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105 TOP 25 WOMEN OF LAW HOLLY R. SHILLIDAY Managing Partner - Colorado Office, McCarthy Holthus LLP As Managing Partner of McCarthy Holthus' Colorado office, Holly R. Shilliday enjoys mentoring the firm's attorneys and watching them reach their full potential. "I encourage the attorneys to write articles, give continuing legal education presentations, and try new assignments to develop their legal skills. My goal is to help newer attorneys be well rounded in their professional development," said Shilliday. A 1992 graduate of Pepperdine School of Law, Shilliday says she first went to law school to help her parents who are both small business owners. McCarthy Holthus has a reputation as a compliance-driven firm. In order to help the firm prepare for today's challenging legal landscape, Shilliday makes sure to study new cases and legislation that affect the mortgage industry and works with the firm's Risk Management and Compliance Group to develop forms and implement changes. She is a Member of the Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit and the Chair of the Financial Institutions Section of the Business Law Committee for the Colorado Bar Association. Her participation in these groups ensures she is up to speed on the latest developments in her areas of practice. Shilliday and the attorneys in her office set aside time to have fun as well—the office has an annual hike, plans healthy potluck lunches, and adopts a family in need during the holiday season. REAL ESTATE - FORECLOSURES, BANKRUPTCY, AND LITIGATION NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 25 LAURA SUGGS Attorney, Campbell & Brannon, LLC Laura Suggs became interested in becoming a practicing attorney when she was a paralegal at an insurance defense firm after college, where she was able to work first-hand with a team of excellent lawyers. She is thankful to report that she has faced few, if any, challenges in the legal field due to her gender. "I believe this is largely due to firms like Campbell & Brannon, LLC that have strong female partners and role models paving the road before me," said Suggs. Suggs finds she is most rewarded in her career when she takes on a complicated issue with budget and time constraints,and resolves it to the client's satisfaction. "Recently, I represented a local nonprofit that serves thousands of people in the metro-Atlanta area in a lawsuit. We were fighting to keep the pantry and food storage open to the public. After we won, the non- profit recognized me at their annual meeting, presenting me with an award for performing outstanding legal services. Being able to help a group that helps so many others was one of most fulfilling moments in my career," said Suggs. Suggs believes that at its core the law is a service industry, noting that at Campbell & Brannon, "Placing the focus on ensuring that we consistently communicate with our clients about their needs helps us meet and exceed our clients' expectations." FORECLOSURE, TITLE CURATIVE, REAL ESTATE LITIGATION NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 13 ANDREA TROMBERG Senior Partner/Owner, Tromberg Law Group, P.A. Having wanted to be a lawyer since she was 10 years old, one of the highlights of Andrea Tromberg's career has been the purchase of her law firm. "After 21 years of practice, and eight years with the firm, it was time to decide whether to continue as is, move on, or make the frightening and bold decision to take a risk and buy out the partner. I took the leap, and I am especially proud of my courage to make it happen," said Tromberg. As firm owner, she enjoys seeing attorneys who started with her firm advance to trying contesting cases, knowing that the firm made a positive difference in their careers. As a female in the industry, she has learned that it's important to find alternative means to make connections. "When the top decision makers are shaking hands on the golf course, or at the bar watching sports while drinking beer, I find it a challenge to keep up. I've had to improve my ability to strike up a conversation, find alternative ways to gain attention, and push harder to have good legal work go noticed by decision makers," said Tromberg. In 2018, Tromberg and the attorneys at her firm look forward to continuing to help educate lenders and servicers on best practices to avoid issues when cases are filed. CONSUMER FINANCE LITIGATION NUMBER OF YEARS PRACTICING LAW: 21