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In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, we sit down with Juliet Starrett -a former Big Law commercial litigator, world-champion whitewater paddler, and co-founder of The Ready State, a global platform focused on mobility, recovery, and longevity.

Juliet’s career didn’t follow a straight line. Before law school, she spent years competing internationally as an elite athlete.

After practicing at a major international firm, she and her husband co-founded one of San Francisco’s earliest CrossFit gyms—then built a second business that eventually became The Ready State, serving busy professionals who want to move better, sleep better, and stay sharp over the long term.

In this conversation, Juliet shares:

• how her athletic background shaped her tolerance for risk and reinvention
• why she didn’t hate practicing law, but couldn’t see a long-term model she wanted to grow into
• the financial groundwork she laid before leaving Big Law
• what The Ready State is
• why movement isn’t optional for attorneys who want sustainable performance

If you’re rethinking your health, your habits, or your long-term trajectory in the legal profession, this is an honest and tactical listen.

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Lateral moves look straightforward from the outside. In reality, most fail for reasons attorneys don’t always see coming.

In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Melissa Peters, founder of MP Legal Search, to break down what’s actually happening in the lateral partner market — and how firms evaluate candidates behind closed doors.

Melissa shares real-world insight into shifting compensation structures, how firms assess portability and fit, and the common mistakes that quietly derail otherwise strong candidates. The conversation cuts through the noise around lateral hiring and focuses on what matters now.

They discuss:
• What firms really look for when evaluating lateral partners
• How compensation expectations are changing across the market
• Why strong books still aren’t enough on their own
• The most common pitfalls that derail lateral moves
• How attorneys can make themselves more marketable before they explore a transition

A practical, candid conversation for partners and senior attorneys considering a move — or simply trying to understand how the market actually works.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.

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A lot of people in Big Law hear the phrase “professional development” — but don’t always know what it actually means in practice.

In this episode of the Sidebar Advisors Podcast, Niraj Chhabra sits down with Hedieh Fakhriyazdi, Chief Engagement & Development Officer at White & Case, to talk about how growth really happens inside a global law firm — for associates, business services professionals, and everyone in between.

Hedieh shares how White & Case thinks about development beyond titles and promotions, including how associates get real leadership experience early, why listening matters just as much as training, and how employee-led affinity groups shape culture from the ground up.

They cover:

• What “engagement” actually looks like day-to-day
• How associates get a real seat at the table earlier than you’d expect
• Why development can’t just be classroom training
• How firms build trust by acting on feedback — not just collecting it

If you’ve ever wondered what a large firm can do better when it comes to growth, culture, and belonging, this conversation is worth your time.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Sidebar Advisors Podcast.