Angelique Waddell

Partner, Holland & Knight LLP

40 Under 40 Category: Legal Services

Biography:

Angelique Waddell is a partner in Holland & Knight’s Financial Services Group and is based in its Dallas office. Angelique represents banks and non-bank institutions in domestic and cross-border middle-market and large-cap debt financings, including widely syndicated, club and single lender transactions with borrowers in virtually every industry. She has extensive experience advising clients in all aspects of multi-level capital structures, including drafting and negotiating intercreditor agreements on first lien/second lien, split-lien and unitranche financings. 

Angelique also speaks frequently at client workshops on material issues that affect asset-based and cash flow lenders, including specialized industry and specialized collateral programs, secret liens and recent developments. She earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi.

Angelique is passionate about her community and is active in several local charities. In addition, she serves on the national board of HopeKids, a non-profit that supports children with life-threatening medical conditions, as well as their families. Angelique lives in University Park with her husband, Ray, and their three young children.

How do you think the commercial finance industry can attract more young professionals?

Achieving a work-life balance is precarious in all demanding industries, but particularly in finance. The commercial finance industry can attract more young talent by continuing to implement progressive programs that promote a healthy life symmetry. Many employers within the industry have already made great strides in this regard, particularly in the legal field. Many firms, including my own, have implemented liberal parental leave policies and flexible work policies that allow their employees to be with their families when it matters most while still being a productive and valuable member of a strong team. Companies that value work-life balance will have a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining young talent.

What advice do you normally give to the junior talent you mentor/what advice would you give to forthcoming generation of talent aspiring to win this award?

1.  Find a good mentor, but choose wisely. Having a mentor will give you someone to consult with about complex situations for which school may not have prepared you. Choose a mentor that you personally respect and someone that genuinely cares about you as an individual. 

2.  Take advantage of slow periods. Use this time to recharge your batteries and reconnect with family and friends. Don’t worry: it will pick up again.

3.  Integrity should underpin all your work. No one should ever question your motivations if this guides your daily life.

4.  Develop technical expertise. It seems obvious, but it is essential to being truly successful in your trade and adding value to your client. Never stop developing incremental skills and knowledge.

When interviewing junior talent within this industry, what do you say to pique their interest on why they should accept a position in this industry?

I’ve had a driving intellectual curiosity my entire life, and I’ve observed this to be true of most of the candidates that we interview, so I always make a point to emphasize how working in finance (from a legal aspect, in particular) is intellectually and personally gratifying. As lawyers, we have the opportunity to take a heterogeneous mix of lender requirements, customer requests, available financial options, and a broad range of personalities involved, to create a clear, concise win package for the lender.

Our industry is never stagnant – it is constantly adapting in an increasingly competitive marketplace. This presents an unlimited landscape to conceptualize, develop and implement truly innovative client strategies. A large part of being a successful lawyer in the financial space is developing these critical analyses to provide our clients with insightful and creative solutions in this unstructured framework. In interviews, I emphasize how the industry lends itself to people who love challenges and want to put their creativity to good use. Hopefully this insight leads them to think about finance careers in a new way.

In addition to intellectually stimulating work, the impact that finance lawyers make is significant. My work allows me to guide clients through some of their most precarious situations and significant events, and the analysis and advice I provide is an essential component to their continued success. This is incredibly gratifying to me personally and I think that the opportunity to “make a difference” is a big motivator for junior talent.