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 jasmine.glass@legalbusiness.co.uk Related ContentMore in this categoryLinklaters and Slaughters lead on £1.4bn takeover of FTSE 250 manufacturer SeniorLaw firmsWill Lewallen10 Apr 2026Trading places: Kirkland launches Phildaelphia transactions practice as Sidley hires Cravath ECM partnerLaw firmsWill Lewallen10 Apr 2026Simpson Thacher passes $3bn mark with double-digit revenue and PEP growthLaw firmsKate Peacock8 Apr 2026How CMS M&A partner David Roberts became the restaurant expert on both sides of the tableLaw firmsKate Peacock20 Apr 2026‘We’ve got the building blocks in place to grow’ – Harbottle closes in on £60mLaw firmsTom Cox17 Apr 2026Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader partners approve largest ever law firm mergerLaw firmsKate Peacock15 Apr 2026Legal 500 ESG Awards – meet the contenders for internal support network of the yearLaw firmsAlex Ryan17 Apr 2026A&O Shearman, HSF Kramer and E.ON among contenders for Legal 500 ESG AwardsLaw firmsNews Editor18 Mar 2026A safe haven in an unsafe world – how Ireland’s legal market is thriving amid global instabilityLaw firmsAmy Ulliott3 Mar 2026