Maureen T. Alston was HSE’s Managing Partner from 2004 through 2012, after having served for several years as co-chair of the Firm’s Employment Law and Litigation groups and member of its Management Committee. She was the first woman to serve as Managing Partner in the Firm’s 120-year history.
In her full-time role as Managing Partner, Maureen provided leadership and direction to the Firm’s 145-plus attorneys and a total staff of 300 that comprise the region’s most dynamic corporate law firm. She oversaw HSE’s four-office operations, working closely with the Management Committee and senior staff to provide operational support in human resources, finance, marketing, records management, and information technology.
Under her leadership, the Firm developed and adopted a fully integrated strategic plan and launched a number of primary initiatives. Maureen made ensuring diversity in the Firm’s workforce a high priority. She was instrumental in implementing several new programs including the establishment of a Diversity Scholarship Program at New York law schools and enhancing the Firm’s longtime association with the Rochester City School District including the Marshall High School Law Academy.
During Maureen’s tenure, the Firm deepened its longstanding commitment to a service delivery model that is built upon collaboration and delivery of cost-effective legal services of the highest quality. HSE rejects traditional notions of attribution and billing credit to partners in favor of a model that ensures that each client matter is handled by qualified legal staff at the appropriate level of experience. This approach has created an environment at the Firm that is responsive and yields excellent and cost-effective results for our clients.
The Firm’s collaborative environment also provides significant opportunities and benefits to our associates, giving them access to clients and to challenging work at an early moment in their careers. Our associates understand and appreciate this difference, as evidenced by HSE’s ranking as #1 in the nation for three consecutive years (2004-2006) in The American Lawyer survey of associate satisfaction. The Firm ranked #3 nationally in the 2010 survey.
Our clients have also weighed in, acknowledging the difference HSE provides in quality of work, level of service and depth of relationship. In the three years the analysis was conducted in Rochester (2002-2004), directors of publicly held companies surveyed by Corporate Board Member Magazine ranked the Firm #1. Positive client and peer ratings have also contributed to HSE’s #1 ranking in Western New York in U.S. News Best Lawyers national law firm rankings with 23 top tier practice areas.
Prior to her election as Managing Partner, Maureen concentrated her legal practice in employment litigation, higher education law and business litigation matters.
Managing Partner, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, February 2004-2012
Member, Management Committee, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Co-Chair, Employment Law and Litigation Practice Group, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Unit Manager, Litigation Unit, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Secretary, Board of Trustees, Nazareth College
Secretary and Executive Committee Member, Board of Trustees, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Cabinet Member, Campaign for Justice, 2007, 2008
Member, Board of Trustees, Rochester Business Alliance
Director, Susan B. Anthony House, Inc.
Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Rochester
Member, Advisory Board, Center for Youth Services, Inc.
Advisory Board, Dr. Pamela York Klainer Center for Women and Business, State University of New York at Geneseo School of Business
Director and Senior Vice Chair, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley
Graduate, Leadership Rochester, Class of 1993
Former President and Board Member, Center for Youth Services, Inc., 1984-1993
Nazareth College, B.A., cum laude, 1970
Maureen T. Alston was HSE’s Managing Partner from 2004 through 2012, after having served for several years as co-chair of the Firm’s Employment Law and Litigation groups and member of its Management Committee. She was the first woman to serve as Managing Partner in the Firm’s 120-year history.
In her full-time role as Managing Partner, Maureen provided leadership and direction to the Firm’s 145-plus attorneys and a total staff of 300 that comprise the region’s most dynamic corporate law firm. She oversaw HSE’s four-office operations, working closely with the Management Committee and senior staff to provide operational support in human resources, finance, marketing, records management, and information technology.
Under her leadership, the Firm developed and adopted a fully integrated strategic plan and launched a number of primary initiatives. Maureen made ensuring diversity in the Firm’s workforce a high priority. She was instrumental in implementing several new programs including the establishment of a Diversity Scholarship Program at New York law schools and enhancing the Firm’s longtime association with the Rochester City School District including the Marshall High School Law Academy.
During Maureen’s tenure, the Firm deepened its longstanding commitment to a service delivery model that is built upon collaboration and delivery of cost-effective legal services of the highest quality. HSE rejects traditional notions of attribution and billing credit to partners in favor of a model that ensures that each client matter is handled by qualified legal staff at the appropriate level of experience. This approach has created an environment at the Firm that is responsive and yields excellent and cost-effective results for our clients.
The Firm’s collaborative environment also provides significant opportunities and benefits to our associates, giving them access to clients and to challenging work at an early moment in their careers. Our associates understand and appreciate this difference, as evidenced by HSE’s ranking as #1 in the nation for three consecutive years (2004-2006) in The American Lawyer survey of associate satisfaction. The Firm ranked #3 nationally in the 2010 survey.
Our clients have also weighed in, acknowledging the difference HSE provides in quality of work, level of service and depth of relationship. In the three years the analysis was conducted in Rochester (2002-2004), directors of publicly held companies surveyed by Corporate Board Member Magazine ranked the Firm #1. Positive client and peer ratings have also contributed to HSE’s #1 ranking in Western New York in U.S. News Best Lawyers national law firm rankings with 23 top tier practice areas.
Prior to her election as Managing Partner, Maureen concentrated her legal practice in employment litigation, higher education law and business litigation matters.
Managing Partner, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, February 2004-2012
Member, Management Committee, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Co-Chair, Employment Law and Litigation Practice Group, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Unit Manager, Litigation Unit, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Secretary, Board of Trustees, Nazareth College
Secretary and Executive Committee Member, Board of Trustees, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Cabinet Member, Campaign for Justice, 2007, 2008
Member, Board of Trustees, Rochester Business Alliance
Director, Susan B. Anthony House, Inc.
Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Rochester
Member, Advisory Board, Center for Youth Services, Inc.
Advisory Board, Dr. Pamela York Klainer Center for Women and Business, State University of New York at Geneseo School of Business
Director and Senior Vice Chair, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley
Graduate, Leadership Rochester, Class of 1993
Former President and Board Member, Center for Youth Services, Inc., 1984-1993
Nazareth College, B.A., cum laude, 1970
