Legal Lady Boss- Francesca Witzburg

The pandemic tested our ability to adapt to new circumstances. It meant spending more time on our devices than we ever had experienced before, and for some attorneys like Francesca Witzburg, it meant finding new avenues to reach a larger “audience” and build her business thanks to this virtual uptick. Francesca’s story speaks to making lemonade out of lemons and that the magic really happens when you bet on yourself. This interview will spark motivation no matter what phase you are in in your life and career.

You're now a partner at Loza and Loza LLP. Tell us about your path.

After graduating from Cardozo law school, I began my career as an associate at an IP boutique firm. I was committed to learning everything I could about trademark law. Two years later, I found my dream job in big law and lateraled as an associate in a busy trademark law group with predominantly fashion and entertainment clients. I worked tirelessly to do and be my best. I commuted three hours day, not getting home until 8 or 9 at night. I became pregnant in the fall of 2019, and ended up having my son two months early, during the peak of the pandemic when everyone was told to stay at home. Holding the tiniest little baby in my arms, time stopped. I had just brought life into this world while hundreds of people in the same building were fighting for their lives. It forced me to take a hard look at my life and lifestyle. Work remained a priority, but I wanted more control over my schedule. I decided to take a gamble on myself and move to a firm as a partner where I could make my own schedule and build my own book of business. The firm, Loza & Loza, is woman owned and led by a boss named Tina Loza. She built the firm during the last recession, taking a gamble on herself too. The firm today is nationally ranked with nearly 50 lawyers all over the country and represents leading brands. It was a very hard decision to leave my dream job and big law, but I saw joining Loza & Loza as the right opportunity to build my own brand and business. This September it will be two years since starting at the firm. Since then I’ve filed hundreds of trademark applications, represented hundreds of clients including top celebrities and brands, and made many new incredible contacts. It’s been an exciting journey thus far.

How did you land in the intellectual property field and why?

I had no idea what intellectual property law was when I started at Cardozo as a 1L. But at alumni events, I started meeting various “IP” lawyers, and heard about their fascinating jobs. I met the general counsels of top fashion brands, lawyers who split their time between LA and NYC to advice entertainment clients, and law partners that had advised on some of the biggest brand deals. I interned at a boutique law firm my 2L summer and fell in love with trademark law. I became committed to having a career in the practice and was hired there my first year out of law school.

You've built quite the social media following on Instagram and TikTok. Not the traditional advertising vehicles for attorneys. What led to the creation of "The Trademark Attorney" and how has it impacted your business as an attorney?

I left my big law salaried job for a non-salaried partnership role during the pandemic when all in-person events were shut down. It was sink or swim. I created an Instagram account for marketing and education. But happened after that was incredible. After posting content, friends, family and colleagues reached out with tremendous support. So I kept going. And received even more support. I saw content creation as a tool to keep in touch with my existing network, and also grow a community. As of today, I have over 20,000 followers across all platforms.

Do you have any standout stories to share from your experience on social media?

I’m of the generation that had Facebook in high school and college when it just came out. At that time, it was used basically just to show off your social life. When we started applying for jobs, we were told to delete a lot of the photos or even to delete the account entirely. So basically, social media was something that you had to show your private life, but was not acceptable for professional life. But now, more and more businesses are looking at social to learn about the new hire, their interests, and their personality. Many times, if the candidate has a great account and uses it the right way, it will actually help them. It’s still a new concept, but many smart hiring attorneys see a popular social media presence as an indicator of the candidate’s hustle and drive.

Any tips for other attorneys who are looking to start their own social media accounts?

Start now. I mean, literally, start today. Begin with LinkedIn because LinkedIn is an incredible content platform right now. It’s not the stuffy platform it was five years ago. It’s a content creation platform tailored for professionals and the algorithm is set up for content to go viral. I have a post that had 20,000 views, which essentially is free publicity amongst in-house counsel and firms that can hire or refer business.

Start today and thank me five years from now when all of your peers are scrambling to build a presence online and the space is so crowded but you have a thriving online presence that stands out from the rest.

You've been vocal about the challenges of balancing life as a mom and attorney including being pregnant during the pandemic. What advice do you have to any moms out there who are struggling?

Be kind to yourself and show yourself grace. This is a season. Your life and all routines will be completely thrown out of wack. But it’s okay—you’ll make new routines and will create a new lifestyle. The way that I’ve been able to stay happy and healthy and very busy at work is by cutting out a lot of things that are time suckers, including draining people and things.

What is the best piece of advice you've received in your career?

Bet on yourself. This is the one that changed the course of my life. It’s easy to let others tell you what you’re supposed to do and when. But if you truly believe in yourself and have the courage to go for it and go all in, you’ll achieve a life of your wildest dreams.