Asked about her philosophy of life, Terri Krivosha hesitates only a moment, then quotes the Talmudic sage Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who is for me?  If I am only for myself, who am I; and if not now, when?”  It is not surprising that Terri cites Hillel as her inspiration: it is obvious that her Jewish faith is important to her.  And clearly, the phrase she quotes has served as a guiding principle for Terri, whose career has been marked by self-assurance, tenacity and her devotion to community, faith and family.

Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska, Terri’s first thoughts of law school surfaced when she was still in elementary school.  She attributes her desire to be a lawyer to her dad, one of the best trial lawyers in Nebraska and a Chief Judge of the Nebraska Supreme Court.  With his encouragement, Terri attended a joint degree program offered by the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, graduating with BAs in both Talmudic studies and Ancient History.  She then attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and graduated with honors in 1983.  Although some might wonder at her rather unusual undergraduate preparation for law school, she comments that attending JTS was excellent preparation for the analytical approach taught in law school: “On a daily basis I was required to analyze text,  as I would later do in law school but, even more challenging, I was required to analyze text in a different language.”

After law school, she approached her career with the same unique style that marked her early years.  Excited by the prospect of helping clients pursue mutually agreeable business goals, she began her career as a business lawyer in the corporate group at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York.  She recalls this as an exciting time: the economy was booming, there were big deals and she was working with fabulous people.  She was very lucky to work with and learn from a woman partner who showed her that a woman lawyer can be effective and maintain her individuality; as Terri recalls, she never tried to be “one of the boys.”

The family moved to Minneapolis after Terri’s husband, Hayim Herring, was offered an opportunity to lead a congregation here.  She started her Twin Cities career with the Faegre & Benson corporate group in 1985.  Her two children (Avi, 16 and Tamar, 13) were born soon after she arrived in the Twin Cities.

Terri moved to Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand in 1993.  Always one to avoid the traditional career path, Terri asked Maslon to allow her to work a 3/4 time schedule.  She nevertheless made partner after only one year.  She explains that her part-time schedule does not mean she is not fully committed to her clients, it means only that she takes on fewer deals than would a full-time lawyer.  She explains that this schedule has been successful only because she can be entirely focused on what she is doing, when she is doing it.  During her time at Maslon, she has benefitted from the advice and mentoring of Neil Sell, a top business lawyer at Maslon.  Sell is enthusiastic in her praise for Terri’s work: “She is an outstanding lawyer and I have tremendous respect for how she has been able to balance her roles at home and in her career.”