Husch Blackwell’s uncommon approach brought Sverre Roang back to the firm after pursuing other job opportunities that gave him a new perspective on how to bring value to clients.
Why did you leave Husch Blackwell? Where did you go and what did you do?
After 20 years in practice, I got a call that I couldn’t resist. It was from a client asking, “Will you come run our company?” I was a shareholder at predecessor firm Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek (WHD) and doing really well. I had a wonderful group of clients and was involved in the business side of the firm, serving on its board of directors, as co-chair of the corporate group and strategic planning committee, and on a number of other committees. Somewhat ironically, I also had recently been recognized for demonstrating “one firm” leadership by always putting the needs of the firm, and my coworkers, first.
That’s what made my decision to accept the offer all the more difficult. But with my experience, it was a natural pivot to lead a shared services company, even though leaving WHD was risky and very difficult to do on a personal level. If I didn’t pursue the opportunity, however, I would always wonder what could have been. I took another leap three years later when I accepted the incredible offer to become chief administrative officer at Epic Systems Corporation, a leading healthcare software company.
What prompted your return to Husch Blackwell?
I actually served on the WHD committee that hired Paul Eberle as chief executive. It was pretty revolutionary to hire a non-lawyer for this position – and, as the years have revealed, clearly a path to success. I really admire Paul’s style, judgment, and demeanor. Watching him and others build the firm while I served on the WHD board alongside him was rewarding and fun, and I was even more impressed to see this growth accelerate at Husch Blackwell.
Paul reached out to me when the managing director position of the firm’s Financial Services & Capital Markets unit became available. It would mean joining a very successful organization that still had so much promise, which was very attractive to me.
What special experiences did you have or new skills did you develop during your time away that benefit Husch Blackwell clients?
First and foremost, perspective. We are in the business of bringing value to clients, and I now have much better perspective on that. I’ve worked with and managed in-house legal teams, provided legal services, learned how in-house lawyers operate, and helped hire outside counsel. Firms must understand clients’ challenges and offer hyper-specific knowledge and deep understanding of industry and business to make a meaningful impact. Husch Blackwell has institutionalized the industry focus, and I tap my experience to help instill this client-centric understanding within our service teams and recruit the talent we need to deliver on it.
The other big area is a deeper understanding of business. I was privileged to work with two large, successful organizations. I learned so much about strategy; financial, tax, and capital planning and analysis; risk management; and organizational management, all of which has been invaluable back at Husch Blackwell.
What are you excited about in your role as SBU Leader for FSCM?
I couldn't be more thrilled and humbled to lead this incredible group. We have a terrific team dedicated to exceptional client service and who strive to design and deliver effective and efficient solutions for our clients. We are excited to focus on building on our strengths, broadening the services we deliver, and finding innovative and forward-looking solutions that go beyond traditional legal services for the benefit of our clients. Our vision is to be a go-to resource for our clients and our peers in everything we do. I couldn't be more confident in our team.
What was the best change that happened at Husch Blackwell during your time away?
It’s more about what hasn’t changed: the culture. Despite our incredible growth and nationwide footprint, the firm doesn’t come across as Big Law. The dispersed and diverse leadership is also refreshing. The firm still feels small enough to wrap one’s arms around. By getting to know each other on a personal and professional level, we operate as a real partnership and not as independent practitioners. This all makes us better at providing world-class service to our clients. It’s just wonderful to be back.