Anita Modak-Truran, a Partner at Butler Snow LLP, is a leader in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, mass tort, and bet-the-company cases. She brings over 30 years of experience and has worked on thousands of cases, working collaboratively with clients and teams of lawyers to develop and implement innovative case work up and trial strategies.
Before joining Butler Snow in 1998, Anita was the Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. She loved that job because her team and she worked on cases (either prosecuting or defending) to make the lives of Chicagoan’s better. They worked closely with other city departments, officials, and external stakeholders. One of her favorite cases was defending the security perimeter for the 1996 Democratic National Convention, which involved collaboration with the Chicago Police Department and the Secret Service and the implementation of a strategic plan to allow for peaceful protesters to engage in First Amendment rights while protecting the safety and security of the delegates.
In addition to her work in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Anita has expanded her practice into intellectual property and entertainment law. She serves a range of clients in the entertainment industry, from emerging artists to established companies, offering business, copyright, and trademark services. She has also earned recognition as an executive producer for the acclaimed documentary “Faulkner: The Past Is Never Dead,” which delves into the life and legacy of Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner. Her journey in the entertainment industry began in Chicago, where she entered the world of film after law school. Seeking to combine legal expertise with industry knowledge, she attended Columbia’s film program in Chicago, developing a strong foundation in content creation. Throughout her career, she has taken on diverse roles in the entertainment industry, producing creative projects that have taken her to various destinations worldwide.
Multicultural Roots
Anita grew up in a multi-cultural family. Her mother is a French-speaking, Roman Catholic from Montreal, while her father was a Bengali-speaking, Hindu from Calcutta. She grew up reading French writers and watching Indian cinema, which enriched her perspective on culture and diversity. She cherishes uniqueness over sameness, likely because she often felt different from her friends.
Both inside and outside the workplace, Anita enjoys surrounding herself with people who possess unique qualities and can contribute diverse perspectives to discussions. She firmly believes that diversity of ideas, when coupled with collaboration, fosters teamwork, enhances creativity, promotes innovation, improves communication, and creates a more positive work environment and lifestyle. In her view, adopting a “we” mentality can accomplish anything and overcome any challenges.
The Firm
Butler Snow is a remarkable law firm with a rich history. Established in 1954, with just seven lawyers in Jackson, Mississippi, the firm has continuously adapted to the evolving legal market. Today, Butler Snow boards an impressive team of over 400 lawyers, strategically located in offices throughout the United States, England and Singapore.
The firm’ expansion showcases its commitment to meeting the diverse legal needs of clients. Butler Snow offers a wide range of legal services, including: business law; litigations; healthcare; public finance; intellectual property; government relations and regulatory law; real estate; and entertainment.
Visionary Leadership
Anita’s journey as a legal leader involves a commitment to embracing innovation. The advent of generative AI is fundamentally changing the legal landscape, presenting exciting opportunities alongside significant risks. Anita actively participates in the AI Task Force, contributing to strategic discussions on how to harness AI tools effectively while mitigating potential pitfalls.
Also, Anita dedicates her time to nurturing the potential of the talented young lawyers within her team. It’s of utmost importance to her that they receive mentorship, training, and the chance to grow and advance in their professional journeys.
Anita has observed that certain emerging leaders may lack two essential qualities: resilience and emotional intelligence. Resilience is paramount, as some of these leaders grapple with adversity, setbacks, and failures. To truly succeed, resilience is crucial, enabling them to bounce back and persevere through challenging times. Anita states, “Emotional intelligence is equally vital. While some emerging leaders demonstrate proficiency in technical skills and knowledge, they may struggle with understanding and managing their own emotions, as well as empathizing with others. Anita recognizes the significance of these qualities in effective leadership.”
Challenging Stereotypes
Anita’s legal journey has been marked by significant challenges. When she graduated from law school, she was petite, weighing around 90 lbs, with a hyphenated surname, and appeared exceptionally young. She made efforts to blend in by wearing masculine suits and cutting her hair short, but it didn’t change the fact that she didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a lawyer. Potential employers often made negative assumptions, from speculating that she might leave legal practice to raise a family to doubting whether clients or judges would take her seriously. However, fate intervened. Her first job after law school was a one-year clerkship with the Honorable Judge Sophia Hall, the first African American female to be appointed as a Chicago chancellor, who continued to be a trailblazer in the legal world. From this experience, Anita learned the value of being true to herself.
Anita no longer strives to conform to a predefined mold of what an attorney should look like or act like. She embraces her authentic self. One of her trial partners gifted her a placard that reads, “Be you. The world will adjust!”
Anita is known for her diligent work ethic. She is always well-prepared and develops contingency plans for unexpected situations. Moreover, she has faced obstacles because of her diverse legal interests. People have questioned her choice to maintain an entertainment law practice alongside her strong practice in drug and device law. While it’s a valid question, Anita finds fulfillment in both areas. In the entertainment field, everything is a bit of a long shot, and the legal work can be complex, but she takes pride in helping people achieve their dreams. In both practices, she collaborates with intriguing clients and finds professional fulfillment in her work.
Advocating for Women in Leadership
Anita believes that companies would greatly benefit from having more women in leadership roles at the highest levels. She has observed that women tend to work exceptionally hard because they often feel the need to prove themselves. In her experience, women make outstanding leaders due to their empathetic nature and their ability to create collaborative and inclusive work environments.
An example of this is seen in the pelvic mesh litigation, where nearly all of the key players were women. Anita considers this experience as one of the most rewarding and positive in her professional career.
Leading the Way in AI-Powered Legal Excellence
Anita holds a strong commitment to securing Butler Snow’s position as a leader in harnessing AI technology to enhance the provision of top-notch legal services for our clients. She firmly believes that challenges are a natural part of life, and overcoming them is the path to success. When faced with difficulties, these challenges encourage the development of coping mechanisms, adaptation, and the discovery of solutions. Each time she conquers a hurdle, it leaves her better equipped to handle future obstacles with confidence and resilience.
Anita’s advice to the next generation of legal leaders is to prioritize and promote ethical excellence, especially in a future where technology plays a significant role in the legal profession.
