Craig Wittlin

Listen to this article

Managing Partner, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP

Years in current role: 8

What professional accomplishment have you been most proud of this year?

My answer does not change from year to year — I am proud of the work we do every day for all of our clients. Sometimes the work we do is cutting edge and complicated — big deals and big cases; other times it is more routine. Regardless, I am proud that our lawyers bring their “A game” every time, for every client.

What do you think the biggest change in the legal industry will be over the next 3-5 years?

The primary new challenge is understanding the implications of generative AI on the practice of law and finding ways to use it responsibly and effectively for our clients. We shall see how far reaching the changes become, but ultimately clients should be able to gain efficiencies in the process.

What are the most important skills lawyers need that they didn’t need 10-20 years ago?

True proficiency with technology. The practice was different 20 years ago — the pace was different, and we were still often sending out letters, rather than emails, and waiting a week or more for a reply. All of that has changed, and lawyers need to be able to use technology effectively to serve clients. That said, the core skills associated with being a lawyer — things like client counseling and risk assessment — have not changed.

This profile is part of our Power 50 Law list for 2023. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at nydailyrecord.com.