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106 top 25 women of law STACY MESTAYER ALAW - Partner ALAW's Stacy Mestayer approaches every day as a chance to learn something new, and every experience as a potential catalyst for growth. "My exposure to, and ability to connect with and learn from, the people I meet is by far the most enriching part of my job." Looking back at the earliest days of her career, Mestayer recalls a Managing Partner during her first job out of law school telling her that one day she would just wake up and realize that she knew what she was doing. "Being put in a position to act in a General Counsel capacity within my firm made me realize that day had come for me." More than a decade into her law career, Mestayer said that she's aware that women sometimes face challenges in a largely male-dominated industry, but she approaches this issue with the same attitude she brings to everything else. "As long as you are aware of your environment and understand the people around you, these challenges are not only surmountable but also extremely valuable. …ey are an opportunity to show your strength of character and to act as an example for other women who may be facing similar obstacles." Looking to the future, Mestayer said, "Mortgage professionals will have to adapt to the changing industry landscape by adopting more technology- focused and data-driven practices." NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 12 JENNIFER A. NEEDS Zieve, Brodnax & Steele, LLP - Managing Partner - Litigation Jennifer A. Needs realized a childhood dream the day she became a lawyer. Someone who has always seen lawyers as problem-solvers, Needs did not initially expect to specialize in creditors' rights. Today, however, she enjoys this practice, and she takes pride and great satisfaction in her unique ability to drive cases to resolution. "Settlements allow me to fashion unique and creative solutions that best serve the interests of my clients," she said. Looking back at her early years of practice, Needs recalls that opponents routinely undertook whatever actions they perceived would gain them an advantage. "Unfortunately, this sometimes included attacks based on gender and age," Needs said. "‚ankfully, as the years pass, and as our society increasingly condemns gender- and age-based discrimination, I see this decreasing." After working diligently in this industry and helping her firm grow, Needs is thrilled to take on the role of a managing partner in 2019. "I had the good fortune of working for attorneys who took the time to teach me that law is not only a profession but also a business. In order to best serve clients, it is necessary to have a strong business structure undergirding the firm and its personnel," Needs said, and that is precisely how she will approach her new role with the firm. As someone who believes in changing with the times, Needs focuses on remaining updated on current legal developments and mentoring her colleagues and staff to grow as the law continues to evolve. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 11 ALISON ORLANS Orlans PC - President and CEO - Real Estate, Creditor's Rights For Alison Orlans, assuming the role of President and CEO of Orlans PC is not just a professional accomplishment, it's a personal one as well. "My mom started our firm 20 years ago with a vision to help people and make a difference in the industry. She built a firm of the future, and I am proud to carry on her vision for the next 20 years," Orlans said. Under Orlans' leadership, the firm is driving transformational change in the legal industry. She led the merger of three law firms to create one organization that offers clients multi-state services. When she looks back over her 15 years practicing law, Orlans is proud to have evolved her firm's culture to be an award-winning top workplace. She has been instrumental in expanding the firm's use of innovative technology and lean processes to help improve client service. She has also built an incredible team that puts clients first. "I believe, at our core, that we make a difference in our industry, communities, and for our clients," Orlans shared. ‹e attorneys at Orlans PC are committed to succeeding in a highly regulated and complex business, and are laser focused on evolving the firm to remain best-in-class for its clients and for the future. Orlans said they are doing this through deep investment in process and technology, including value-stream mapping, enhancements to the firm's case-management system, and implementing artificial intelligence software. ‹is strategy also includes an emphasis on employee engagement, training, and leadership-development programs. NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 15