The American Lawyer Features Julian Harrell in “How I Made Partner” Profile

In a Q&A article with The American Lawyer, environmental and energy partner Julian Harrell spoke on how he made partner by focusing on “developing into a well-rounded attorney who could bring dynamic contributions to the firm.”

Harrell started as an associate at Faegre Drinker in November 2015 and was promoted to partner in 2022. Regarding his decision to join Faegre Drinker, he said he “wanted to be in an environment where I could build a sustainable and robust practice, and I looked for teammates and partners who would help those goals materialize. I also looked at the firm’s footprint, brand recognition, industry strengths and leadership structure.”

Harrell touched on what he believes is the key to successful business development and how to grow professionally while navigating a hybrid work system. He also expressed gratitude to those who provided influence in his career and explained what he would tell an associate looking to make partner: “Know yourself, know your firm and embrace the power of moments.”

When asked about the challenges he faced in his career path, Harrell explained that “learning to embrace changes—especially those involving risk-taking—is a consistent challenge.” He added that, knowing what he knows now, he would tell his younger self, “To be great, you must first dispel all fear, anxiety and worry. To be great, you must practice gratitude.”

When asked about lessons learned during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrell highlighted intentionality. “We must take care of our people and be mindful of our workplace culture. These are the pillars of sustaining happy and high-performing professionals,” he said.

Looking forward, Harrell shared that he would like to leave an impact of “creating sustainable and equitable opportunities in a comprehensive way” on the industry. He noted “self-care, opportunity creation and innovative leadership” as the three key elements he wants to focus on for 2022.