Erica Lewis is at the top of her game. A lawyer and partner at Hedrick Gardner, the 40-year-old was recently named managing partner of the firm’s Wilmington office.

Hedrick Gardner, headquartered  in Charlotte, also has offices in Raleigh and Columbia, S.C., making it one of the largest litigation firms in the Carolinas. Today, Hedrick Gardner is the largest law firm in Wilmington with 16 attorneys – six partners and 10 associates – and a support staff of about 20.

That is also remarkable since the Wilmington branch was started by Lewis just a little more than 10 years ago. When her husband Scott received a job offer in Wilmington, the couple moved here from Charlotte. Erica Lewis became the “trailing spouse.” A frequent complaint among those in the business community, this area offers many opportunities for good paying jobs, but not always to both spouses in a marriage. Lewis looked at the move as an opportunity.

“I like to think we made a family decision to move” to the Port City  when Scott accepted a position with a local law firm, she said.

She wasn’t separated very long from her Charlotte firm. “Hedrick Gardner decided that I could open  an office here for them.”

Lewis opened the branch. In her attic. She became a branch office of one.

“It was just me. But I had great support from the firm and great resources in Charlotte,” Lewis said.

She was doing what she wanted to do – practicing law as a litigator. “It was great exposure, and I loved it.”

“It’s an exciting career, interested cases, great personalities at work, the thrill of litigation,” she said.

Lewis started at the firm when she graduated with a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest in 1995.

Even with her added responsibilities – managing partner meetings  that begin after the close of business and often aren’t over until 10 p.m. – Erica Lewis still loves going to court, defending her clients. The firm, she explained, does defense work – about 95 percent of its business.

“We generally do not represent injured individuals, but businesses, employers, insurance carriers and doctors,” she explained.
 Becoming a managing partner is an accomplishment for any lawyer. It is exceptional for a woman, especially one as young as Lewis.  Her rise to the top puts her in elite company – nationwide, only about 8 percent of women become  managing partners.

Partners in a law firm are the  leaders of the office – they’re all in it together for the good of the firm, the office and the clients, Lewis said. As managing partner, Lewis is involved in overseeing training of the associates, coordinating with other offices, participating in meetings for both the legal aspect as well as the growth of the firm, business development and  business aspects of the practice.

Asked why she thought so few women made managing partner, Lewis said, “We are now at a point where more women than men graduate from law school. But, the attrition rate is higher for women – only about 20 percent or less make partner.”

Practicing law, she said, takes a “tremendous amount of time and commitment to strike a balance between clients, the firm and  partners.” Women, she feels, are  challenged professionally when they want to start a family.

“Women put a ton of pressure on themselves to do it all,” she said, which entails finding the ethical and time commitment to find the balance.

“Women want to do it all and do  it all well,” Lewis said. She feels that if you have to make a choice between motherhood and career, “choose family, if you can.”

Working mothers, like Lewis –  the couple have three children – are challenged in both arenas, she said. “We don’t want to miss a recital, or miss anything.” Lewis said she often will take a day off to chaperone a field trip or a school event.

How does she juggle it all?

“I have high energy and get by with little sleep,” she laughed. She and Scott  have “great friends providing support. Somehow it all works out.”

When she first moved to Wilmington, Lewis was a member of Junior League. “It’s an awesome organization,” she said. “As I had three children, I’m one of those people who do not want to make a commitment I can’t keep. I pulled back and now I contribute when I can.”

Where does she see herself  professionally in 10 years?

“Every job has pros and cons,”  she said. “I love the practice of law. Most of my day is spent on cases for my clients.”