In December 2019, Gary Born, Chair of the international arbitration practice at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, sat down with journalist Ben Wilson for “The World’s Greatest Lawyer” podcast. This series interviews leading lawyers from practice areas and jurisdictions, exploring what is needed to reach the pinnacle of the legal profession. Mr. Born discussed the breadth of his work as an international disputes lawyer, both as counsel and an academic, and shared some insights into what has motivated him.

His advice to lawyers early in their careers is to “treat every opportunity as if it was the most important thing you were ever going to do,” and to “take every case and to throw yourself into it with everything you have.” “You get one chance at this.”

When asked what the world’s greatest lawyer looks like, Mr. Born said: “Someone who advances the rule of law for others in all that she or he does; someone who serves his or her clients and who, in doing that, makes our legal system, the rule of law, a better reality.”

The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. Search “World’s greatest lawyer.”

Listen to the podcast.