Today, Monday, January 15, 2024, begins a new chapter for Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP as the firm’s former Chief Operating Partner, Kathleen Alt, steps into her new role as the firm’s managing partner.
Kathleen’s legal career began with a year-long clerkship on the Colorado Court of Appeals and three years trying cases at the public defender’s office after graduating top of her class at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. With that solid foundation, she joined BHGR in its early years while founding partner George Berg was at the helm as the firm’s managing partner. “Kathleen was one of the first women to join BHGR, and we worked together a lot during her early years,” shares George. As time passed, Kathleen expanded her practice in civil litigation and later employment law. “I was always impressed with her jury trial experience as I also have a significant background in jury trials. As such, I was also impressed with her ability to manage complex problems while maintaining a great understanding of human nature…” explains George. This consistent demonstration of leadership and management skills amplified Kathleen’s ability to grow within the firm. She later became the firm’s first female equity partner, and then, in March of 2022, she stepped into the role of Chief Operating Partner, a role that was brand new to the firm. Kathleen acknowledges that “it [was] through the patient and time-generous mentoring by the partners in all aspects of my professional and personal development that I was able to succeed.”
Among those partners is Giovanni Ruscitti, Kathleen’s predecessor and the second managing partner at BHGR. Giovanni recalls that at the very first meeting he ran as a managing partner, a discussion on succession planning was had. “As I studied successful organizations, I developed an appreciation for and belief that it is critical for leaders to look beyond the horizon.” It was later announced in January of 2022 that he thought Kathleen would be an excellent successor. “She is an excellent choice,” says Giovanni, “and she will be a great leader for the firm as we head into our next chapter.”
Getting into the meat of this succession planning, Kathleen shared a little bit about what it was like to navigate and process taking on this role. Her first thought went to the firm. “How can I contribute to the firm’s leadership legacy? Am I the right person at the right time,” she says. She also carefully considered her reasoning for taking the role, and most importantly, she needed to weigh what was best for her family and herself individually. “There are only so many hours in the day. Taking on this role necessarily means sacrifices in other areas,” says Kathleen. “I needed to spend a fair amount of time reflecting on my goals and priorities for the next seven to ten years.
Somewhere along the way, Kathleen accepted the role of managing partner and, with that, became even more excited about BHGR’s future.
