlight Series: Get to Know Emerging Leaders in Boston Law – Leah S. Rizkallah

This summer, we’re spotlighting emerging leaders in Boston law to highlight the work they do, their legal careers thus far, and their connection to the larger Boston legal community. We caught up with Foley Hoag Associate Leah S. Rizkallah, to learn more about her growing Commercial Litigation Practice, her advice to new lawyers in Boston, and more. Check out the full interview below: 

Boston Bar Association: What inspired you to become a lawyer? And more specifically, what sparked your interest in commercial litigation?

Leah Rizkallah: My interest in the law first began in junior high mock trial and continued to develop throughout my academic career. My interest in becoming a lawyer was solidified after I experimented with a number of internships and jobs in a variety of areas from finance to marketing and law. I consistently found myself drawn to positions and projects that touched on the law, which gave me confidence in my decision to go to law school. The continuous learning, fact-finding, and advocacy that is prevalent in commercial litigation drew me into the practice.

BBA: What advice would you give to new lawyers or law students entering the profession?

Leah: My greatest advice for anyone entering the profession is to be introspective and intentional about defining success for yourself. Rather than looking to outside markers or comparing yourself to others, think deeply about what you want out of your career and your life and prioritize those values that are most important to you in navigating your own path. There is no singular definition of success and there are many avenues and options within the legal field. Finding a path that is true to who you are and continuing to re-evaluate that as you learn more will pay dividends throughout your career.

BBA: What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Leah: I am proud that I have developed and maintained a diverse litigation and white-collar practice where I’ve honed my ability to work with a wide variety of clients and tackle complicated legal issues across subject matters and jurisdictions. The diversity of my practice has allowed me to bring creative perspectives and approaches to solving my clients’ legal challenges.

BBA: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Leah: I love digging into complex cases both in terms of fact-development and litigation strategy and working with my clients to find an approach that meets their business and litigation objectives. I enjoy the opportunity to learn about my clients, their business, and their industries, which always informs my work. The continuous learning keeps me on my toes and makes every day interesting.

BBA: What are some of the challenges you face in your job, and what strategies have you devised to best handle those challenges?

Leah: One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced in my career has been navigating the demands of this profession while caring for my father, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s while I was in law school. Learning how to manage the demands of being a law firm associate, maintaining excellent work product, taking on leadership opportunities, and prioritizing client service while simultaneously dealing with the stresses, unpredictability, and grief of caregiving for a seriously ill family member required me to develop a high-level of resilience. In managing this difficult balance, it was important to maintain a commitment to both my career and my family through discipline and time management and to develop trusting and reliable support networks. The challenges of balancing caregiving and career can be particularly acute for women and practitioners from underrepresented backgrounds, and I believe it is important to promote an open space for conversations on this topic.

BBA: What kind of pro bono and community work have you been a part of, and why is that kind of work important to you?

Leah: While my pro bono practice has been varied, in recent years my work has been focused on government transparency and reproductive rights. I have been able to work with organizations doing essential and challenging work in these areas. Given the rapidly evolving legal landscape, it’s been important for me to participate in this work and help advocate for a legal system that promotes fairness, honesty, and individual liberties.

BBA: Why is it important to you to be involved in the broader legal community, like the BBA? How has this helped you in your career?

Leah: Being actively involved in the legal community promotes building a dynamic and rewarding legal career. Building connections with others in the profession has allowed me to better develop my own practice and skills and to better serve my clients. It also fosters a shared interest in improving and evolving the practice of law to address the changing landscapes of the profession, whether it be through a diversifying workface, rapidly evolving technology, or shifting legal precedents.

BBA: You are the Vice President of the Arab American Bar Association of Massachusetts, which you helped co-found. What are the benefits of being part of an affinity bar association like that, and what was that process like to form that association in Massachusetts?

Leah: Co-founding and now leading the Arab American Bar Associate of Massachusetts has been a huge milestone in connecting my professional and personal identities and supporting a community that is so important to me. Being a first-generation Arab American has both positively impacted my career and comes with its own challenges. The Arab American community in Massachusetts is so diverse, dynamic, and vibrant. Having a professional network that elevates, connects, and supports that community has been incredibly meaningful. Affinity bar associations like the AABA of MA have an important role to play in ensuring that everyone who chooses this profession, regardless of their background, has the resources and support they deserve, through mentorship, professional development, and community.

Forming the AABA of MA was a years-long process that involved connecting with other affinity bar associations to learn the strategies and pitfalls of starting an affinity organization, identifying professionals that would take an active leadership role in the organization, and determining the core objectives of the organization. Thankfully, the AABA of MA has been received with great enthusiasm and our membership has grown quickly and organically.

BBA: Prior to moving to Foley Hoag’s Boston office in 2019, you were practicing in New York. Beyond the obvious upgrade in sports teams, what was that transition back to Boston like, especially occurring not long before the pandemic changed the way we all work and interact? And how did Foley Hoag facilitate that transition during a time of such upheaval?

Leah: My transition from New York to Boston was relatively smooth in 2019. Foley Hoag provided a very welcoming environment and, having grown up in the Boston area, I enjoyed reconnecting with family and friends. Foley Hoag did an exceptional job keeping members of the firm connected throughout the pandemic and remote work. Firm leadership provided great transparency on how the firm was meeting the challenges of the pandemic and took into consideration feedback from firm constituents. I did not have much time to get plugged in with the broader Boston legal community before the pandemic hit and not having the benefit of in-person networking and programming was challenging. Taking advantage of the opportunities now available to get connected to the Boston legal community, including through the BBA, is now one of my priorities.

BBA: What is your favorite Summer activity in Boston?

Leah: After a long winter, I enjoy taking my dog to all the great beaches and parks around Boston. Castle Island and the Arnold Arboretum are among our favorites.