Around the water cooler: Q & A with Aaron L. Hammer

Today we talk with Aaron L. Hammer, who leads the corporate restructuring and bankruptcy practice at Freeborn & Peters. He has been practicing in this substantive area since he graduated from law school in 1997.

What do you find the most interesting about your practice?

The most interesting aspect of my practice are the many relationships that I’ve made and been able to maintain over the course of my career. While I have reached a level in my career where I am able to consistently meet and exceed my client’s expectations, I tend to enjoy the many different personalities and individuals involved in each particular client matter, more than the engagement itself.

What makes a good lawyer?

A good lawyer understands his or her client’s needs and then delivers a result consistent with those needs.

What is the biggest legal news right now, and what is its impact?

The economy - the current financial crisis likely has impacted each and every American, if not most people on the planet. As a corporate reorganization and bankruptcy attorney, I have witnessed firsthand how the restrictions in the credit markets and in bank lending have directly impacted commercial default rates. Even with historic government intervention, Chapter 11 filings by U.S. corporations are likely to reach record levels.