Are You an Outlaw? Meet Kathleen Flynn

Who has redefined what it means to think outside the law (aka OUTLAW) and is helping each of us in the process?

Meet Kathleen Flynn, Bryan Cave’s chief marketing officer. Kathleen is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the firm’s global marketing and public relations efforts as well as supporting the firm’s business development activities. She has specialized expertise in building and managing the business development and marketing programs of major law and accounting firms nationwide. Kathleen also has significant experience in the areas of general management, strategic planning, brand management, sales and marketing. Prior to joining Bryan Cave, Kathleen was the CMO of Sedgwick LLP for more than 10 years, founder and president of Marketing Visions (a full-service marketing and public relations agency) and has held marketing leadership positions at Cooley Godward, Fenwick & West, Littler Mendelson and Coopers & Lybrand. She is past president and an active member of the Bay Area Chapter of the Legal Marketing Association, and Past President of the Oakland/East Bay Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Kathleen also holds the distinction of being honored with the Legal Marketing Association’s “Rella Lossy Professional Achievement Award,” which recognizes her career-long contributions to the profession.

We asked Kathleen a few questions and her answers can be found below. Enjoy getting to know this Outlaw!

Q: Where would you like to live?
A: Provence, France, or Tuscany, Italy, but I am very happy and feel fortunate to live right here in the Bay Area!

Q: What is your idea of happiness?
A: Spending time with and being surrounded by my friends and family and knowing that they are healthy and joyful in their lives. “Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.” – Immanuel Kant

Q: Who is your real life hero?
A: My Father Frank Flynn. In addition to being a loving, supportive and kind man, he was passionate about his Irish heritage, was a WWII hero, self-financed his college education, supported his community through volunteer work, as a volunteer firefighter and many more community groups, followed his passions…for art by becoming an architect, for trains by building a model railroad layout in our basement, continued to paint and create art even when he lost his eyesight to macular degeneration. Was supportive, proud and encouraging of his daughters and grandchildren in their education, career and life decisions. He loved to dance, and sing (terribly!), was the funniest, happiest man to be around! Always had a twinkle in his eye, a joke to share, played practical jokes, and we always laughed together. I miss him every day.

Q: What is your motto?
A: “Above all else be kind”. (Though good friends will tell you that I often say “you can sleep when you’re dead.” Must be the Jersey party girl speaking!)

Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: Losing those we love.

Q: To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
A: Too much wine, too little exercise.

Q: Who are your favorite authors/what are your favorite books?
A: “1000 White Women, the Journals of May Dodd” by Jim Fergus, “The Road Less Traveled” by Scott Peck, and “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” by Jan-Philipp Sendker.

Q: If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A: Michelle Obama. Such an accomplished woman professionally, wonderful wife and mother, compassionate American, role model and trail blazer.

Q: What got you into working in the legal industry?
A: I spent ten years with the Big 8, then 6, then 4…and with that strong marketing foundation I moved to CA where one of my former partners introduced me to the folks at Cooley, and I became their first Marketing Director.

Q: Your favorite musician/band?
A: Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, “hands down”!

Q: Your favorite virtue?
A: Ability to build strong, long and treasured friendships.

Q: What would you consider your greatest achievement?
A: The wonderful life my husband and I have built that revolves around our amazing family and circle of friends.

Q: Who would you have liked to be?
A: The Host of the Today Show!