Christina Rogers Robertson

Associate, Winston & Strawn

Christina Rogers Robertson is an associate in Winston & Strawn’s Houston office. She concentrates her practice on structuring, negotiating and documenting complex credit transactions. She has experience with various types of debt financings, including cash flow and asset-based lending transactions, senior secured first lien and second lien loan financings, and distressed lending transactions. Christina represents a broad range of clients, including banks, private equity funds, specialty lenders, and both privately held and publicly held borrowers. Her experience spans a broad range of industries, including technology, professional services, manufacturing, oil and gas, and asset-based lenders and factors. Christina has served on the Recruitment Committee for summer associates, and she currently participates in the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Associate Sponsorship Program. In addition, she has handled pro bono intake clinics with Houston Volunteer Lawyers, and she has worked with the Innocence Project and Houston Bar Association’s LegalLine.

What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry?

Seek constant feedback from your superiors. Over the course of my career, I have gained so much respect for the people I work for - both as attorneys and as individuals. I value their opinions immensely, and I believe I have been fortunate to learn a great deal from them, in large part because I have asked for and been open to candid feedback on a regular basis. While hearing any sort of criticism about yourself certainly is not the most enjoyable thing in the world, it is vital to your growth. I have found that having these discussions in real time, rather than waiting for a formal year-end review process, is the best way to continually evolve into a better professional. As someone just starting out, no one expects you to be an expert in your field, but that doesn’t mean you’re not capable of providing valuable contributions from day one. Organization, responsiveness, a good work ethic, and an overall desire to learn can get you so far in that it will garner trust from your superiors which in turn will open up doors for more opportunities.

What do you know now that you wish you knew in the beginning of your career? 

Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It is incredibly easy to feel intimidated as the youngest or least experienced person in the room, but you cannot let the fear of doing something “wrong” overtake your desire to grow and gain experience. It is crucial to push yourself out of your comfort zone from the outset in order to obtain early exposure to quality, high-level work. Take ownership of your career, and do not let yourself become complacent or settle. It is important to stay proactive by constantly taking on additional responsibilities and requesting to be involved in new and challenging opportunities. 

What role has mentoring played in your career?

I think it is critical to find those who are willing to take the time to share their experiences and support your growth as a professional and person. I find that it can often seem like there is only room for one “mentor,” and that it must be a very formal arrangement. While that certainly can be the case, I don’t think it has to be. I always have my eyes and ears open to those around me. I have endeavored to build a network of people who I respect and admire, and I soak up all the opportunities and guidance they have to offer. I think I could have very easily gotten lost in the shuffle long ago without those around me who have helped and guided me through my career thus far. Find people who want to get to know you well, who believe in you and your potential, and who can provide you with solid advice and wisdom, both on a macro level and the mundane day-to-day.