WOMEN TO WATCH
2017

Elizabeth Abney Caldwell

Partner
Newland & Associates PLLC

Our firm provides a full range of transactional and civil litigation services to construction industry and other business clients. My practice primarily involves corporate work, real estate transactions and financing, and succession planning. I started with Newland & Associates right after graduating from law school in Little Rock and originally assisted with appellate work and litigation. However, I knew from the beginning that my fit was in a transactional practice, and my partners worked with me to develop that. I celebrated 10 years with our firm in May.

PRESSING QUESTIONS

Best career moment so far:

Becoming partner is certainly a career highlight, but originally accepting the offer with Newland & Associates was my best moment. It set the course for everything that followed, and it’s been exciting to grow with our firm and our clients.

Best advice you’ve ever received:

Just be kind. That doesn’t mean be a pushover or give in, but there is no reason not to be kind.

What is a typical workday like?

I spend most of the work day on the phone and meeting with clients. That may mean developing projects with clients, pushing a transaction to close, or just putting out fires. After 5:00 is when I catch up on work.

Biggest challenges or obstacles you’ve faced in your career:

There is no such thing as an even work/life balance. Sometimes one has to take precedence over the other. The challenge is making sure one doesn’t suffer because of the other. Taking care of yourself allows you to focus on both.

How you define success:

Professional success for me is the continued growth of our firm and success of our clients. Personally, I want to be a dependable friend and family member and a person who is able to give back to our community.

Favorite part of living in Little Rock?

I love the diversity of the people I meet day after day and the access to so many cultural experiences, from the Rep and the Art Center to the Travelers and our fantastic food scene.

I wish I knew how to__________.

Sing. It doesn’t stop me from trying, though. I would just prefer that karaoke night be a little less embarrassing.

If you could lunch with any woman, who would it be?

I would have lunch (and wine) with my mom and my sister because we don’t get to spend as much time all together as we would like.

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Neighborhood you live in

Midtown

Hometown

Des Arc

Last good read

“Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow

Favorite Food

Mexican food

Favorite Lunch Spot

Loca Luna

First thing you do at the office each morning

Coffee, emails, more coffee

Last splurge

Trip to Lisbon and Barcelona

Hobbies

Traveling and cooking with my husband, Aaron

Dream Vacation

Danube River cruise

Favorite Song

Broadway show tunes all day long!

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