The legal profession can be challenging at times, but I find my career really rewarding and it’s worth the work.
A Conversation On Lessons Learned & Life In The Law With Attorney Sabrina Bigelow
Sabrina Bigelow is an attorney in our vibrant real estate practice group, where her work focuses primarily on real estate transactions, such as assisting developers and homebuilders with the purchase, sale, and lease of commercial properties.
We recently had the pleasure of talking with Sabrina about her life in the legal profession.
As Fennemore closes out its celebration of Women’s History Month in March, in this week’s leadership profile we talked with attorney Sabrina Bigelow! In Phoenix, real estate is the name of the game – tell us a little bit about your practice, including your involvement in CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women Network).
Real estate certainly is the name of the game in Phoenix! I am fortunate enough to work with a number of developers in the sale, purchase, and leasing of commercial properties. I also work with a number of homebuilders on their master planned and build to rent communities.
I’ve met so many successful women in the commercial real estate industry through my involvement in AZCREW. CREW is a great way for women in commercial real estate to connect and share referrals and other advice in the industry.
What would you tell your younger self, or a 1L, (especially a woman) at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law currently contemplating a career in the legal profession?
Just keep swimming! Law school and especially the legal profession can be challenging at times, but I find my career really rewarding and it’s worth the work.
Who is your hero – or the person who has had the greatest impact on your life and career?
There are so many people in my life and at Fennemore who I look up to and who have made a huge impact on my career. Of course, my parents are my heroes – they love hard and are my biggest supporters.
At Fennemore, Jay Kramer and Jim Bond are truly the best of the best lawyers and have taught me so much about how to think like a lawyer and the importance of building client relationships; Stacie Smith and Susan Wissink are complete bosses with universal likeability and have been such champions for me in my career.
When you make mistakes, how do you pick up the pieces and move forward?
Any time I make a mistake, I ask myself, “will this matter in 1 year? 5 years?” If the answer is no, I try to learn from the mistake and move past it. Thinking about the useful life of the mistake helps me put things into perspective.
What’s the best – and worst – piece of career advice that you’ve ever received?
The best piece of career advice I’ve received is to not take anything personally. I think the best way to learn is to welcome (constructive) feedback and criticism without internalizing it as a personal failure.
I don’t know that I’ve ever received bad career advice. Different things work for different people and I’m grateful for people who have taken the time to share with me what has worked for them.
What are you currently listening to (podcast or music); reading; and watching/streaming – and what’s your go-to take-out order?
I’ve been listening to the new Morgan Wallen album on repeat. I’m going to his concert in July with my husband.
My go-to take-out order is the chopped salad at The Gladly.
Okay, you’re hosting a lavish dinner party at your home. Name the three people – from any time in human history – who you’d invite.
Marilyn Monroe, Sacagawea, and Zaharie Ahmad Shah (the MH370 pilot).
You’re a super lawyer – if you were a superhero, what would be your ultimate power?
I would want to be able to fly. I am not afraid of heights, I hate traffic, and I would love a bird’s eye view.
Many thanks to Sabrina for her inspiring insights!
To learn more about how our industry-leading Real Estate team (with a geographic footprint extending from Colorado to California) can partner with your organization, please visit: https://www.fennemorelaw.com/services/practices/real-estate/ .
