Women of Influence: Meet Kristen Del Sole, Porter Wright

Kristen M. Del Sol appointed co-partner in charge of the Pittsburgh office by Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP on March 1.

Del Sole, who had worked at K&L Gates LLP for 25 years, joined the firm in 2021 after moving from Columbus, Ohio. K&L Gates is Pittsburgh's largest law firm, with 150 local lawyers and 48 offices worldwide. It is based in downtown Pittsburgh. Porter Wright has nine offices in the United States and 12 lawyers located in Pittsburgh.

Del Sole, however, found it very appealing to get the green light for a new building at Porter Wright.

She said, 'I was given the opportunity to launch the estates trusts practice at the Pittsburgh office along with my former partner (from her previous firm) and create the department that we wanted to create.

Del Sole was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of Porter Wright, as well as the firm's support and cohesion.

She said, 'There's no sharp elbows'. It's about working together and serving clients.

Now in her new role -- she and John McIntyre, co-partner-in-charge, both continue to practice as well as handle administrative responsibilities -- Del Sole is excited about the opportunities to evolve as a lawyer and a leader on multiple fronts.

She said, 'I would like to continue growing the Pittsburgh office. I want to work with wonderful clients and great lawyers, and spread our name in the community, because giving back to the community is important.'

Del Sole focuses his practice on litigation in the areas of probate, trusts, and estates, as well product liability and toxic tort. She is a lawyer for nonprofits, corporate trustees and executors as well as individual trustees.

The native Pittsburgher's decision to become an attorney came naturally. Her father is also a lawyer.

She said, 'I saw my dad's work, and I thought it was an honorable profession.' He's always trying to help others, and when you are surrounded by people who have a particular career, it's hard not to gravitate towards that.

Del Sole is a natural at helping people, whether she's mentoring young women lawyers in her firm or volunteering for the community. Del Sole has been the driving force behind the Women's Leadership Initiative at Porter Wright's Pittsburgh Office. She has also hosted networking events in order to encourage and help build a community of professional women. Del Sole also volunteered her time in the firm's diversity and mentoring programs to help build a network of professional women.

Her community involvement is diverse, from serving on nonprofit boards to assisting with coat drives.

Del Sole stated that a lot of his pro bono work is with children and teenagers. It's important to provide people with a chance that they might not otherwise have. I have found that people are always willing to help. We can get so busy that we don't even know what to do. But, when you tell people you need help with an organization, they are often happy to lend a hand.

BIOBOX:

Tod and his family: Grace, Charlie, Hannah, and Charlie's husband, Tod

Education: Fairfield University, B.A. in art history and English; Thomas R. Kline Law School, Duquesne University, J.D.

First job: babysitting and waitress at Sichuan House

Community involvement: I am a board member and former chair of Every Child Inc., and also represent their clients in a number pro bono cases. I have also helped with A+ Schools as well as the Salvation Army's coat drive.

FAVORITES:

Book: "Crow Lake" by Mary Lawson

Movie/TV Show/Podcast: It's a Wonderful Life (movie), Ted Lasso (TV show), &?Crooked city (podcast).

Sade, Adele and Van Morrison are all music artists

Local restaurant: Il Pizzaiolo

Motivational quote: "We are enamored with the beauty of the butterflies, but we rarely acknowledge the struggles it had to go through in order to reach that beauty." -- Maya Angelou