Alumni Spotlight: Al Perry (1990-1996; New York)

To celebrate Cleary Gottlieb’s 75th anniversary, alumni around the globe are taking time to reflect on their experiences at the firm.

Alfred Perry, VP of Intellectual Property Protection at AMC Networks, shared his thoughts below.

What lessons did you learn at Cleary that prepared you for your future career?

Lawyering is foremost about servicing the client.

What Cleary person and/or experience had a lasting impact on you personally?

Norma, who like many highly regarded and beloved divas needs no last name, had the most lasting impact on me. She valued me for me long before diversity and inclusiveness were trending. Norma impressed me with her curiosity about the world and the lives of others while always being willing to connect alums in the furtherance of their careers. She always wanted to improve the lives of the spawn of Mother Cleary. Her energy remains intimidating and ultimately inspiring. Her singular style was always eye-popping and she worked it to maximum impact.

Why do you participate in the alumni network, and what would you say to someone who is considering getting involved?

I think of the alumni network the way other people must think of money in the bank: it’s nice to have, it offers untold possibilities, and you see the benefit in contributing to its growth, whether you save it for a rainy day or use just for the fun of it. I enjoyed the people I knew at Cleary and there is something that I like in the fellow alums I’ve met since.

To learn more about Cleary’s global alumni network, click here.