Law firms ‘Eventually you have to learn to trust yourself’ – Simpson Thacher’s Deborah Gruen on succeeding in law Elisha Juttla · 11 March 2025 · 3 min read Corporate and M&A DEI Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Deborah Gruen, a former US Paralympic swimmer, now funds partner at Simpson Thacher in New York, reflects on the key skills needed to thrive in corporate law and the importance of setting personal goalsWhy did you decide to become a funds lawyer? Your limit of 1 article in 30 days is up. Please login for full access or subscribe. Corporate users - click here for simple access (no password needed). For more information, please contact [email protected] Related ContentMore in this categoryTop US pair powers $5bn Blackstone investment in Google AI joint ventureLaw firmsEliza Winter20 May 2026Trading Places: Simpson continues K&E raid as Paul Weiss adds disputes in HoustonLaw firmsEliza Winter19 May 2026Revolving Doors: latest London laterals for White & Case, Willkie and Morgan LewisLaw firmsNews Editor18 May 2026‘The acid test’ – what the potential Setfords sale says about private equity interest in lawLaw firmsTom Cox26 May 2026Elite US firms in the cockpit as SpaceX files for landmark IPOLaw firmsKate Peacock21 May 2026‘It isn’t enough to raise awareness’ – Freshfields’ Reena Parmar on how to create accountable change for disabled lawyersLaw firmsWill Lewallen1 May 2026Latham, A&O Shearman and WBD take honours at Legal 500 UK ESG AwardsLaw firmsKate Peacock1 May 2026‘I’ve learned not to take keyboard warriors seriously’ – Garden Court’s Oscar Davies on practising law in the culture warLaw firmsEliza Winter27 Apr 2026Breaking ranks: can AI and private capital fuel a boutique boom?Law firmsEliza Winter26 May 2026