On Tax Jon Katz of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Sep 12, 2023
Jon Katz, a partner in the Executive Compensation and Benefits Department at Cravath, shares his journey from tax associate to leading compensation advisor. He reflects on the unexpected turn that led him to his current focus. Katz emphasizes the rising importance of executive compensation in M&A, highlighting the complex challenges that come with it. He also offers insights on mentorship, adaptability in legal careers, and the blend of work-life balance with his passion for sports, particularly as a Mets fan.
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Learning by Osmosis on Big Deal
- Jon Katz learned legal skills deeply by osmosis working with senior lawyers on the Time Warner Cable spinoff deal as a junior associate.
- Being around highly skilled, hardworking mentors shaped his early career and work ethic at Cravath.
Prioritize Work Ethic, Not Tax Knowledge
- Law students should focus on developing a strong work ethic and personal discipline rather than just studying substantive tax law.
- Showing up on time, contributing positively, and filling team needs matters more than coming in with prior tax knowledge.
Embrace Uncomfortable Learning Tasks
- Law students should stretch themselves by doing unfamiliar, uncomfortable tasks like clinical programs to build adaptability skills.
- This resilience helps lawyers tackle novel assignments they face for the first time in practice.