May 19, 2026
Katya Jestin is a partner at Jenner & Block and co-chair of the firm's investigations, compliance, and defense practice. A former federal prosecutor, Katya represents companies, universities, executives, and boards in high-stakes criminal, regulatory, congressional, and internal investigations, particularly in sensitive and crisis-driven matters. From 2020 to 2024, she served as Jenner & Block's co-managing partner, helping lead the firm during a period of significant change and uncertainty for the legal profession and the broader business world.
WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT VALUES-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP IN BIG LAW
Lawyers who step into leadership roles quickly discover that technical excellence isn't enough. Whether they're managing a practice group, leading a firm, or navigating a high-stakes investigation, the pressure to protect what's already working can push decision-making toward fear and self-preservation. That instinct feels safe, but it tends to produce the worst outcomes.
The alternative takes more nerve. It means grounding decisions in values even when the short-term economics are uncertain, building culture around teams instead of individual credit, and being willing to model vulnerability in environments that have traditionally rewarded the opposite. It also means treating mentorship as something you do, not something you talk about, by creating real opportunities for the people coming up behind you.
In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge, Elise Holtzman talks with Katya Jestin of Jenner & Block about making values-based decisions under real pressure, why team-based culture outperforms individualism in law firms, how being underestimated can become a strategic advantage, and what effective mentorship looks like beyond words.
2:49 - Taking over as co-managing partner on January 1, 2020
3:35 - Making difficult decisions through values, not fear
6:10 - Why the worst decisions come from a place of fear
7:27 - Shifting from individualism to teamwork and why "teams crush individuals every time"
11:06 - The vulnerability panel at the partners retreat
12:43 - Growing up underestimated and the power of kindness and grit
14:25 - Why being underestimated is disarming and how it produces better outcomes
17:11 - Mentoring through vulnerable, closed-door conversations
19:00 - Mentoring through action, not just words
22:09 - Why fear-based thinking leads to terrible decisions at every level
24:46 - Instilling institutional values in the next generation without sacrificing standards
28:37 - The curse of knowledge: never be afraid to ask questions
Mentioned In Katya Jestin | Why Values-Driven Decisions Pay Off in Law Firm Leadership
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