Catherine is an attorney with the Yitzhak Law Group, a boutique law firm located in Great Neck, New York. LIPM would like to congratulate Catherine on recently running in the Brooklyn Marathon. Catherine Gretschel may be contacted by email and is on LinkedIn.
Question: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
Answer: I am very proud of myself for securing my current role at The Yitzhak Law Group. For five years I worked as an insurance defense attorney practicing no-fault law. I then made the switch to securities litigation and business law, which I practiced for one year. Most recently, I am practicing family and matrimonial law with The Yitzhak Law Group. Making the switch from insurance defense to these other practice areas has been both difficult and rewarding.
I am very thankful to work alongside a wonderful team of seasoned litigators who educate and encourage me daily. I never want to stop learning and expanding my knowledge.
Question: What do you hope to accomplish by the end of your career?
Answer: In all honesty, I have no idea what the end of my career will look like. All I hope is that one day I can look back on my journey with pride. Each day I make a commitment to myself to put in the work that I need to so that I can be the best possible version of myself.
Question: How do you spend your time when you are not working?
Answer: I love going out and trying new restaurants. I have a social media account that is dedicated solely to all of my foodie extravaganzas. I also love to practice yoga and run. I am running the Brooklyn Marathon at the end of this month.
Question: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 20 year-old self?
Answer: Do that thing that scares you. And don’t be afraid of failure; failure is part of the process.
Question: What is the highest educational degree you’ve earned?
Answer: I received my J.D. from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.
Question: Who inspires you?
Answer: My Dad. He passed away in 2015 but I am inspired by him every single day. He owned a hair salon for 30 years, and when he was 59 years old he steered his passion for flying airplanes into a job with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Question: Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
Answer: When Long Island’s first Chic-fil-A in Port Jefferson Station opened in 2015, I was one of the restaurant’s first customers. As part of the grand opening festivities, I won a certificate for a year’s worth of meals. It was a delicious year for sure!
Question: What is your advice to other professionals who may want to join LIP?
Answer: I am not quite sure what my expectations were when I first joined LIP, but I will say that I did not expect to meet so many wonderful people so quickly. Everyone is so bright, kind, and welcoming. And the events are always a blast. I would encourage everyone to join LIP, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.