Event snapshot
- Venue:The Dewberry Charleston and city landmarks
- Focus themes:Client development, cross-practice collaboration, and firm strategy
- Highlights:Speed partnering rounds, practice-building huddles, Charleston Museum tour, golf or spa afternoon, and team
Sterlington's 2025 Spring Partner Event took place in Charleston, South Carolina, from April 30 to May 2. Often called the Holy City for the many church steeples that pierce its skyline, Charleston gave the firm a historic setting for two days of focused collaboration.
The event opened on Wednesday afternoon with a cocktail reception hosted by partner Jeremy Goldstein. Thursday morning kicked off with a networking breakfast overlooking Marion Square before diving into two panel sessions.
During the first panel, "What BD Means to You", partners shared examples—wins, misses, and lessons learned—on deepening client relationships. That conversation fed directly into "Collaboration at Work," where our partners mapped out practical ways to team up earlier in the matter life cycle to secure stronger outcomes for clients.
Turning Conversation into Action
After lunch, Chris Harrison, Jeremy Goldstein, and Jo Brophy outlined firm milestones and growth plans—and handed out fresh Sterlington swag. The team then broke into four working partner-led huddles (IP, high-net worths/ultra-high-net worths, Latin America, and litigation and complex litigation). Each group finished with up to three concrete next steps; for example, the Latin American team set a 60-day target to host a joint webinar with our Mexico-based contacts.
A rooftop cocktail reception eased the partners into the evening, followed by a classic Charleston steakhouse dinner—time for stories, laughter, and the kind of connections that translate into smoother deal teams.
Friday offered curated options: a guided walk through the Charleston Museum, a downtown food tour, or a golf/spa afternoon. Everyone regrouped for dinner, where seafood and live jazz set the tone for reflection on the two-day program.
"Charleston gave us fresh surroundings to think bigger about our clients and our offering," said Christopher S. Harrison, founding partner. "The mix of structured debate and informal time together sharpened our focus on collaboration, innovation, and delivering top-tier advice."
Looking Ahead
With team members spread across continents and time zones, in-person interaction remains a powerful catalyst. The Spring Partner Event gave partners room to strengthen trust, spot cross-border synergies, align on firm priorities, and reinforce our culture.
The ideas and action items captured in Charleston feed straight into our 2025 business plan. We'll keep discussion outcomes measurable, track progress on each huddle's objectives, and build on the momentum when we gather again next spring.