Twenty-five years ago, I called Heather Butterfield and asked if she would be interested in working with me. Fortunately for me—and for the many colleagues and clients who have depended on her since—she said yes. This October, we celebrate a working relationship that has meant more to me than I can adequately put into a blog post. But I’m going to try.
It was October 2001, a month after September 11. Heather was working as a paralegal for a friend of mine who was closing his office just as I was starting a new practice in Baltimore. Originally from Martinsburg, West Virginia, and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she brought experience, intelligence, and organizational skills that would soon become essential to our work.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
Heather started as a paralegal, became our head paralegal, and eventually oversaw my mass tort practice. Along the way, she served as a trial paralegal, sitting at counsel table through grueling, multi-week trials on behalf of breast cancer survivors in litigation against manufacturers of hormone therapy drugs that caused their cancer. She kept the documents and information our trial teams needed organized and accessible under the daily pressures of trial. Anyone who has tried a case like that knows how much preparation, stamina, and skill the job demands.
She also served as lead paralegal for several pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts, with particular responsibility for document control and the administrative work necessary to manage those cases and maintain their financial records. It is painstaking, often thankless work, and Heather has handled it countless times. Our ability to represent large numbers of clients depends on getting those details right, and she has consistently brought the care and discipline that work requires.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
When I decided to leave my former firm and start Jenner Law, I took Heather to the Quarry Bagel & Cafe and asked if she was willing to make the move with me and our mass tort group. I had been practicing law since 1985, but even with that experience, leaving a larger firm where we had spent seventeen years was a big step. Starting an independent practice meant taking on real financial and professional risks, and there was plenty of uncertainty about what lay ahead.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
What gave me confidence was the team coming with me, and Heather was the organizational leader of that mass tort team. I knew her judgment, her abilities, and her commitment to our clients and colleagues. With the right people alongside me, the opportunity to build our own firm and practice on our own terms was worth the risk. Fortunately for me, Heather said yes again. When Jenner Law opened in May 2018, she became our Director of Operations.
Today, Heather oversees our team of twelve and is responsible for every aspect of firm organization and employee supervision. Her work touches everything we do: how we manage cases, meet deadlines, communicate with referring lawyers, and support our employees. She understands how all those responsibilities fit together and builds the systems that allow the rest of us to do our jobs well.
Our partner Elisha Fridley puts it this way:
“No one manages a litigation like Heather. Her ability to synthesize a large volume of data and streamline a litigation is unmatched. Our firm works largely because of the systems that she has developed. From managing personnel to ensuring that each case is moving forward in the most efficient way possible, there is not an aspect of the firm that does not have Heather’s prints on it.”
Heather has also helped the people around her grow in their careers. Our paralegal Taylor Wiedermann describes what that guidance has meant to her:
“Heather is the woman behind the curtain at Jenner Law—she’s involved in every single case, even though most clients may never know her name. I’ve worked with Heather for almost 10 years, and I owe so much of the paralegal I am today to her; she taught me not just how to do the job, but the how and why behind everything, always with patience, kindness, and a willingness to step in and help no matter the task. She’s been the best mentor and friend I could have asked for, and she truly is the heart of Jenner Law.”
Her commitment to our clients has been a constant throughout these twenty-five years. The people who come to us have often been through some of the worst experiences of their lives. Heather understands that the way we treat them, communicate with them, and follow through on our promises matters. She takes those responsibilities personally, and our firm is better because of it.
Heather also oversees the firm’s settlements and disbursements—the final, critical steps in delivering a recovery to our clients. She makes sure the process is transparent, that clients understand the accounting, and that funds are distributed efficiently. After everything our clients have been through, those closing communications matter. Heather works to make sure they leave with confidence in how their case was handled and a positive final experience with our firm.
Our partner Katie Kerner captures how much Heather means to all of us:
“Heather represents the very best of who we are as a firm. As our Director of Operations, she is truly indispensable. The important work we do every day simply would not be possible without her leadership and dedication. More than an exceptional director and manager, she is a trusted colleague and wonderful friend who makes everyone around her better.”
Of course, the love of Heather’s life is her daughter, Fiona, now a seventh grader. Fiona is excelling academically, plays lacrosse and soccer, and has a wonderful sense of humor and many friends. She loves animals, going to the theatre, and spending time at the beach. Heather has every reason to be proud of the person Fiona is becoming.
Heather has built this remarkable career while raising Fiona as a single mother in Baltimore City. I have tremendous admiration for the dedication she brings to both parts of her life. Her organizational talents extend to the soccer field, where she serves as Fiona’s unofficial assistant coach and helps keep the team organized. Apparently, overseeing a law firm does not fully satisfy her need to keep everyone on track.
Heather and Fiona make time for plenty of adventures together: summer trips to Ocean City, Maryland, visits with family in California and Pittsburgh, and a trip to New Orleans to see Taylor Swift, and a trip to London’s theatre district. At home, they share their lives with their cat, Leia, and two newly adopted kittens, Millie and Molly. Between the animals, the sports, the travel, and everything else, their life together is full—and Fiona is at the heart of it.
Heather, thank you for taking that phone call twenty-five years ago and for everything you have done since. Thank you for your judgment, your dedication, your care for our clients, and your commitment to the people who work alongside you. You have helped me build a practice and a firm that I am proud of, and you have been a trusted colleague and friend through it all.
I am deeply grateful that you said yes.