The commute from Maplewood, New Jersey to Manhattan is where Carrie DiCanio ’08 plans out her cases.
“A lot of my time is spent thinking about strategy,” said DiCanio, an insurance attorney and shareholder at Anderson Kill.
DiCanio started at the firm as a summer associate 11 years ago while a student at Cardozo. Anderson Kill is where DiCanio earned several accolades, including Law360’s 2018 Rising Star award and Business Insurance’s 2018 Break Out Award. She has gained prominence in the insurance law industry, presenting on topics such as representation and warranties policies.
The firm is also where DiCanio met her husband. She said Anderson Kill’s flexible hours and generous work-from-home policy have allowed her to balance her family life and succeed in her career.
“I think that says a lot about the firm’s ability to accommodate attorneys,” DiCanio said. “That was a benefit for me when my kids were younger.”
DiCanio’s 42nd-floor office is lined with family photos and drawings by her two young sons. She acknowledges that retaining female attorneys has been a challenge for Anderson Kill but adds that offering a generous work-life balance is a good start.
Three of the Anderson Kill’s six offices (including those in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.) have female managing shareholders.
DiCanio said diversity has improved in the last five years and it has inspired her to support recent female Cardozo graduates.
As co-chairs of the Cardozo Women alumnae group, DiCanio and fellow ’08 alumna Parvin Aminolroaya have promoted professional development opportunities by hosting networking breakfasts. DiCanio’s next goal is to involve women from different age groups.
“One of the keys is developing mentorships with experienced attorneys,” she said, adding that Cardozo Women has around 30 active members. “Although we have a long way to go, we’re really focused on it.”
DiCanio’s most memorable Cardozo moments include her work on Law Review, which she credits with teaching her time management skills