Spotlight: RedLaw interviews...Debra Last-Sutton, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Thank you to Debra Last-Sutton, Office Manager of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, for sharing how she and the firm are adapting during the lockdown. Within this interview, we talk about her new typical day, her biggest challenge adapting to remote working and what has surprised her most about how the firm has faced this pandemic.

You’ve been in the role of Office Manager for just over a year now. What’s the best part of your job? And if you weren’t working in law firm, what would you be doing?

The best part is the diversity of my role. It challenges me every day with no two days, or even hours, ever being the same! One minute I can be dealing with a sensitive HR issue, the next I’m dealing with space planning or negotiating the terms of renewal for our various insurance policies. Ultimately it’s my job to make sure everything runs smoothly and being able to do that is the most rewarding part for me.

My passion is jewellery and so if I wasn’t working in a law firm, I would have my own jewellery workshop.

Describe the firm’s culture in 3 words.

Collaborative, Supportive, Commercial

What sets your firm apart from its competitors? What does it do differently and what added value does it give to its clients?

Our structure helps foster a real sense of team. As a lock-step firm, we value the input of everyone. Our lawyers and staff are constantly striving to find creative solutions together to deal with new challenges, locally and globally. Collaboration is key in our firm.

The current climate is very uncertain at the moment across the world. What has surprised you the most about the way in which the firm has dealt with the situation? Or what makes you most proud of how the firm has dealt with the situation?

We have seen incredible demonstrations of colleagues going the extra mile to support each other and our clients. Our senior management team have led with honesty and sincerity, communicating openly and regularly with everyone. I have been humbled by the messages coming through from employees who have said how proud they are to work for a firm which clearly values its community.

How is the firm adapting their offerings to meet clients’ needs in these challenging times?

In the days running up to the London business lockdown, a mammoth effort was made to ensure our systems were up to scratch and everyone had all the equipment they needed so that everyone all had the ability to work remotely without skipping a beat. All of this has enabled us to maintain our proactive approach with clients and allow us to support them through the issues they, and their teams, are facing.

Work is looking very different for us all right now. What does your ‘new’ typical day on lockdown look like?

Staying focused through the creation of a “new” routine, I think, has been the key. Now that I don’t have a 1 ½ hour commute every morning I have time to actually eat breakfast! The first job of the day is to wake our 15 year old son (he’s usually at boarding school) so he can get ready for his daily distance learning programme. I log on around 7.45am and catch up on any emails that have come in overnight from other global offices and double check the day’s schedule. I then spend a large part of each day on a mixture of mobile and zoom calls catching up with my fabulous local management team. I will try to attend as many of the topical on- line seminars which are running at the moment to keep myself up to date on latest developments, both here and abroad. When the laptop is closed up I end my day by continuing the Couch to 5k challenge I embarked on at the beginning of lockdown. Whilst I am doing this my son and husband spend time together preparing dinner; it’s a perfect end to the day!

Our new ways of working look very different for everyone. What has been the biggest challenge for you personally adapting to the changes of remote working?

So much of my role is people focused and not being able to wander down a corridor to see people and talk something over has been a real challenge. Mobiles, zoom and email are great but they aren’t a substitute for personal contact. I think the greatest challenge has been to persuade individuals to open up about how they are feeling and not to be an island. Mental well-being is critical so having an opportunity to chat, to share a problem, is crucial in keeping morale high.

What will be your biggest take away/lessons learned, personal or professional, from this vastly different world we find ourselves in now?

Realising on a personal level that we might all have got slightly better at work life balance and discovering that we don’t all need to be in an office all of the time. This unplanned environment has given all of us the opportunity to evaluate what is most important to us and how we maybe haven’t always truly valued the contributions of those around us, not just in the office, but in the world at large.

Name 3 positives to have come out of lockdown.

A greater appreciation of work colleagues;

Everyone’s willingness to embrace significant change, and

Increased tolerance and understanding for the unique challenges that every individual is facing.

What’s your top tip in keeping connected with colleagues, family and friends during this time?

We’ve created a weekly on-line quiz with friends that keep all of our families occupied and gives us all a chance to share some laughs. It also gives us a good opportunity to catch up with what’s going on and taxes our grey matter at the same time!

The book or Netflix series you can’t put down is….

Peaky Blinders

The takeaway meal or restaurant you really miss is….

Rucoletta in Foster Lane; they make the best affumicata pasta dish!

The RedLaw team is sharing a motivational track at 2pm each day to keep connected and boost morale. What uplifting, feel good song could you suggest we add to our playlist?

“Always look on the bright side of life” by Monty Python.