Her Story
About Lorraine
Lorraine Gallagher has built a distinguished career in law since starting as a paralegal in 1990 before attending college. She graduated from Manhattanville University and Pace Law School, where she obtained a certificate in environmental law. After seventeen years practicing products liability defense at an international law firm, she transitioned in-house to a pharma company, where she has worked for 13 years and is now the Associate Genral Counsel and leads the regulatory affairs department following a recent company acquisition. Her notable achievements include contributing to briefs in a Supreme Court case as a young associate and securing a defense victory in a World Trade Center-related arbitration. She remains actively involved in her community through second-term service on the local school board, where she has served as president and vice president, as secretary of her high school alumni association, as a Section 1 field hockey official, and with the Boosters Club. Gallagher values honesty and integrity above all in her work and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lorraine
01What do you attribute your success to?
Outstanding ethics and lots of hard work, in addition to many great mentors over the years. I also could not have done any of this without the support of my amazing husband, three children and loving parents.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Being a woman in a products liability defense field, I would go to inspections as the only woman and listen and smile and learn all that I can from the older men who thought I didn't know anything. So, listening more and speaking less has paid off in many situations.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Follow your dreams, remain flexible, try everything. You never know what kind of case is going to come across your desk. Stay open to possibilities.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My company was bought out last year, many friends laid off. Learning a whole new lay of the land as the new kid on the block even after 13 years, figuring out where I fit into the organization while taking over as head of regulatory.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity. Without ethics you don't deserve to be a lawyer. Lead with what you believe and stay true to that every day.
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