Jennifer R. Devery
Posted On: Dec. 5, 2010 12:00 AM CST
Partner, Insurance/Reinsurance Group Practice
Crowell & Moring L.L.P.
Washington
Age: 36
Jennifer Devery made her presence felt at Crowell & Moring L.L.P. when she started at the firm in 2003 as a junior associate, rising quickly to partner practicing in the firm's insurance/reinsurance group in 2009. In 2006, Ms. Devery introduced the idea of Crowell & Moring forming its own reinsurance practice to complement the firm's insurance practice to help expand existing client relationships. The idea worked. Within four years, Crowell & Moring's reinsurance practice grew to 15 attorneys in the United States and abroad. She is a member of the Assn. Internationale de Droit des Assurances, known as the Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society in English, and serves n its law committee, the American Bar Assn.'s Sections of Litigation and Tort Trial & Insurance Practice and the U.S. Reinsurance Under 40s Group.
WHAT'S THE BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE YOU RECEIVED?
It was from my father, who told me to eliminate the word "no" from my vocabulary. He said the word should never cross your lips because people want to work with people who are receptive. If you tell people, "No," or that you are "too busy," then they may never come back to work with you. That doesn't mean you should say yes to everything, but you should convey that you would like to work on something or do something in a way that isn't so negative.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN ENTERING THIS FIELD?
Be tenacious. If you want something, you have to ask. If you ask, the worst thing that they can say is, "No," or "not this time." I think women fear that if they ask for things, that it's seen as being too aggressive.
OUTSIDE OF WORK AND FAMILY, WHOM DO YOU ADMIRE MOST?
I admire teachers and school administrators, who have great expectations of educating the next generation and do it with little to no budget and little to no thanks or gratitude for the hard work they do.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I knew what I didn't want to be…I came from a family of civil engineers and, while now I see that the work is interesting and requires some creativity, I didn't think that at the time. When I was younger, all I could think of was how much math was involved and the rules of science, and I didn't want that. Even though I was good at math, I thought the path of liberal arts seemed to be safest and most interesting because I've always liked writing.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
"Philadelphia Story."
WHAT'S THE MOST INTERESTING PLACE YOU'VE BEEN?
Most recently, Paris. I went for the first time last year. I never found myself really wanting to go to that city, though I admired it for its architecture, art and restaurants. The people were also very friendly, which made it great to visit.
WHAT DO YOU PREFER AND WHY: PHONE OR E-MAIL?
I prefer in person; but if that can't happen, then I prefer e-mail. I think e-mail gives you flexibility, especially when I'm responding to a client. It is sometimes difficult to return calls and e-mail allows you the opportunity to think about the things you want to say before you say it. Clients rarely pay me for my initial reaction to something. E-mail allows me to give them the most accurate information.