W. Scott Jenkins Jr.

Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers?

My leadership style is grounded in leading by example, transparency, maintaining open lines of communication and not taking myself too seriously. Our clients ask us to engage in finding solutions for their legal problems; this is a results-oriented, solution-driven business. I approach leadership the same way, by leading through action and being part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem. I never ask someone to do something that I haven’t done or wouldn’t be willing to do myself. When a leader is actively involved and demonstrates a willingness to solve others’ problems, it builds trust and loyalty that only strengthens the commitment of the office.

It’s also important to have a sense of humor and occasionally laugh at myself along the way. It’s important to me that we’re able to work hard and achieve great things, but also enjoy the journey and not be weighed down by unnecessary formality.

I’ve always had the benefit of strong mentors throughout my career, and their influence has shaped my leadership style in meaningful but different ways. By learning from their diverse approaches, I’ve been able to take bits and pieces from each — and weave them into a style that fits my personality and values.

A notable example of leadership success in the Dorsey-Phoenix office is the development of a mentorship-driven culture that has significantly contributed to our growth and office camaraderie. We have prioritized creating an environment where our experienced attorneys could mentor our newer attorneys and foster both their short- and long-term professional development. We strive to get buy-in at all levels, ensuring that everyone feels involved and valued. This approach has been instrumental in attracting and retaining some of the strongest legal talent in the Valley of the Sun.

Q: What impact has any disruptions of the past 18 months had on you as a leader?

Over the past 18 months, our Phoenix office has experienced remarkable growth, more than doubling in size. This success has reinforced my belief in the importance of building strong relationships, fostering trust, embracing flexibility and maintaining clear and consistent communication as a leader. I’ve also learned that some of the toughest decisions often yield the best outcomes.

While growth is usually a sign of success, any time you have rapid expansion, it brings challenges that can affect operations, employee satisfaction and the firm’s culture if not handled carefully. To address this, we’ve prioritized hiring people who align with our desired office culture and who are committed to supporting our vision of the office.

I have also had to embrace being more flexible as a leader, as a one-size-fits-all approach certainly doesn’t work in a law firm. Flexible leadership allows you to tailor your approach — whether it’s providing mentorship for a young associate, supporting autonomy for my partners or offering support to administrative staff. This approach has been essential in navigating our growth while making sure we are all moving in the same direction.

Q: What do you feel we can be doing as a business community to empower economic growth here?

To drive economic growth in the Valley of the Sun, our business community must prioritize collaboration and cooperation across industries. By working together, we can unlock new opportunities for businesses to grow, attract top talent, and position us to continue the run of incredible growth over the last several decades.

Organizations like GPEC and GPL, which we proudly support, among others, are doing an excellent job of bringing governmental and business leaders together to tackle the challenges facing the Valley of the Sun. If we actively engage in these strategies, we will create an even more positive business environment that attracts new businesses but also supports the growth of existing ones.

Equally important is the need to continue to actively build a resilient economy — one that is well-prepared to face future challenges head-on. It’s this collective effort and commitment to progress that will ensure Phoenix’s continued long-term success and prosperity.

Q: What is new and notable for your company’s near future that will impact our economy?

In January 2025, Dorsey will celebrate the three-year anniversary of our Phoenix office, marking an exciting milestone in our journey. Yet the growth of Dorsey’s Phoenix office feels like it’s just beginning. Over these past few years, we have expanded to offer full legal service capabilities locally while leveraging Dorsey’s international platform. This allows us to provide our clients with significant resources and sophistication to help them drive new business opportunities in the Valley of the Sun.

We are also actively exploring opportunities to expand our practice areas into other areas that strategically support our clients and their evolving needs.

We are deeply committed to continuing to support our community, not only through economic development but also through meaningful philanthropic initiatives.