From 2008 to 2024, Steven Sonberg served as managing partner of Holland & Knight, leading the firm's strategic direction and operations. Under his 16-year leadership, the firm grew to become the 25th largest by revenue in the United States. A corporate lawyer by trade, Sonberg's practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, tax and corporate governance for clients in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, and real estate sectors. Previously, he chaired the firm's Business Law Section for five years. He has served on the University of Miami Board of Trustees since 2004 and was a member of Miami Law's Dean's Advisory Council. In 2024, he was awarded the Henry Latimer Leadership and Professionalism Award by the Law School Alumni Association.
What aspects or opportunities at the law school had the most significant influence on your legal education and career trajectory?
I attended law school as a night student while working full-time in the University's finance department. Though this limited my interaction with professors and participation in activities, my law school experience was critical to my development as a lawyer. The most important skill I learned was multitasking—juggling multiple tasks and problems seamlessly while jumping from topic to topic. Professors Hausler and Heckerling were instrumental in developing these abilities, known for their skill in making students think on their feet through rapid-fire questioning that required staying calm under pressure. Experience in law school taught me well for a life of handling multiple problems or tasks simultaneously, being able to move from client issues, management issues, and personal issues beyond just the practice of law. These skills enabled me to deal with clients effectively, manage my legal practice successfully, and handle life's pressures. Learning to manage multiple priorities and think around corners became important factors in my success.
What is one lesson you learned in law school that you still apply today?
One of the most important lessons I learned in law school was the ability to make decisions without always having complete information. Law school taught me to develop a sixth sense for processing available information and distinguishing the important from the unimportant. This skill has proven invaluable throughout my career, particularly during my tenure as Managing Partner, when I frequently had to make strategic decisions with imperfect information. Whether evaluating potential mergers, assessing market opportunities, or navigating complex client issues, the ability to synthesize incomplete data, identify key factors, and make confident decisions has been essential. This lesson extends beyond legal practice to all aspects of leadership and life. The capacity to act decisively while managing uncertainty, combined with the judgment to know when to seek additional information versus when to move forward, has been fundamental to both my professional success and personal decision-making. This skill, honed in law school, remains central to my approach today.
What draws you to stay connected to the law school?
I have maintained a close relationship with the University and law school for many years, with my involvement increasing significantly during my tenure as managing partner at Holland & Knight. During those 16 years, our firm was a strong supporter and contributor to the law school. I have been a personal contributor over many years and, as managing partner, initiated and spearheaded the John Hogan Scholarship Fund in memory of our partner John Hogan. Our firm's deep connections to the law school include many alumni as partners and associates. What draws me back is the opportunity to give back to an institution that shaped my career, to support the next generation of legal professionals, and to maintain connections with a community that shares common values and experiences. The law school's continued excellence and its role in developing skilled, ethical lawyers who contribute meaningfully to the profession and society keep me engaged and committed to its mission.
