How I Made Practice Group Chair: ‘Stay Open to Learning New Skills,’ Says John McManus of Harris Beach Murtha
In the cutthroat arena of Big Law, where billable hours clash with boardroom ambitions, one attorney’s mantra is slicing through the noise: adaptability trumps pedigree every time. John McManus, the newly minted leader of Harris Beach Murtha’s Energy Industry Team, credits his meteoric rise not to Ivy League polish or endless networking, but to a simple vow—keep learning, keep evolving.
For ambitious lawyers and career climbers nationwide tuning into John McManus Harris Beach, practice group chair strategies, and energy law leadership tips, this fresh interview has ignited Google trends like a Texas oil rig. Queries spiking include how I made practice group chair, stay open to learning new skills, and John McManus energy team, reflecting a broader hunger for real-talk blueprints in a profession where AI tools and green energy shifts demand constant upskilling. McManus’s story isn’t just inspiration; it’s a tactical playbook for U.S. professionals navigating economic headwinds and tech disruptions.
McManus, a seasoned litigator with over two decades in the trenches, didn’t stumble into his corner office. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, he cut his teeth at regional firms before landing at Harris Beach in 2015, where he quickly became a go-to for energy sector disputes—from renewable project permitting battles to fossil fuel regulatory skirmishes. His portfolio reads like a who’s who of American power players: advising on solar farm financings in the Southwest, wind turbine leases along the Atlantic seaboard, and even hydrogen tech ventures eyeing federal subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The firm’s rebranding to Harris Beach Murtha earlier this year, following a merger with Connecticut powerhouse Murtha Cullina, supercharged his trajectory. With offices spanning New York to Portland, the combined entity now boasts a Northeast stronghold laced with global tentacles, positioning it as a one-stop shop for clients grappling with the energy transition. McManus’s appointment as Energy Industry Team Chair in late November came amid this expansion, tasking him with steering a group that’s ballooned 25% in headcount since the merger.
In a candid sit-down with Law.com’s “How I Made It” series, published December 1, McManus peeled back the curtain on his ascent. “The legal world moves at warp speed these days,” he said, his voice carrying the no-nonsense timbre of a courtroom veteran. “Whether it’s decoding the latest EPA regs or mastering blockchain for carbon credit trading, staying open to learning new skills isn’t optional—it’s survival.” He recounted a pivotal moment early in his career: buried in a complex natural gas pipeline case, he realized his traditional litigation chops fell short on emerging ESG compliance issues. Instead of punting the file, he dove headfirst into online courses from the American Bar Association and even audited a Stanford webinar on sustainable finance.
That pivot paid dividends. By 2020, McManus had parlayed his broadened expertise into leading multimillion-dollar settlements for utility giants transitioning to net-zero goals. “I wasn’t the smartest in the room,” he admitted with a chuckle. “But I was the hungriest to adapt. Clients don’t care about your alma mater; they want results in a world where tomorrow’s tech is today’s edge.” His advice echoes broader industry shifts: a 2025 Deloitte report notes that 68% of in-house counsel now prioritize “agile learners” over specialists, especially in energy law where AI-driven contract reviews and drone-based site inspections are rewriting the rules.
Fellow attorneys are nodding in vigorous agreement. Sarah Jenkins, a partner at rival firm Sidley Austin’s energy practice, praised McManus’s approach in a LinkedIn post that garnered over 5,000 likes. “John’s not just talking the talk—he’s walking it. In a field where greenwashing lawsuits lurk around every corner, that willingness to upskill separates the leaders from the laggards.” On X, the buzz is equally electric. Legal influencers are repurposing his quote into motivational threads, with one viral post from @LegalEagleNYC reading: “McManus nails it: ‘Stay open to learning new skills.’ As AI eats rote tasks, the humans who thrive are the ones who feed their curiosity.” Reactions pour in from young associates in Chicago high-rises to solo practitioners in Houston strip malls, many sharing their own “skill pivot” stories amid layoffs that trimmed 12% of Big Law jobs last quarter.
This isn’t ivory-tower advice; it’s a lifeline for everyday Americans chasing the dream in a volatile job market. Economically, McManus’s ethos speaks to the $1.2 trillion U.S. energy sector, where the Biden-era push for clean tech has created 300,000 jobs since 2022—but only for those versed in battery storage incentives or grid cybersecurity. For lawyers eyeing lateral moves, it’s a reminder: firms like Harris Beach Murtha aren’t just hiring resumes; they’re scouting sponges for knowledge in an era of tariff threats and supply chain snarls.
Lifestyle perks? Absolutely. McManus weaves work-life balance into his learning gospel, touting podcasts during his Portland commutes and firm-sponsored bootcamps that double as team-building retreats in the Adirondacks. Politically, his insights cut across aisles: red-state oil barons and blue-coast solar startups alike need navigators for the labyrinth of federal grants and state mandates. Tech enthusiasts will geek out on his nod to VR simulations for litigation prep, while sports fans might draw parallels to a quarterback reading defenses—adapt or get sacked.
McManus envisions his role as a catalyst for the firm’s next chapter. “This chair isn’t a perch; it’s a launchpad,” he told Law.com. “We’ll double down on cross-border deals, tapping Murtha’s Connecticut roots for East Coast wind farms while leveraging Harris Beach’s West Coast solar savvy.” He’s already scouting talent with hybrid skill sets—think litigators who code or regulatory hawks fluent in Mandarin for Asian supply chains.
As whispers of 2026’s anticipated energy bill overhaul ripple through D.C., McManus’s words land with urgency. In interviews, he stresses mentorship: “Pay it forward. Host that brown-bag lunch on AI ethics, even if you’re winging it.” It’s a call to arms for a profession often stereotyped as buttoned-up and risk-averse.
Wrapping up his Law.com chat, McManus circled back to his core creed. “How I made practice group chair? By treating every case, every client, every curveball as a classroom. Stay open to learning new skills, and the opportunities will find you.” With Harris Beach Murtha eyeing aggressive growth amid the green boom, his leadership couldn’t come at a better time—fueling searches on John McManus Harris Beach, practice group chair strategies, and energy law leadership tips that promise to shape careers coast to coast. In a nation wired for reinvention, McManus proves the real power source is an open mind.
In summary, John McManus’s journey underscores a timeless truth: in law and beyond, growth isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about growing smarter. Looking ahead, expect his team to pioneer innovative training hubs, blending virtual reality with veteran wisdom to equip the next wave of energy lawyers. For professionals from sea to shining sea, it’s a blueprint for thriving in tomorrow’s turbulence.
By Sam Michael
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