Recruiting Success Stories: Michael McCue

Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Michael McCue, a partner in our Intellectual Property group who joined Womble as part of our combination with Lewis Roca in January of 2025. 

The two discuss Womble's entrepreneurial approach and his experience since joining the firm.

More about WBD's Intellectual Property practice.

Transcript

PODCAST INTRO (00:00)

Welcome to Womble Perspectives, where we explore a wide range of topics from the latest legal updates to industry trends, to the business of law. Our team of lawyers, professionals, and occasional outside guests will take you through the most pressing issues facing businesses today and provide practical and actionable advice to help you navigate the ever-changing legal landscape. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and client service, we are committed to delivering exceptional value to our clients and to the communities we serve. And now our latest episode.

EPISODE INTRO (00:40) Welcome back to Womble Perspectives and another episode of our Recruiting Success Stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Michael McCue, a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and co-lead of Womble's Trademarks and Brand Management group.

LORI PATTON (00:58)

I am here today with Michael McCue. Michael is in our Las Vegas office, and he has been very involved in a leadership role with our practice group that engages in our trademark, copyright, licensing, privacy, so many things and that is also a part of, obviously, Michael's practice as well. So, Michael, thank you for joining us today.

MICHAEL MCCUE (01:23)

Happy to be part of this.

LORI PATTON (01:25)

We're glad to have you. You and I have met in person in a, a recent visit to Las Vegas, and I loved hearing a little bit more from you about how you got to Las Vegas and your practice here. Can you tell us a little bit about that and how you ended up with the formerly known Lewis Roca in Las Vegas?

MICHAEL MCCUE (1:47) Sure. So, I started my practice at a large firm in Washington, D.C., having come out of University of Virginia Law School, and after spending much of my life in the D.C. area, I decided I wanted to live somewhere that was different, so I picked someplace that was the opposite of Washington, D.C.: Las Vegas. So, I came to work here in 1996 and worked at an IP boutique, and then a group of us left to join Lewis Roca in 2003.

LORI PATTON (02:21) So Michael, from 2003, fast-forward to today, and of course we all now know that we have had a combination with Lewis Roca and Womble. The firm voted late 2024 on that combination, and as you reflect on that and what you've experienced up through today, what would you say are some of the benefits of the combination that you've experienced?

MICHAEL MCCUE (02:48) So the benefits I've experienced are the ones I hoped to experience, which were being part of a much bigger platform but retaining the culture of Lewis Roca. I wanted a firm that had more

depth, more breadth, and more geographic scope than Lewis Roca, because I felt like we were not able to service our clients to the extent I wanted to be able to service them. So that was my hope and expectation as part of the combination, and it has proven to be true. We have so much talent across the country that I've been able to tap into to better serve my clients, and my clients have really enjoyed having that benefit. At the same time, we've been able to maintain the same culture we had at Lewis Roca on the Womble platform. Got to meet lots of new people and really enjoyed working with and meeting everybody.

LORI PATTON (03:42) So you've talked a little bit about culture and how important that was to you and still is. Everyone has culture. Every firm, every organization has a culture, and the critical thing, of course, is to define what it looks like, what does it feel like? I'm curious to know, what, what are some of the ways you would describe not only the Lewis Roca culture you experienced, but how has that consistently flowed into what you're experiencing today post-combination?

MICHAEL MCCUE (04:10) So I would define Lewis Roca's culture and Womble's culture as a fairly cordial friendly culture. People are very positive, optimistic, willing to help each other and not the culture you hear about at some other firms where they're sort of backstabbing and competing with each other instead of working together as a team to reach a common goal. So, the, the optimism, the helpfulness are key components of what I would define as the Lewis Roca and Womble culture.

LORI PATTON (04:45)

So, I'm sure as you assessed this merger and looked at all of the components last year and talked with other partners, there were probably some concerns or some things that might have even been red flags. Now, moving forward, how do you reflect on those concerns and whether they played out at all?

MICHAEL MCCUE (05:05) Yeah, one concern I had was a loss of autonomy, 'cause I felt that at Lewis Roca I had a lot of autonomy in how I practiced. I travel a lot, I spend a lot of time with clients, and I didn't want to change how I practiced, so I wasn't sure if that would be acceptable at Womble or not. And it has. I, my practice really hasn't changed. I do have a lot of autonomy, and the firm is very supportive of what I need to do to generate business, to help my clients, and that includes lots of travel to spend time with them with really no hesitation in, in approving that approach.

LORI PATTON (05:47) You know, you use the word autonomy, and I have to say, after 22 years of being here as well that autonomy has been important to me even though I've moved from being a practicing lawyer into professional staff role. Being valued and people believing that you, you, you're bringing value and you're producing is important to getting that autonomy. Would you also equate that autonomy with a sense of entrepreneurial spirit that happens at the firm?

MICHAEL MCCUE (06:16) Absolutely. I think a lot of us feel like we are entrepreneurs but entrepreneurs not on our own in a small firm we started, but as part of a big firm where we're entrepreneurs together. There have

been, and we've seen the firm have entrepreneurial pursuits in the Advanced Services, for example, which many firms don't have. But there's always openness to doing things differently and being creative. For example, we just brought in a U.S.-based lawyer who practices China trademark law, and she had worked for a firm in China from her home in LA, and we're sending a lot of business to China. So instead, we flipped that and brought her in to handle work for our U.S. clients in China, but from LA. And that was a unique approach that the firm readily accepted and agreed was a, a great idea, and we plan to make that successful.

LORI PATTON (07:23) So I've heard you mention the things that, that you expected and hoped for, and that those things have, have come to fruition. What do you think your clients are sensing or experiencing in terms of the benefits to them of your being part of Womble Bond Dickinson?

MICHAEL MCCUE (07:40) So frequently over the years at Lewis Roca, we would have clients ask if we could help them with X. And frequently, the answer was no. Or do you have an office in Y? And frequently, the answer was no. Now, I'm able to say yes a lot more often. Yes, we have offices around the country, and we have international offices. Yes, we can do most of what clients want us to do, and whereas before, we were not able to expand the business with our clients because of our limited depth, limited breadth, and limited geographic locations.

LORI PATTON (08:20) So I wanted to jump back to maybe the very beginning, which is for you to, to talk a little bit more about your particular practice, and I guess maybe framing it up to say, you know, why do clients call you? What did they rely on you to do?

MICHAEL MCCUE (08:37) So clients call me to be their trusted advisor. My practice is primarily soft intellectual property, so mostly focused on trademarks, but also copyrights, trade secrets, rights of publicity from clearance to prosecution, enforcement and litigation, and then managing their intellectual property needs That's my primary practice.

But clients also reach out to me for help in other areas. For example, one of our clients was expanding internationally and had to deal with foreign language requirements in different markets and asked us to manage that project for them. So, we do get pulled into different types of projects where clients trust how we handle work to project manage work for them to help them in needs and areas where there may not be an expert somewhere or to help find them the expert somewhere.

LORI PATTON (09:42) So as, as you look back on this last year, which has been a lot from the beginning of conversations to intensity of votes, and then the actual combination taking place, during that time, you were also asked to take on a leadership role as the co-practice group leader for your team for that practice group, actually larger than a team. And with the copyright practice trademark licensing, as we look at all of that, what do you think about the importance of laterals participating in leadership opportunities? What sort of value have you found in it?

MICHAEL MCCUE (10:26) So many of the lawyers in our group started their careers at other firms, and anytime someone joins the group from another firm, we learn more. We learn different perspectives on how to do things, and we're always looking for different ways to do things, better ways to do things, as well as things, ways not to do things.

So, we appreciate and embrace having different perspectives and having our group with, I think, over 50 members from paralegals to associates, partners and others. We welcome input from people who have been at different firms and have done things different ways to try to improve our practice so that we can be the best we can be.

LORI PATTON (11:16) Do you think it's valuable for laterals to come into the firm seeking some leadership opportunities?

MICHAEL MCCUE (11:23) I think it is valuable. There are certainly some laterals who don't want leadership opportunities and some who do, and some may come because they didn't have those opportunities at their former firm. At our firm, we, we do have those opportunities and we don't have, you know, entrenched leadership that never rolls over. I think people are happy to share responsibilities and there's lots of opportunities, either as a practice group leader, a team leader serving on a committee, other ways in which laterals can participate in firm management and improvement and enhancement of the firm during their careers.

LORI PATTON (12:01) I think it is really an interesting factor that we have term limits, because I do think, to your point, that there are laterals who do want leadership opportunities, they enjoy it, they want to engage in it, and yet they may be in an organization where leadership is entrenched, to use your words. So, to know that you can come into our firm that every six years our practice group leadership roles, our office managing partner roles will be flipping so that new energy and new personalities, new perspectives are going to enter the DNA of the firm, and I do think that that's so appealing to people.

I know for myself, having co-practice group leaders now with you and other Lewis Roca partners joining our, our legacy Womble partners, now we're all the new Womble and we're all doing it together, but having that co-leadership, having different perspectives has been really valuable to me as I'm trying to do my job, but also can see the value of that as you all share in that role. So, I think that is important to someone.

MICHAEL MCCUE (13:03) It, it is. And certainly, being a co-practice group leader with Laura Kees, a legacy Womble lawyer, has been invaluable, and she knows the group very well, how, how things work, how to get things done so we've been able to work together to accomplish, accomplish the goals of the group effectively in, in our first year.

LORI PATTON (13:27) Michael, a lot of times people want me to talk about our culture in terms of what it feels like for the average lateral. I know we've talked a little bit about culture that you experienced just in terms of the perspective from your previous Lewis Roca, firm to joining and becoming a part of the new Womble. How would you describe our culture to the average lateral who is coming in? And better yet, how do you think laterals might really determine what the culture is at a firm? What are the questions? What should they be observing?

MICHAEL MCCUE (14:08)

Yeah, it's, it's a hard question because laterals certainly always want to go to a firm that has a good culture, and every firm says that they have a good culture. And I've worked at enough different firms that I know that that's not the case. So, I I think laterals, when they join a firm, want to know what the culture of the firm is like, and every firm says they have a great culture.

I think the questions that a lateral should ask to really try to home in on what the actual culture is, is to ask attorneys in the interview process or other attorneys they may know in the community what it's like to be there when you walk in the door. Is it a welcoming place? Is it a place that sets you up for success? And what does that process look like from an administrative perspective? What kind of help are you getting preparing to join the firm? Once you join the firm do the practice group leaders reach out to you? Is there a discussion about your personal goals and are, is there collaboration among the colleagues that you have at the firm, either in your own office or in your practice group? And what are some examples of where colleagues have helped you accomplish your goals? And is it a cooperative environment or is it a competitive environment?

Some firms have the culture of being highly competitive, you hear phrases such as cutthroat, or colleagues trying to steal business. Is that something that a firm would tolerate or is that something that a firm would refuse to tolerate and ensure that there are mechanisms to make sure that that does not happen?

LORI PATTON (15:54) I love that. I think that's a great answer. Finally, Michael, we'd love to know a little bit more about you personally. We know you invest a lot of time in your work. Give us a little bit of insight into the things that you are interested in or passionate about in terms of where you use your free time or your weekend.

MICHAEL MCCUE (16:10) What, what, what is free time? Yeah, what is free time?

LORI PATTON (16:12)

I don't know. It's a good question. I don't even have it and I'm a recovering practicing lawyer, so I don't know.

MICHAEL MCCUE (16:17) I do love to travel, spend time with my family, and travel.

LORI PATTON (16:24) And it sounds like you do that a lot for work and then you do it for fun. So, when you're doing it for fun, what are some of the things... Is it cities where you're learning and experiencing culture? Is it the beach? What are the fun things?

MICHAEL MCCUE (16:38) I, think the best vacations are a combination of city and beach. Occasionally you find a city on a beach but usually go to a city for a few days and then go to a beach for a few days to relax and enjoy. And I like international travel more than domestic see how different cultures live, and I always imagine what it would be like for me if I lived in that other culture and how I might be better off, worse off, and what if I had grown up there? How, how would I be different?

LORI PATTON (17:10) Do you have a favorite place or a couple favorites that come to mind?

MICHAEL MCCUE (17:13) I have different favorite places for different things. So, my, my favorite international cities are not surprising London; Paris; Tokyo; but I do also like the beauty of some smaller cities like Budapest, Hungary; Prague in the Czech Republic as well. It’s nice to have friends now in so many different places, being part of the firm. So, I was just in London last week for the global board meeting, and we have friends there now.

LORI PATTON (17:44) What was your impression of that experience with the global board meeting and being in London. First of all, isn’t the view from the London office amazing?

MICHAEL MCCUE (17:51) It’s an amazing view. I was a little skeptical being on that side of the river, but the view of the Tower Bridge and Tower of London was beautiful, and it was energizing to spend time with our UK colleagues in planning our future expansion, future plans, and continuing to work together cohesively.

LORI PATTON (18:18)

I have thoroughly enjoyed every person I’ve met from the UK. They are fun to be with when they come over here, I’ve spent time with them over there. I’ve visited London and Bristol and Newcastle and I love it as well, to be with them, to get a feel of their culture, to be in their spaces. And they are truly culturally, I think, such a wonderful marriage for us. Because the people are so similar to who we are. As you described them, people who are warm, collegial, they’re inviting, they want to work together.

It’s so lovely that we can have that similarity, which I think has helped us to make it work and I love that we have things like what you just did. We really have people going over to the UK from the U.S. and we have people coming to the U.S. from the UK.

It is a real combination of people, and we work to try and make that a real part of our fabric.

MICHAEL MCCUE (19:09)

One of the things I’ve really enjoyed most about Womble is the people. And having new people to meet, new colleagues to work with, new energy. And not just in the local office but across the country and into the UK.

LORI PATTON (19:27)

Oh, it’s so much fun. You’re right, it’s great new energy. Well, I thank you so much for spending time with us today and giving us a little bit of insight into your Why Womble, and what you’re enjoying here.

MICHAEL MCCUE (19:40)

Great, thanks so much, it was fun. Thanks, Lori.

PODCAST OUTRO (19:42) Thank you for listening to Womble Perspectives. If you want to learn more about the topics discussed in this episode, please visit the show notes where you can find links to related resources mentioned today. The show notes also have more information about our attorneys who provided today's insights, including ways to reach out to them. Don't forget to subscribe via your podcast player of choice so that you never miss an episode. Thank you again for listening.