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 category‘An environment of possibility’ – why liability management is law’s new frontierLaw firmsAlex Ryan2 Jul 2026Trading Places: Paul Weiss hires ‘superstar’ US restructuring lawyer as Latham takes A&O Texas headLaw firmsKate Peacock26 Jun 2026Davis Polk takes Hogan Lovells M&A heavyweight ahead of Cadwalader mergerLaw firmsKate Peacock25 Jun 2026Sky’s the limit for HSF Kramer and Freshfields as pair take lead roles on £1.6bn ITV acquisitionLaw firmsKate Peacock6 Jul 2026‘M&A is back with a bang’ – global elite dominate deal rankings in best-ever H1Law firmsKate Peacock3 Jul 2026Macfarlanes bumps NQ pay to £150,000Law firmsTom Cox2 Jul 2026‘If lawyers are intimidated, the entire system suffers’ – ABA president Michelle Behnke on an unprecedented yearLaw firmsTheresa Hargreaves30 Jun 2026Pride 2026: ‘Some firms can be a lot of talk and less substance’ – in-house leaders on LGBTQ+ inclusion in lawIn-HouseTheresa Hargreaves26 Jun 2026‘Being out isn’t a barrier to progression’ – Stevens & Bolton’s Sophie Ashcroft on coming out later in lifeLaw firmsAlex Ryan25 Jun 2026