2021 Most Influential Women: Laura Robinson

Laura Robinson says her entire job boils down to influencing the success of others. From effectively arguing a motion for summary judgment and ensuring her client is protected to training a young colleague in the legal profession, she measures her accomplishments by what she can do for those around her.

“Whether it’s formally or informally mentoring newer associates, guiding summer associates who are still in law school or leading a team of experienced professionals on cases, the goal is always success for those I am helping,” says Robinson, senior associate at Husch Blackwell LLP.

Robinson joined the firm in 2015 after stints as a law clerk for Fayetteville, Arkansas-based firm Everett, Wales & Comstock and student attorney for the University of Arkansas. She earned her Juris Doctor from the UA School of Law in 2014.

At Husch Blackwell, Robinson is part of the commercial litigation group with a practice emphasis on employment, education, real estate, construction, and domestic and international contract law. She also coordinates the firm’s summer program and serves on the recruitment committee, which involved managing and mentoring law students working during their summer breaks. This summer she advised three associates.

Robinson says leaders of her firm also tasked her to mentor new attorneys, spurred by her dedication to the profession and her own professional development.

“Being an attorney is a difficult career, as is any profession, and learning to balance work life with family life is not easy,” she says. “I believe that it is important for me to do what I can to help newer attorneys succeed at both.”

Robinson says her growth as an attorney has allowed her to take on more leadership roles in cases.

“Going from implementing someone else’s strategy on cases to being the one suggesting strategies, implementing them, and achieving successful results for my clients has shown that I am a leader in my field,” she says.

Her proudest professional accomplishment came after winning an appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court. Robinson led a team to successfully appeal tax assessments issued to her client by the Missouri Department of Revenue on purchases that were tax exempt. She says this saved her client over $300,000.

“Sitting in the same room to represent my client where I was sworn in as an attorney, especially as a new attorney at the time, was an exciting experience,” she says. “And knowing that the client had trust and faith in us to achieve a great result for them meant a lot to me.”

Since moving to Springfield six years ago, Robinson also has immersed herself in the community. She’s served on the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks Inc. Board of Directors since 2018. It’s a cause close to her heart. Growing up, Robinson says she was frequently admitted to the hospital, which was a six-hour drive from her home. She says her family was fortunate the hospital provided many of their services for free.

“Being helped in such a major way, not just medically but also financially, instilled in me the desire to make a difference in the lives of other children facing health battles,” she says.

Robinson gives back to her profession, too. She serves on the board of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and was added to the Missouri Bar Pro Bono Wall of Fame in 2019.