Heather CM Rogers

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Managing Partner, Davidson Fink LLP

Years in current role: 4.5

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

I feel I have really come into my own as Managing Partner of the firm. We more than survived the “COVID Years” and we are now thriving and growing, with each year better than the last.

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

Probably AI, though I am not looking forward to it. We have already seen cases where it has backfired, and I worry that the younger generation of attorneys that grew up with a level of technology that I did not will come to rely on things like that. I think new attorneys coming out of law schools are having less and less problem-solving skills and lower abilities to think through an issue to its proper depth. Likewise, I am seeing less of an ability to identify issues and be clear and concise in the analysis. I think some of this is attributed to the reliance on and distraction from technology.

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

The obvious answer is the depth of technological skills — technology is certainly worlds different now than it was 10-20 years ago. I think the few less obvious answers are 1) soft skills of working with and managing a hopefully more diverse group of people than one might’ve encountered “back then” and 2) business acumen. With the commoditization of the industry, an attorney can no longer be just a lawyer to survive well.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before the end of next year?

I try not to limit myself to one thing — I always have ideas! I hope to expand the footprint of the firm in some way — adding attorneys and possibly geographic coverage; I hope to expand my side business, a retail store located in Honeoye Falls, to include self-branded products manufactured locally; and I hope to do some more travelling — stateside to cross off the remaining states my husband and I have yet to visit, and internationally, likely back to China and hopefully adding Brazil and Costa Rica. Oh, and getting more use of my new roller skates!

What Rochester-area organizations do you support and why?

Davidson Fink is committed to giving back to the Rochester Community through organizations that seem to fit with what we do. A large portion of our practice is centered around real estate in all aspects and as such Habitat for Humanity has been important to us for what amazing things they do for housing in the community that extends way beyond brick and mortar. For similar reasons, we also support and work with PCHO. We support the YWCA, Sample Soap and Willow Center for all of the great things they do for women, children, and others in need.

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.