Navigating Legal Challenges and Celebrating Milestones: An Interview with Bill Pittard, Managing Partner of Kaiser PLLC
As Kaiser PLLC celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, we sat down with Bill Pittard, the firm’s Managing Partner. From his beginnings as an elementary school teacher to navigating the complexities of Washington, D.C.’s political landscape, Pittard offers insights into legal practice, leadership, and the art of client representation.
Q: You’ve had a remarkable career path, from teaching elementary school to becoming a successful lawyer, and currently serving as Managing Partner at Kaiser. How did your experiences as an educator shape your approach to leadership and client representation in the legal profession?
Bill: Both teaching and being a managing partner share a common thread: you get the culture you create. In teaching, your classroom is your domain—everything that happens there, good or bad, reflects the environment you’ve fostered. The same principle applies to managing a law firm. If you want excellence and kindness, you better actively contribute to creating that environment.
Q: Washington is a political town, and your practice is necessarily political. You served in the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives under two Republican Speakers, but you’ve represented prominent officials from both major parties. Is it possible to be bipartisan in Washington anymore?
Bill: Absolutely. The lawyer ideal, I think, is that of “a lawyer’s lawyer”—someone who gives their absolute best to their clients, no matter the client, and certainly no matter the client’s politics. That said, in today’s partisan environment, it can be challenging. I’ve met with potential clients who were wary because of my work with individuals from opposing political camps. Swiftly building and maintaining trust is crucial.
Q: Your practice often involves representing clients facing high-stakes challenges, including congressional inquiries and investigations. What unique strategies do you employ to navigate these politically sensitive matters while ensuring the best outcomes for your clients?
Bill: If I have any wisdom here, it’s recognizing that every situation is different, and that it can shift over the course of a representation. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. You have to listen to your client, be alert to the changing dynamics, and keep adjusting. There’s no room for autopilot—clients need you to be fully engaged and thinking about what’s around the next corner.
Q: In your role as Deputy General Counsel for the House and then Acting General Counsel, what were the most challenging legal issues you encountered, and how did you address them?
Bill: One of the most challenging aspects in the House was also one of the most basic: determining the client and the scope of representation across various situations. As institutional counsel, we represented the House, Committees, Members, and staff on a host of issues. The House being what it is, those individuals and entities were regularly in sharp disagreement on many of those issues. So, we had to be careful to understand who we were representing on particular matters and to communicate that clearly—that was the only way to maintain trust and credibility.
Q: While I’m sure serving as Managing Partner of Kaiser is stress free, the practice of law is often stressful. How do you handle stress? Do you have tips that could be helpful for other lawyers?
Bill: For me, it’s exercise. I run, and I also play soccer on an old-people’s team. That escape to feeling like a kid again is magical and often the best part of my week—aside from hanging with the family, of course!
Q: Your work spans headline-grabbing events in Washington, D.C., including the impeachments of former-President Trump and now the impeachment inquiry regarding President Biden. Can you discuss a specific instance that required balancing legal acumen with an understanding of political dynamics during one of these high-profile cases?
Bill: During the Trump impeachments, we represented at least three different witnesses. They each had their own perspectives and goals. It was a great opportunity to showcase our ability to listen to our clients and, for each of them, to advance their objectives, not our own and not those of any other witness.
Q: Many law firms don’t make it to 15 years; they fold or are merged into other firms. Why has Kaiser continued to thrive?
Bill: We do two things really well: We take care of our clients, and we take care of each other. That’s been, and I suspect will remain, the secret sauce.
Q: What do you see for the future of Kaiser as it celebrates its 15th year? What are some of the challenges the firm faces in this legal environment?
Bill: Our main challenge is effectively communicating what we are able to achieve for our clients. We consistently go above and beyond, and we consistently achieve great results. To be able to keep doing that, though, we’ve got to effectively let potential clients, and the kind folks who point those clients toward us, know about all that good work.
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As Kaiser PLLC celebrates its 15th anniversary, it’s clear that the firm’s success stems from a commitment to excellence and a strong internal culture. Bill Pittard’s leadership continues to steer the firm through the intricate legal landscape of Washington, D.C., ensuring that Kaiser remains a trusted name in the profession.
