Alumni Spotlight: Meet Alumna Claire Superfine Schneider
There are many ways to lead, and it’s important to learn from those leaders, emulate the parts that feel right to you, and grow into your own version of success.
What women leaders have you admired in your career, and what did their leadership mean to you?
My first role model was then Chief Justice Margaret Marshall of the SJC. When she offered me a position to clerk for her during my 2L year of law school, I felt like I had lined up a job to work for a rock star. Once I began working for her, I realized that her legal and judicial successes were the result of unending hard work. In law school, I had learned the mantra of never leaving any stone unturned, but it took on new meaning as I watched her grapple with legal questions that actually affected peoples’ lives. She was dedicated in her quest for justice, but also in her quest for excellence. I have taken that lesson with me and tried to view every client question or problem as important and worthy of critical thinking and excellent work product. During my time at Mintz, I was lucky enough to work for several women partners who each exhibited different, yet equally successful, leadership skills. I took bits and pieces from each of them and regularly asked myself questions such as, what would Julie do in this negotiation? How would Sue manage this group of stakeholders? Sometimes I think the greatest benefit to junior women attorneys is simply the ability to witness a variety of successful women. There are many ways to lead, and it’s important to learn from those leaders, emulate the parts that feel right to you, and grow into your own version of success.
What is something you wish you would have known early in your career?
It’s hard to plan for the future. Very infrequently can you map out your career path 5, 10, or 15 years in advance. You change, life changes, and the world changes (take AI, for example…lawyers may all look different in the near future!). There’s no use trying to map out a detailed plan based on someone who came before you. Instead, take all opportunities presented and learn and grow from them. Amass experiences. Set short-term goals, knowing that long-term goals will swerve (sometimes in the best of ways!) And always work hard at whatever you do, even if it doesn’t feel important at the time; it’s good for your clients, and it shows everyone around you what type of lawyer you are.
Tell us about your career path and what led you to MIT.
After law school, I clerked for two years (one year at the Supreme Judicial Court and one at the federal district court of Massachusetts). During my clerkships, I was dead set on litigation. I started at WilmerHale after clerking in their IP litigation group because I understood that IP litigation was the best way to jump right into active litigation matters. After a few years, I was convinced IP litigation wasn’t for me, and I sought out a firm that would let me explore more of a mix of litigation opportunities. Luckily for me, I knew Sue Finnegan, and she was a fantastic ambassador for all that Mintz had to offer an associate. As luck would have it, however, I soon realized that what I liked most about litigation, the quick on-your-feet issue spotting and impromptu negotiation with the other side, were more readily found on the transactional side of the house. Under the expert and amazing tutelage and mentorship of Julie Korostoff, I made the full-fledged switch to the corporate practice, with a focus on technology transactions. I owe a lot to Mintz for allowing me to make that big jump. From there, I realized that I loved working with start-ups, and I found my way back to my roots, getting increasingly interested in the IP licensing pieces of my practice. While I loved my time at Mintz, I felt ready to make a move in-house, where I could focus on one client and take part in more internal decision-making. Now, at MIT, I have the best of all worlds—my portfolio focuses on supporting technology licensing, MIT’s research and entrepreneurial community, and IP policy matters. I’m regularly exposed to exciting technologies and novel issues while also problem-solving and advising strategic decision-makers.
How has your time at Mintz impacted your career?
Most importantly, without Mintz’s support of my switch from Litigation to the Corporate practice, I never would have ended up where I am now. When I started to probe the possibility of this transition, it almost seemed insurmountable. It was fairly unheard of at other firms. But Mintz was willing to support me, believing that I could add value to the corporate practice and wanting to help me find the right fit for my career. Once I made the jump, Julie and other fantastic attorneys at Mintz helped fast-track me to becoming a transactional attorney, which opened up a tremendous opportunity. Even prior to my start in the Corporate group, I always felt that Mintz was genuinely trying to give me learning opportunities that were unique to my interests and abilities. The small case teams and collegial working environment meant lots of responsibility paired with the safety of being able to ask questions and get help when it was needed. The use of the word “team” is overrated in today’s corporate America, but at Mintz, I think the term is apt. Having that true team mentality and understanding the importance of supporting my colleagues are values that I’ve taken with me to MIT.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role at MIT?
Playing a part in the transition of critical technology, from cancer detection and treatment to groundbreaking clean tech, out of the university lab and to the commercial sector where it can be further developed and ultimately benefit the public. I also love that my role as counsel is intended to support the foundational values of higher education and research; there is no better client than a world renowned educational and research institution.
More about Claire
Claire Superfine Schneider joined MIT's Office of the General Counsel in September 2018. Her areas of focus at MIT include intellectual property, sponsored research, conflict of interest, entrepreneurial activities, and academic and business transactions.
Before joining MIT, Claire was an attorney in the Licensing & Technology Transactions Practice at Mintz, where she advised clients on complex commercial transactions concerning the use, transfer, and development of technology and other intellectual property assets. Prior to joining the Licensing & Technology Transactions Practice, Claire was a litigator at Mintz and an IP litigator at Wilmer Hale.