Chicago v London: two partners, two cities, one day in the life

Brian Hengesbaugh and Dyann Heward-Mills (pictured above, left to right) are partners in Baker McKenzie’s data protection and cybersecurity practice.

Heward-Mills heads up the practice group in London,  while Hengesbaugh is based in Chicago. This interview looks at how Heward-Mills’ life as a lawyer in London compares with the day-to-day demands of Chicago.

What is your morning routine before work?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): My alarm goes off at 6.45am. I spend five minutes meditating to set my intentions for the day. I then check on my kids to make sure they are up and about. What follows is the inevitable scramble to find missing sports kit, fix breakfast, feed the dog, complete homework and turn on the dishwasher – all in a 10-minute window! We then pour out of the house and into the car at 7.45am. I jump out at the station to get the train into the City and the kids continue on to school.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): I don’t typically have an alarm, it’s really more hearing my wife get up to respond to the baby crying or my three or seven-year-old coming into our room at the crack of dawn to wake me up and tell me it’s morning. I get ready pretty quickly, grab a coffee and something small to eat, and run for the next train into the city. My train journey is about 50 minutes. I read the Wall Street Journal and New York Times on my phone, listen to a podcast, and check emails or do some light work to get ready for the day.

What does your role involve? What are you responsible for?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): I am responsible for the data protection and cybersecurity practice in the London office of Baker McKenzie. My days are varied and dynamic, with work ranging from helping organisations to build their data protection programmes to advising clients on how to respond to a regulator in the aftermath of a cyberattack.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): I am a partner in the Chicago office, and my focus is global privacy and data security. I manage a team of 21 attorneys in North America who work on data privacy and security issues, as well as sourcing, cloud contracting and IT work.

How did you get the job?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): I was approached by Ben Allgrove, IP partner at Baker McKenzie, via LinkedIn. A chat over coffee was enough to convince me it was the right opportunity at the right firm.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): I joined the firm 16 years ago after serving as special counsel to the general counsel of the US Department of Commerce where, among other responsibilities, I was a member of the core team that negotiated the US-EU Safe Harbor Privacy Arrangement [replaced in 2016 by the US-EU Safe Harbor Privacy Arrangement]. After negotiating Safe Harbor, I wanted to join a law firm to help individual companies participate in Safe Harbor and address what were then emerging global privacy issues.

What is a typical day for you?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): I tend to formulate a list of urgent items the night before, so I start my day by tackling those before the distraction of the daily emails. I then scan my inbox for any pressing matters. I try as much as possible to speak with my clients and colleagues in person to discuss any ongoing work and I try meeting up with them and other contacts to explore new opportunities.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): Today, I attended a staff meeting where we had 20 of our attorneys report on the big items happening this week, where associate help might be needed, and what big-picture developments are coming down the path.

I then worked on a client assignment on how to address privacy, electronic communication interception, and computer misuse issues. After that, I worked on four separate client matters across financial services, healthcare, online consumer, and service provider clients. I finally handled various billing and invoicing matters and then closed my laptop and raced for the train (and did some more reading on the way home on changing business models in the digital age).

What has been your proudest professional moment?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): My proudest professional moment was establishing ‘Cyber Ready Girls’ – an initiative to encourage girls (especially those from socially deprived backgrounds) aged 11-14 to code and consider tech roles. Women and girls are woefully underrepresented in the world of IT and it has been great to address this issue with the support of the firm and my clients.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): My proudest professional moments are when members of my team are promoted to the next level of privacy counsel, partner, or whatever is next for them.

…and worst day on the job?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): There is no such thing as a ‘worst day’, only opportunities to learn and build resilience. What could have been potentially the worst days in my career have inevitably been those when I’ve grown the most.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): That’s easy. I received a call from a client as I was walking out the door to go on vacation. We had a nine-month-old baby, and a 14-hour drive ahead of us. Driving through rural Kentucky, the phone line kept dropping so when we reached a good reception area, I had my wife pull over. I spent the next one and a half hours on the phone in a booth in the corner of McDonald’s speaking with senior management. My wife came very close to leaving me there. She said she saw plenty of pick up trucks where I could have hitched a ride after she was gone!

What do you tend to do after work?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): I tend to head home to catch the kids before they turn in for the night; I may supervise homework or lark around in the garden with them. Occasionally, I meet friends for dinner or cocktails after work.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): I put the kids to bed, then respond to some emails and do some work. I sometimes exercise. Then spend some time with my wife.

What is your favourite restaurant (and why) in London?

Dyann Heward-Mills (London): So many to choose from! Oblix in The Shard ranks fairly high; it’s perfect for panoramic views, jazz, cocktails and exquisite food. Ronnie Scott’s is also a favourite.

Brian Hengesbaugh (Chicago): It’s called RL’s. A nice place right next to Water Tower place.  Cosy tables and good food.  I took my wife there the night I proposed to her (and she accepted) some 15 years ago.