of the renowned Lakers Girls performance squad . But despite her comfort with the stand-and-deliver requirements of the position , her own choice would not be without risk .
Indeed , the choice before her now was one of nearly unfathomable consequence .
On the table — literally — in the form of a proposal scrawled on the back of a cocktail napkin was the opportunity to do something unheard of . Start a brand new national law firm focused on an incredibly complex area of law alongside one of the most powerful and best-known attorneys in the nation — the Czar — a veteran attorney with a practice nearly 20 years in the making who , at the time , was an equity partner at one of the world ’ s largest law firms .
But there was a reality-show-worthy catch . They ’ d never met before .
“ This was like getting married at first sight ,” the Baroness states matter-of-factly before finally easing into a short but emphatic laugh . “ Really , it was even crazier than that . If you get married , you could always get a divorce . I was betting my entire career on a guy I had just met .”
Despite the oddness of the situation , the Baroness knew she was making a good bet . After all , she had a very fitting ace up her sleeve .
BRITTANY ANDRES
A . K . A . THE BARONESS
While the Baroness and Czar may have been on the professional equivalent of the ultimate blind date , they had an incredibly noteworthy matchmaker pulling strings behind the scenes — Queenie herself , Puja J . Amin . It was Puja who had brought the two together to create a new law firm . She was the one who had suggested that Brittany attend LeadsCon to hash out the terms . And Puja occupied a very special place of trust with the Baroness that helped assure her it would all work out .
Long before the Baroness would rise among the attorney elite , she started her legal career in relatively humble fashion as a legal secretary . But she was unusually lucky even then .
Her boss ? Queenie , herself .
“ I was so incredibly lucky to be able to cut my teeth in litigation working as a secretary for one of the premier female litigators in the nation ,” the Baroness explains . “ Watching the way Puja would handle matters with such ease , how she always knew just what to do . Such fantastic judgment . I always thought : I want to be a confident , strong litigator like her one day .”
When Brittany told Puja of her desire to attend law school , Queenie served as a massive supporter and guiding hand . “ Puja assisted me with every aspect of my application . She was in my corner rooting for me , day in , day out ,” Brittany recounts
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