Jennifer I. Wolfe

Partner, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Biography:

Jennifer I. Wolfe is a capital partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and a member of the firm’s board of directors. She is part of Katten’s Commercial Finance practice, which represents a diverse clientele of creditors and debtors in complex finance transactions. The group has been consistently recognized for its sophisticated, cutting-edge counsel to banks, finance companies, funds, structured investment vehicles, and public and private businesses. Jennifer focuses her practice on senior and mezzanine financing, representing both senior secured and mezzanine lenders as well as borrowers in connection with cash flow and asset-based credit facilities. She advises clients on restructurings and troubled-credit workouts and counsels creditors providing capital in a variety of industries, with a portion of her practice focusing on facilitating lending to health care corporations.

What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry?

You can never go wrong with unswerving commitment to hard work and weapons-grade resolve to impress as many people as possible in your field.  Beyond that, build a support system at work. I have always had amazing mentors, men and women, and these relationships have made what is an unquestionably demanding job a lot more enjoyable and rewarding.

Women should also establish relationships with outside business professionals who are at the same level as they are. Get to know them. Don’t just email! So much is lost in an email. Meet whenever possible. And always be cordial.  You never know when an adversary will become a client.

Studies have shown women are more reluctant to tout their accomplishments in the workplace. What advice would you give to help women be more comfortable with speaking up?

Speaking up is a must. It is critically important to know the value you bring to a team. Identify what is much-needed and then lean in to make significant contributions in that area.  People tend to appreciate your willingness to make the final product much better by offering new perspective and fresh ideas. 

What do you know now that you wish you knew in the beginning of your career?

Never be afraid to ask questions. People too often view questions as a sign of weakness when, in fact, asking the right questions is smart, a sign of someone wanting to get things done right rather than risking a mistake simply because they didn’t ask and don’t know.

How have you approached big career decisions? What is your approach/advice to change in the workplace?

Know that change will happen, and it can determine your future.  Most successful operations are constantly seeking new ways to accomplish goals more efficiently.  That’s certainly the case at Katten. You can choose to help guide how things are done differently or you can resist change and just wait for it to happen to you. I can’t think of any scenario where the latter has positive results.

What do you enjoy most about your role? Least?

Without question, personal interactions are the most enjoyable part of my job. I like interacting with my clients, many of whom I have worked with for 18 years or more. These include opposing counsel, private equity sponsors and members of my team at Katten. We’re all pulling in the same direction, toward the common goal of addressing client issues as efficiently as possible through well-rounded, informed analyses of the lending industry.  I find this to be very rewarding.

How do you balance work/personal time?

While the job has become increasingly more demanding over the past 10 years, it also has become easier to balance work and personal time because technology makes working remotely more feasible.  Clients know they can always reach me via cell phone or email. In this way, I never feel that I’m missing out on quality time with my family but I also am always available for my clients.

How can commercial finance organizations offer meaningful professional development and career advancement?

It can be tough to attract women to a field that is so male-dominated, demanding and unpredictable - for lenders and lawyers. Giving women a support network that regularly puts us in the company of other women facing similar professional and personal situations is a great way to keep us encouraged. Also, spotlighting the outstanding contributions of women in commercial finance goes a long way in helping us all see what can be done.