One of the great things about Summers at Bilzin Sumberg is the opportunity to spend time with the attorneys from each of the firm’s practice groups outside of the office. Last week, the Real Estate team treated the summer associates to a murder mystery night at Coral House Italian Restaurant. Upon arriving, each of the summers were split into groups with members of the Bilzin Real Estate team for the all-important task of investigating the mysterious death of Warren Peace, the reclusive Hollywood mogul.
In between bites of pizza and sips of red wine, each of the groups worked to uncover the clues we needed to solve the mystery. Due to my role as Jarvis Deedit, the long-time butler of Mr. Peace who was conspicuously absent from his will, I made the rounds during the investigation to answer questions about my whereabouts on the night of his death. All the while, my teammates Phil Sosnow and Salomé Bascuñan did their part by taking close notes and asking the kinds of incisive questions that would make any detective proud.
As the night wore on and the suspects multiplied, Phil and Salomé eye for kept us on the right path throughout. Every time I returned from my rounds as the suspiciously disinherited butler, they were waiting with another piece of the puzzle.
By the time the final round arrived and each team had to commit to an accusation, our group felt good about our answer—but you never really know until the answer is revealed. When the solution was finally revealed and our deductions proved correct, our table erupted. We had done it. Against a room full of seasoned attorneys and equally determined fellow summers, our team had cracked the case and emerged victorious.
I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t acknowledge the true architect of our triumph. While Phil and Salomé handled the actual detective work, and I did my best not to incriminate myself, James Shindell provided something far more valuable: moral support. From his seat at the table, James offered steady encouragement, the occasional knowing nod, and an unwavering belief that we would prevail. Put simply, James was the real MVP of our team’s winning performance. We simply could not have done it without his presence, his wisdom, and his willingness to let the rest of us do the heavy lifting.
For our efforts, each member of the winning team walked away with a $100 Amazon gift card. The possibilities feel endless. Do I invest in something practical, like a new pair of shoes? Something indulgent? Something for the dog? These are the kinds of questions that keep summers up at night. Suggestions are welcome!
