Women’s Initiative at Dain Torpy: Kate M. Carter
What drew you to focus your practice on commercial real estate law?
My practice is a function of equal parts happenstance and intention. When I was a first-year associate my office happened to be in the path of the head of my then-firm’s real estate litigaiton practice group. His hair was on fire – a big client had just been served with a motion for preliminiary injunction in a prescriptive easement / beach rights case and he needed research, fast. That first assignment became my first trial. When I moved over to Dain Torpy my focus narrowed to primarily commmercial real estate. So much of the practice of law can feel esoteric. I love how tangible a practice focused on commerical real estate feels. I can drive through a city and point out to my boys – I helped ensure that building got built. I helped shape that block of the city.
How do you build strong relationships with your colleagues and clients?
As with any relationship, fostering strong relationships with your colleagues and clients is all about ensuring an authentic connection. Learn about your colleagues and clients as people. Where did they vacation this summer? What do their children enjoy doing? What restaurants have they recently visited in the city. Ask questions and listen to the answers. Sure, you need to demonstrate your command and expertise of the subject matter and that you are a trusted advisor to whom the client or colleague can come with a question or problem. But making that human connection is so important.
Are there any particular causes or issues within or outside of the legal profession that you are passionate about or actively involved in?
I have partnered with the Political Asylum Immigration Representation Project (PAIR) since my first year of practice. The PAIR Project provides pro bono counsel to recent immigrants and refugees entangled in the quagmire of the American immigration system. I have represented individuals from Togo, Uganda, Syria, Singapore, and Nigeria who have had to made the heartbreaking and heroic decision to leave their homes and families because of persecution. Their optimism in American freedom and opportunity is affirming. Representing these individuals has been one of the great privileges of my professional career.
What is your favorite meal to cook?
I love making homemade raviolis. My family is Italian and we have a special seven course meal at Christmas. The third course is spinach ravioli in marinara. I love going to the North End to pick out the semolina flour and ricotta for the filling. I love rolling out the dough in our pasta maker, and cutting the raviolis in our special mold with our sons. It is a lot of work – and at times I am cursing the decision not to buy raviolis – but it is one of my favorite traditions.