Tampa Attorney Highlights Stinson's Focus on Associate Professional Development in Daily Business Review Column

02.29.2024

Stinson LLP attorney Gregory Payton authored a column for the Daily Business Review, "Building Professional Relationships in a Virtual World," highlighting the importance of relationship building, mentorship and in-person workplace interactions for early-career associates, from his perspective as an associate who launched his career during the COVID pandemic.

Payton credits internal experiences at the firm for boosting his networking confidence and maximizing his potential for business development, as well as professional and personal growth. Joining the firm's recently opened downtown Tampa office, Payton benefited from the firm's onboarding process and how interactions with firm leadership and attorneys in his practice divisions demonstrate the firm's unwavering commitment to associate development.

"The opportunities Stinson has offered in my first year with the firm have helped build my confidence to start actively networking again, which wasn't an option during the first two and a half years of my career due to COVID," Payton writes. "Stinson partners are great about including junior associates in important conversations and introducing them to key contacts."

Payton also underlines the role of his mentor, Tampa Office Managing Partner Marc Weintraub, whose guidance enhances his professional growth. He also appreciated the firm supporting his career development as he balances fatherhood with a growing legal practice.

"In an increasingly isolated virtual world, it's been great to get out in the community. Not only have I been able to forge connections with clients, but I've also enjoyed getting to interact with other early-career professionals in person again," Payton writes. "Knowing I'm not the only one working to grow my practice while balancing new fatherhood has helped me navigate the first year of my daughter's life. And it turns out, I didn't need to worry about parental leave—I'm actually taking it this month with the full support and encouragement of my colleagues."

Payton leverages his experience to advise a wide range of clients, including public and private companies, family-owned businesses and financial institutions and their executives, and to offer invaluable insights on complex financial and corporate legal matters. His success with assisting in transactions ranging from million-dollar deals to multi-billion dollar complexities demonstrates his ability to provide practical legal solutions for his clients.

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