Are You an Outlaw? Meet John Albrighton
WHO HAS REDEFINED WHAT IT MEANS TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE LAW (AKA OUTLAW) AND IS HELPING EACH OF US IN THE PROCESS?
Meet John Albrighton, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Neal Gerber Eisenberg, a Chicago-based law firm dedicated to handling sophisticated matters for entrepreneurs, public companies, and private businesses and their owners. John leads a team responsible for the firm’s marketing, business development and communications, including pitch and proposal development, branding, social media and public relations. He previously held marketing and business development roles at two different AmLaw 200 firms, a global finance advisory and investment banking firm, an international commercial bank and served as public affairs and communications consultant to the Department of the Navy. Before joining the corporate world, John served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (B.B.A.) and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (M.B.A.).
Enjoy getting to know this Outlaw!
Q: What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
A: 5-hour rounds of golf played in the hottest part of the day in the dog days of summer.
Q: Where would you like to live?
A: Ideally, I’d love to be some place with warm enough weather to play golf year-round but I am a big fan of experiencing all 4 seasons. So, let’s say I’m TBD on where I’d ultimately like to live.
Q: What is your motto?
A: “Some of us are better than one of us and all of us are better than some of us.” My team hears this mantra from me frequently. I am a firm believer in the benefits of collaboration and teamwork. Ask for help when you need it, offer to help when it’s needed and together we succeed.
Q: Finish this sentence: “If I could have one super-power, it would be…”
A: Teleportation. Just think how much time we’d get back if we get anywhere in an instant and how much more we could see and do!
Q: Who are your favorite authors or what are your favorite books?
A: As a former officer in the U.S. Navy, I enjoy most of Tom Clancy’s books. The detail he goes into about ships, planes and other military aspects really sets the scene. As for my all-time favorite book, I would say Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities which contains arguably the best opening and closing lines in all of literature with an incredible story told in between.
Q: If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A: My dad. He passed away in March 2022. I would give anything for one more meal at his favorite greasy spoon diner in my hometown of Pittsburgh.
Q: What got you into working in the legal industry?
A: A friend and mentor of mine asked me to meet with Murray Coffey who was the CMO at Jenner & Block at the time to discuss any candidates I might know for an open marketing role. I was in financial services at the time. Next thing I know I was headed back to Jenner to interview myself. Following Jenner, I spent a few years at Sidley and eventually made the move to Neal Gerber Eisenberg in fall of 2016. Overall, I have been in the legal industry over a decade.
Q: Your favorite musician or band?
A: U2.
Q: What is your current state of mind?
A: Cautiously optimistic.
Q: Your favorite virtue?
A: Empathy. If we can’t take the time to understand what others are going through, how can we expect others to understand us?
Q: What would you consider your greatest achievement?
A: I’m the son of a construction laborer and a stay-at-home mom/coffee shop waitress who attended the University of Notre Dame on a 4-year Navy ROTC scholarship and completed an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management paid for mostly by my employer at the time. I’m very proud of the path I have taken and forever grateful to my parents, neither who attended college, for their encouragement and support during my time growing up.
Q: Finish this sentence: “If I won the lottery tomorrow I would…”
A: Charter a jet and head off to play some of the world’s greatest golf courses with family and friends.