(San Francisco, California)
WSHB powerhouse litigator Anoush Holaday has been tapped as a “Phenom Under 40” by CLM as part of its inaugural award recognizing “up-and-comers.” Holaday, a partner in the firm’s Sonoma County office, joins an elite group of individuals chosen for significant impact in her law firm and success in her field.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the inaugural class of honorees recognized for contributions to the firm and industry,” said Holaday. “There are simply no words to describe how honored I am to be recognized for my legal skills and contributions to the industry.”
CLM’s award recognizes those under the age of forty who have made a significant impact in the lives of their companies or firms and risen to the top of their field. A competitive nomination process and review are undertaken as part of the selection process.
Holaday says she is especially proud of this honor because she was a child immigrant to this country and the first in her family to attend law school. She is actively involved in WSHB’s DEI Taskforce.
“It is no surprise to those who know her that Anoush is being honored,” said Stephen Henning, founding partner of WSHB. “Anoush is our first-ever director of associate success, a coveted role in which she provides mentorship to associates throughout the nation. She fosters diversity and inclusion, and is truly a friend of all who have the pleasure of knowing her.”
Added Stewart Reid, firmwide managing partner: “Anoush is a true trailblazer and rises to every challenge with grace, intelligence and a keen desire to make a positive impact. I distinctly remember when Anoush first joined the firm ten years ago as a summer associate and immediately stood out as an attorney destined for success.”
Holaday has played a significant role in the continued growth of the firm's reputable presence in the San Francisco Bay area legal community. “Anoush is both essential to the operations of our local office, and instrumental to the success of attorneys firmwide, and her ability to expertly tackle these various roles is truly inspiring,” said Steve Disharoon, managing partner of the firm’s Sonoma County office, where Anoush also serves as a partner.
Holaday holds a second title at WSHB: Director of Associate Success, the first-ever position for a national law firm. While collecting legal victories in court, it was clear that Anoush felt the same commitment to her colleagues as she did her clients. Anoush developed a reputation as a fiercely dedicated mentor, supporting dozens of associates develop their own legal skills and practices. Her personal investment in so many of her colleagues' careers was rare, and the impact undeniable. She became a thought leader as to the untapped potential of legal mentorship. Now, as Director of Associate Success, Anoush provides high-level mentorship to all of the associates in WSHB’s 33 offices across the nation on all aspects of litigation.
Holaday is a familiar face to those involved in CLM. She recently spoke at the highly-regarded Premier Session of the 2022 CLM Construction Convention regarding Women in Construction and her unique successes as a highly successful female POC attorney. She is also slated to speak at CLM’s 2023 Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida. Holaday also proudly serves on WSHB’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) Task Force. Her work in this sphere centers around developing strategies for recruiting, retaining, and promoting diverse attorneys and mentoring partners and associates for this objective.
In addition to her professional achievements, Anoush is a proud and involved mother of two young daughters under the age of six. She routinely recants the story of becoming elevated to partnership during her maternity leave. “Anoush is clearly regarded as a true change agent and community builder,” said Henning. “She truly is a phenom, and what she accomplishes in the next 40 years is going to be next level.”