Meet Marianne Curtis | Lawyer, Athlete, Wife, and Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marianne Curtis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marianne, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Being a lawyer has traditionally been understood as a very formulaic and “in-the-box” profession. However, in reality, as we grow and progress in our career as lawyers–even working within a big law firm–we are all entrepreneurs responsible for building our book of business, developing our brand, and establishing ourselves within the community. When I became a partner at Berger Singerman, and even as an associate, the law firm always encouraged and supported my efforts to create my vision as to how I wanted to practice law and my dedication to client service. I enjoy being part of a bigger firm because I get the best of both worlds; I am an entrepreneur responsible for my own business, but I also have the support and resources of a bigger entity. The larger team is mission critical to my dedication to client service because I am able to enlist the expertise of my colleagues (many of them close friends at this point) to address any area of law that I may not practice in, but for which my clients need service. This allows me to either directly service my clients’ needs, or act as an outside general counsel to my clients.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a partner at the law firm of Berger Singerman where I handle business, employment, and commercial matters for individuals and companies; but, when people ask me what I do, I oftentimes just respond, “I solve problems.” My brand has been built over the past fifteen years on demanding excellence from myself and delivering great results for clients. I deeply believe in the highest level of client service with the cornerstone of that being honest, transparent, and clear communication. What sets me apart is that I have an experience level (through a lot of hard work) that far exceeds my actual age; I use that experience to confidently handle cases and issues for clients–and I am also the first person to tell a client not to hire me if it is something for which I cannot add value. As lawyers, we usually find our clients in very vulnerable positions in life where they are uneducated on the law or their options. I believe it is my duty to make sure that each client I encounter is treated with respect, care, and an attention to detail as if they were my own family member.

In addition to building my book of business and servicing my clients, I have started The Blueprints which is a platform dedicated to educating, mentoring, and inspiring law school students and lawyers of all experience levels. Over my career, I have kept countless notes and journals on my experiences and what I have learned along the way–substantively and personally. I vowed that I would create a platform to help other lawyers and soon-to-be lawyers learn from what I did right and what I could have done better along the journey. It’s evolving and growing each day, but the mission is clear: Give back to a profession that has given me so much.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have lived in Miami my whole life, so to say that I am a “Miami girl” would be an understatement. I love this city so much and everything it has to offer, so this is a hard question but here are some highlights for me:

1. Key Biscayne – beaches (water sports), road cycling, walking the Rickenbacker Bridge at sunset, sunset drinks/dinner at Rusty Pelican overlooking the water.
2. Calle Ocho – cafecito at Versailles, salsa dancing at Ball & Chain and Hoy Como Ayer, and just great general people watching
3. Coconut Grove – Greenstreet for breakfast is a classic, Panther coffee, and various options for lunch/dinner where you can be relaxed with the family or make it a romantic date night
4. South Beach – the beaches are a little more crowded but beautiful, run/cycle/walk/rollerblade the boardwalk, the classic Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant is always a must.
5. My all-time favorite restaurant is Mandolin in the design district.
6. Heat game, UM football game, and a Marlin game are fun sports games to attend.

There are countless other restaurants, outdoor sports, and activities!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I was a former state and federal prosecutor before I joined Berger Singerman where I currently handle various business, employment, and commercial matters for individuals and companies. While I was a Special Assistant United States Attorney, the acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida was Wifredo Ferrer. I credit him with changing the trajectory of my career because working for him was the equivalent to attending a masterclass on leadership every single day I went to work. He was (and is) highly respected as a professional, but he always led with clear communication, empathy, and integrity. His dedication to the empowerment of those around him has shaped how I try to lead my team now.

Website: https://www.bergersingerman.com/team/marianne-curtis

Instagram: @theblueprintslaw // @just_curtis3_v2

Image Credits
Kevin Blair