Tami Kirby is partner-in-charge of Porter Wright's Dayton, Ohio office and chair of the firm's Bankruptcy and Reorganization Practice Group. In this Q&A, Tami shares what inspired her career choices and helped her develop into the lawyer she is today.

How did your Porter Wright journey begin?

My Porter Wright journey began many years ago in law school. I was fortunate enough to be hired as a summer associate during my second year of law school. After that summer, I received an offer to join Porter Wright as a first year associate after completing law school and taking the bar exam.

In the beginning, how did you know Porter Wright was the firm for you?

I had a really great summer as a summer associate at Porter Wright, and got to jump in and tackle a variety of legal issues. I have always loved the law and the intellectual challenge that was afforded to me at Porter Wright.  Additionally, I was able to learn from a lot of really smart, dedicated people. My mentors at the time helped me develop into the lawyer that I am today and are key reasons as to why I have stayed with the firm for all of these years. I simply enjoy the people that I am fortunate enough to practice law with every day.

Over the course of your legal career, what factors have made you continue to feel that Porter Wright is still the firm for you?

The people I work with have been the number one contributing factor as to why I have stayed at Porter Wright. A close second would be the clients that I work with on a regular basis. Lastly, the intellectual challenge that I am asked to help resolve.

How has the firm shaped your practice and helped develop your legal career?

My summer associate experience exposed me to my practice area. Before that summer, I thought I was going to be an employment lawyer. Instead, I ended up signing up to take bankruptcy law in the fall and immersing myself in the practice of creditors’ rights.  If I wouldn’t have spent that summer at Porter Wright, I may have never went into this practice area. The firm has played an instrumental part in developing my career from the mentorships, to my day to day practice, to firm management.  Porter Wright has afforded me with the resources, resilience, and motivation to continue to practice law every day.

Why should tomorrow's generation of attorneys purse Porter Wright?

Porter Wright has a great group of lawyers who are always looking to reach the best business solutions for their clients.