Her Story
About Margaret
Margaret Merrill serves as general counsel and in-house counsel in the private equity sector, where she has practiced for over 10 years as a true generalist. She graduated from law school in 2010 following an undergraduate double major in economics and history and two years working for the Attorney General. Her practice focuses on transactional matters along with governance, entity formation including fund formation, purchase agreements, financing, and incentive plans. She recently joined Pell, a group of general counsels working in private equity. Margaret attributes her success to perseverance, resiliency, and endurance, and she advises young women entering the field to recognize and articulate their strengths while marketing themselves effectively. She values integrity, transparency, and genuineness in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Margaret
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say perseverance, resiliency, an unwillingness to give up. Not easily discouraged. I have a lot of endurance. It's easier for me to just persist where others get tired and give up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Make sure that you do what you love, and then you'll love what you do, and it won't feel like work. Continue to learn and invest in your career because it becomes self-fulfilling.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You have to be resilient. Recognize the strength in yourself and make an effort to show people those strengths. Articulate those strengths. Lean into marketing yourself and bragging about yourself even if society is turned off by women who seem too full of themselves.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is a challenge or fear for white-collar workers and the legal field, with concerns about changing billing models and recruiting. However, the legal industry is dynamic and resilient, with lawyers well-positioned as interpreters of laws and rules, and their analytical skill set provides adaptability.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and transparency. A sense of genuineness and being true to yourself in the moment as best you can.
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