Am Law Profiles Rubén Muñoz in ‘How I Made It to Law Firm Leadership’ Series

The American Lawyer has profiled Akin Gump intellectual property partner Rubén Muñoz in its latest installment of “How I Made it to Law Firm Leadership,” an ongoing series of interviews with attorneys who hold firm leadership roles to discuss their career path and advice for others.

Among the topics covered, Muñoz, who became partner in charge of the firm’s Philadelphia office in 2019, discussed the firm’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the “uninterrupted smooth operation” of the firm throughout the pandemic was not happenstance, adding, “What I have come to realize is that there is an enormous amount of thought and deliberation that precedes the swift and calculated action that leads us to success.”

On the topic of the qualities he looks for when evaluating equally qualified lawyers for promotion, Muñoz said, “Other things being equal, my tie-breaker when considering candidates that are equally qualified tends to be evidence of strong work ethic and resilience in the face of adversity. […] And when it comes to resilience, it is almost a certainty that at some point in our careers, something will not go our way. […] It really takes some intestinal fortitude to dig yourself out of a slump and turn things around.”

Then, Muñoz offered advice to those seeking to take on leadership roles in the future, saying, “In my mind, effective leadership is about service, for the greater good of the firm and of its people. Serving on committees and developing relationships with attorneys and business services professionals from different practices and offices is, in my view, an excellent way to prepare for a future leadership role.”

Lastly, Muñoz discussed the immense impact of small efforts in the community, noting the firm’s recent partnership with Outward Bound, which provides outdoor education programs to allow young people to explore their personal potential. Last month, the Philadelphia office hosted an event with Outward Bound in which Muñoz rappelled 315 feet down the office building in commemoration of the firm’s relocation to 1735 Market Street. The event raised funds to support outdoor education programs for Philadelphia public and charter schools.