Member of the Month: Butler Buchanan III, Managing Attorney, Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, Philadelphia, PA Office; Chair, Diversity Committee; Hiring Attorney
• What are you currently working on?
As the Managing Attorney in the Philadelphia office of Marshall Dennehey, my role is varied. I am also the Hiring Partner of the firm and right now we are in a hiring mode. Identifying, interviewing, and selecting attorneys to work at the firm is taking up much of my time right now.
• What do you enjoy most about being a member of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia?
Having the opportunity to interact with young African-American members of the Bar.
• What has been the most important personal attribute in your legal career?
Persistence; I never give up
• Tell us about your daily ritual?
I begin each work day in prayer. I live in the burbs and catch a 6:37 a.m. train into the city. I arrive in the office at about 7:20 a.m. I use that hour and a half prior to 9:00 and find it to be very productive before the phones begin the ring. After 9:00 all bets are off.
• If you hit the lottery tonight, where could we find you tomorrow?
I would teach at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School. The school is in the 5200 block of North Broad Street. Our firm employs four students who attend Cristo Rey. It is a college preparatory school for low income students. Many of the African-American students at the school have few, if any positive role models. I would like to contribute more of my time to be a positive role model to them.
• What has been the best moment of your career thus far?
Being hired at Marshall Dennehey. I had a solid career going before joining the firm, but I have had nothing but opportunities to advance my career since I did so.
• What is the most important advice you can give to members of the Barristers?
Keep working hard and never give up. Also, understand that not every mentor has to look like you. Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey I worked at the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, in-house at an international chemical company and at two law firms. Over those 20 years, I never worked with an attorney of color, but I had great and supportive mentors at each job.
*If you are interested in nominating a Barrister for Member of the Month, please email your nomination with a few sentences describing the individual’s merit to phillybarristers@gmail.com.