Leaders & Achievers 2022
STEPHEN ZUBIAGO
CEO and managing partner, Nixon Peabody LLP
STEPHEN ZUBIAGO TRULY ENJOYS being a lawyer. Zubiago, CEO and managing partner at Providence-based international legal firm Nixon Peabody LLP, says he likes the challenge of figuring out what a client needs, applying the law to that situation, and then strategizing and executing a plan to achieve a client’s goals.
That joy has been put to the test during the past two years as he and the firm have dealt with challenges thrust upon them by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the uncertainties, Zubiago and his colleagues pressed forward with the goal of keeping client services front and center.
“The remote-work experience taught us we can be productive from outside our physical offices, and it was clear to me that flexibility would be a core component of our firm’s future success,” Zubiago said. “I led the rollout of a flexible and progressive range of work policies to fit the various needs of our firm’s people, while still delivering excellent client service.”
‘We embrace the opportunity.’
The policies – featuring models for hybrid, fully remote and modified or reduced work schedules – were established to build on the firm’s commitment to provide strong service to attract and retain the best talent and to support the well-being of the team. To facilitate greater connectivity, Zubiago began “Six Minutes with Steve,” a well-received video series designed to keep employees apprised of firmwide initiatives and news.
As the pandemic wanes and opportunities for in-person interaction have returned, Zubiago says Nixon Peabody is establishing how the firm will service its clients moving forward.
In making this determination, Zubiago said, Nixon Peabody is considering the following factors: the needs and desires of our clients, what the firm learned and accomplished while working remotely during the pandemic, what will maximize its ability to retain and attract talent, and what will make the firm “the best place to provide high-quality legal services.”
“Our decision-making on this issue will impact which clients our firm decides to represent, the composition of our firm and how successful our people will be in their careers,” Zubiago said. “We embrace the opportunity to make these transformational changes.”
