Enjoy a front-row seat as Chris speaks with thought-provoking C-Suite executives and leaders from corporations, both public and private, professional service firms, and of course, the legal industry from around the United States.
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EP #39: Building Distinctive Brands with Gary Singer, Chief Strategy Officer of Kobre & Kim LLP
29:59
29:59
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“What makes your brand unique is a combination of tangible and intangible things,” explains Gary Singer, Chief Strategy Officer at Kobre & Kim LLP, who joins The Future is Bright podcast. Gary shares the remarkable story of driving the Altoids brand, which was virtually unknown outside the United States, to astronomical sales. In today’s episode, h…
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EP #38: Recruiting the C-Suite for Corporate Law Firms with Jennifer Johnson of Calibrate
25:18
25:18
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As the legal profession evolves, the importance of C-suite executives in law firms is rising. Jennifer Johnson, CEO of Calibrate, shares her vision for a future where these executives are equal to managing partners and report to a board. Calibrate is a management consulting and executive search firm that places top talent in essential C-suite roles…
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EP #37: Becoming Best Places to Work with Phil Appenzeller, CEO of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr
31:46
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Built on a foundation of collaboration, relationship, and trust, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, a top Dallas-based corporate law firm recognized as one of the city’s best places to work, has strategically served their clients since its founding in 1985. These core values have remained steadfast, even as the market has rapidly evolved, staying true to th…
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EP #36: Where is Legal Tech in 10 Years with Aaron Crews
58:39
58:39
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“I have been really, really lucky in every move that I’ve made to be with really bright people and just be allowed to learn from them,” says today’s guest Aaron Crews who currently serves as chief product and innovation officer and head of enterprise at data and professional services company UnitedLex. On today’s episode of The Future is Bright, Aa…
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EP #35: The Future of Law Firm Sales is about Value with Marty Cohn
32:05
32:05
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Marty Cohn, the National Director of Client Engagement at Sheppard Mullin, has a diverse background with significant experience in both consulting and legal sectors in the U.S. Initially steering clear of sales in favor of marketing, Marty's perspective shifted as he recognized the importance of accountability and return on investment (ROI) in mark…
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EP #34 Passionate about People and Culture with Michael Pierson and Joel Ferdinand
39:21
39:21
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“It’s culture through and through,” says Micheal Pierson about Pierson Ferdinand LLC, which he co-chairs with Joel Ferdinand and which recently launched one of the largest law firm launches in U.S. history, counting over 130 partners. The two men join host Chris Batz to discuss the firm, why it’s both ahead of its time and bolstered by timeless pri…
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EP #33 Leverage in Corporate Law Firms with Dan Binstock and Gary Miles
48:13
48:13
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“You can only divvy up the pie so much and distribute it so much before it starts eating into the profitability,” says Dan Binstock who, with Gary Miles, returns to the podcast to discuss the latest trends in corporate law partnership. More and more major law firms are shortening the length of time it takes for their associates to make partner, or …
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Ep #32 Deceptive Legal Recruiters and How Law Partners can Protect Themselves with Dan Binstock and Gary Miles
40:23
40:23
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“Why do we have this problem with such smart people, the brightest of the brights, attorneys at such top firms, getting wrapped up with shady people?” asks Dan Binstock, who returns, with Gary Miles, to the podcast to discuss the less-than-ethical practices employed by legal recruiters that potential candidates need to watch out for. Part of the pr…
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Ep #31 Scott Love on Being a Legal Recruiter, Podcast Host, Speaker, Author, Trainer and Artist
28:23
28:23
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What does it take to be a rainmaker? Scott Love is here to tell you. An award-winning legal recruiter, keynote speaker, author and podcast host, he’s also a former Naval officer, professional card-counting black jack player and currently a passionate painter. All of these varied experiences have taught him invaluable lessons about leadership, busin…
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Ep #30 Strategic Growth for Corporate Law Firms with Dan Binstock and Gary Miles
33:14
33:14
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Stepping into the complex world of 'magic circle' law firms, Dan Binstock from Garrison, a DC-based attorney search firm, joins forces with Gary Miles, President and CEO of Miles Partner Placement. They're back on the podcast to shed light on the strategic growth challenges and opportunities for these elite law firms. They tackle the critical need …
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Ep #29 Parenthood, Career, & Marriage with Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin
38:53
38:53
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“We are both keeper-in-touchers,” says Jason Levin, author of the book Relationships to Infinity, which studies the art and science of keeping in touch. He and his wife Lori Mihalich-Levin first met on September 11, 2001 in France and stayed in contact as Lori built her law career and Jason built a career which includes his current role as a keynot…
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Ep #28 What Partners Need to Know Before Switching Firms with Hilary Gerzhoy
51:56
51:56
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Hilary Gerzhoy has devoted her career to maintaining the highest standards of ethics in legal practice. As a seasoned litigator, she boasts an impressive array of accomplishments, including her pivotal role on the ethics and compliance team during the Biden/Harris transition to the White House in 2020. Presently, she holds the positions of partner …
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Ep #27 The 1996 Buffett Essays Symposium with Larry Cunningham
37:21
37:21
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“When people think of Warren Buffet they think investor and business icon, but he is an expert in corporate governance.” On today’s episode of “The Future is Bright,” Larry Cunningham, special counsel at Mayer Brown, tells the story of his organizing and hosting a two-day symposium with business magnate Warren Buffett at Cardozo Law School in 1996.…
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Ep #26 Larry Cunningham on Corporate Governance and Quality Shareholders
50:45
50:45
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"Most people thinking about performance think about managers, products, and research. But it's also valuable to have a certain kind of shareholder," says Larry Cunningham. Larry Cunningham, special counsel at Mayer Brown, has had a truly extraordinary career, rubbing shoulders with billionaires, sitting on the boards of large public companies, and …
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Ep #25 Sandra Cohen | Executive Compensation Expert on Buying a One Way Ticket to New York City
29:08
29:08
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Sandra Cohen returns to “The Future is Bright” podcast for part two of her interview with Chris and to tell the story of how she became an executive compensation attorney at Cohen & Buckmann pc. Her journey was a steady upward trajectory where her fierce sense of independence and ambition served her well at every step. A Midwestern girl, she moved …
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Ep #24 Negotiating a C-Suite Job Offer with Sandra Cohen
51:49
51:49
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"The most common thing I hear nearly every day on negotiations is, I hate negotiating my compensation. I usually ignore it, and now I've got this new offer or I'm getting a promotion." says executive compensation expert and attorney at Cohen and Buckmann, Sandra Cohen. Sandra boasts over 30 years of hands-on experience, guiding top-tier professiona…
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Ep #23 Why Law Partners Leave with Dan Binstock
57:35
57:35
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"According to Dan Binstock, successful partnerships rely on key factors such as people, practice, compensation, and confidence." Join Chris Batz and Dan Binstock, a partner at Garrison & Sisson in Washington, DC, as they discuss the reasons why law partners decide to leave their current law firms. Dan outlines the top four reasons behind partner tr…
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Ep #22 Law Firm Merger Conversation with Gary Miles
42:20
42:20
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“For mergers to be successful, there really has to be a strategic reason on both sides that is well thought out by both parties, regardless of who makes the approach to whom,” explains Gary Miles, President and CEO of Miles Partner Placement, an elite partner placement group movement and merger boutique. Today, Gary speaks with host Chris Batz abou…
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Ep #21 Alexis Robertson | Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Foley & Lardner on Law Firm DEI Efforts and Updates
50:07
50:07
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“For too long DEI work has been focused on changing individual hearts and minds, versus the organization taking on responsibility and frankly, modifying behavior without the need for personal buy-in,” explains Alexis Robertson, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Foley & Lardner, as well as host of Foley’s Path & Practice Podcast. There…
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Ep #20 Generative AI and the Coming Disruption with Mary O’Carroll and Craig Katerberg
49:27
49:27
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With the fast pace that Generative AI models like Chat GPT have been expanding and improving, it has become quite clear that major disruptions are on the way for every single industry. And the legal industry is likely to be the first to face major disruptions due to these technological advances. Today, Mary O’Carroll,Chief Community Officer at Iron…
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Ep #19 Executive Presence and Inner Confidence with Deanna Sheridan and Stewart Hirsch
50:06
50:06
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“You have to be yourself, but you have to pay attention to the audience that you’re working with,” explains Stewart Hirsch, managing director and business development coach. The issue with talking broadly about concepts like executive presence is that everyone has a different definition for what executive presence entails. The initial ideas for exe…
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Ep #18 Michelle Patterson Wimes | SVP Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer at Children's Mercy Kansas City on The DEI Officer Journey
55:38
55:38
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“It was something that I had always wanted to do, because I always felt this inclination to stand up for folks who didn't have a voice,” explains Michelle Patterson Wimes, SVP Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. Michelle began her professional journey as a teacher and then as a lawyer, thinking that was the best rout…
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Ep #17 In-House Team, Talent and Career Advice with Kim Yapchai and Dennis Garcia
34:36
34:36
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“It takes time to build that psychological safety, but I think it's a more important area than ever before in the modern workplace,” explains Dennis Garcia, Assistant General Counsel of Microsoft. Today, Dennis and Kim Yapchai, former SVP, Chief Environmental, Social, and Governance Officer at Tenneco Inc., discuss their career advice for developin…
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Ep #16 Matt Saur | CoFounder and Partner of Woolery & Co on Pushing Boundaries and Advising Family Offices
45:14
45:14
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“Anyone that knows me throughout my career would see that it's really been about trying to push the boundaries. And in our part of the market, I think we really are driving and pushing the boundaries of what is possible and what clients want,” explains Matt Saur, strategic and institutional advisor, co-founder and partner of Woolery & Co. Today, Ma…
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Ep #15 Susanne Meline | CoFounder Francis Capital Management on Launching a Hedge Fund and Active Board Service
38:36
38:36
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“Hedge funds, if you do it right and you set up a really good compliance and operational structure, it's a scalable business,” explains Susanne Meline, co-founder of Francis Capital Management. Prior to going into hedge fund management and serving on several boards, she worked as an investment banker and as a lawyer. Today, Susanne shares how she f…
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Ep #14 Bill Ryan | SVP Assistant GC of AT&T Services Inc. on Contextualizing Work and Family
41:26
41:26
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“I always try to make sure I'm contextualizing what I do on a day-to-day basis. And my personal priority is my family all the time,” shares Bill Ryan, SVP. Bill is the Assistant GC of AT&T Services, Inc., but has held many roles from working as a bilingual educator to becoming an attorney and working in-house at DirectTV. Today, he shares his profe…
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Ep #13 Amy Harris | EVP Chief Legal Officer of UMB Financial on Doing What Gives You Energy
40:04
40:04
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“Not enjoying the day-to-day was what prompted me to think about what I was doing. I then really started to try to focus on what I did enjoy,” explains Amy Harris, EVP. Amy is the Chief Legal Officer at UMB Financial, the largest bank in Kansas City. Today, she shares her journey from starting college as a musical theater major to going into politi…
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Ep #12 Recruiting Law Partners and The Current Legal Market with Sharon Mahn and Gary Miles
53:04
53:04
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“The law firms usually take their cues from their clients. If there's layoffs at the big banks and financial institutions, there's going to be a slowdown in the corporate work as well,” explains Sharon Mahn,CEO and Founder of Mahn Partners. Today, Sharon and Gary Miles, president and CEO at Miles Partner Placement, combine their experience to discu…
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Ep #11 Fred Stein | Chief Legal Officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment on Being Strapped to a Rocketship
54:20
54:20
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“If you're going to take a leap, you better at least like the people you're working with,” explains Fred Stein, Chief Legal Officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Today, Fred explores his extensive career journey, from law school to his private practice experience to his passion for writing. By reflecting on his experiences, Fred reveals how his tim…
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The Future is Bright: Episode 02 Lloyd Johnson | Founder of Chief Legal Executive on Diversity and the Legal Profession
6:17
6:17
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Join Chris Batz on his second episode of The Future is Bright Podcast as he welcomes guest speaker Lloyd Johnson to learn more about how he has taken the hardships in life and turned them into motivation to be a legal industry leader, influencer, and advocate for women and attorneys of color. Chris Batz spends this week’s episode talking to Lloyd J…
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The Future is Bright: Episode 01 Dara Redler | Chief Legal Officer at H&R Block on Iconic Brands and Transformation
6:04
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Join Chris Batz for the inaugural first episode of The Future is Bright Podcast as he brings on guest Dara Redler to learn about her legal career success at iconic brands and her passion for transformation, authentic leadership, and giving back. Chris Batz speaks to Dara Redler, born and raised in Pennsylvania and now resides in Atlanta, where she …
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Ep #10 Sahang-Hee Hahn | Head of Strategy & Planning at Haven Life Insurance Agency on Being Playful With Your Career
31:13
31:13
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“Put yourself out there before an opportunity arises,” explains Sahang-Hee Hahn, Head of Strategy & Planning at Haven Life Insurance Agency. Before her current position, Sahang-Hee started her career in singing and acting, big law, and got her MBA at Wharton. Reflecting on her varied experiences, she discusses taking risks and being playful with he…
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Ep #9 Ori Solomon | Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Resilience on Contributing Value First
35:12
35:12
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“When you help others, they have the desire to come back and help you,” explains Ori Solomon, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Resilience. During Covid, Ori joined Resilience, a transformative pharma manufacturing company. With this transition in mind, Ori shares what it means to add value to your company and the world.…
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Ep #8 Meredith Ritchie | SVP GC, Chief Ethics & Govt Affairs Officer of Alliant Credit Union on Developing a Career Portfolio
32:54
32:54
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“With hard work and determination, you can really accomplish a lot” explains Meredith Ritchie, SVP GC, Chief Ethics & Government Affairs Officer. Starting her career as a paralegal, Meredith has developed an exciting career portfolio. Today, she shares the upcoming projects she has ahead and her dedication to volunteerism. Through her position at A…
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Ep #7 Donna Rolf | Investor of New Era ADR on Hard Wiring for Risk and Adventure
26:43
26:43
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“If you want to learn about an industry, the best thing to do is jump into it in some way, shape, or form,” explains Donna Rolf, Investor of New Era ADR. Today, Donna shares her legal career leap to the real estate industry and her critical executive role at an alternative energy company. Reflecting upon her experiences, Donna recognizes that she i…
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Ep #6 Brian Salmo | Managing Director at Hermann Companies on Building Meaningful Relationships
32:29
32:29
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“I think about the term “generalist” professionally as someone willing to go outside their core area,” explains Brian Salmo, Managing Director at Hermann Companies. Before joining Hermann, Brian started his career as a corporate attorney before transitioning into other roles, including VP of Human Resources and Business Unit Leader at LMI Aerospace…
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Ep #5 Francois Henriquez | EVP, Chief Administrative Officer and GC of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis on Financial Institutions and Leadership
32:41
32:41
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“Everything that you do as a leader you're doing through other people. You've got to make sure that you believe in them so they will trust you and do what needs to be done,” shares Francois Henriquez, EVP, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Today, Francois brings his 25 years of leadership exp…
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Ep #4 Brady Long | EVP & General Counsel of Transocean on Commitment to Personal Growth
31:07
31:07
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“We'll have to see many low-cost energy options for people who cannot afford a Tesla to get out there and use those products,” explains Brady Long, EVP & General Counsel of Transocean. With an extensive career in the legal industry, Brady first became interested in the law because he was passionate about fairness and solving abstract issues. Today,…
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Ep #3 Lloyd Johnson | Roadmap to Inclusion
22:57
22:57
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“In this work, if it's not real and specific, it will not be able to advance the dialogue,” explains returning guest Lloyd Johnson, CEO of Chief Legal Executive. In part two of this two part-series, Lloyd and Chris discuss Lloyd’s exciting project, The Roadmap to Inclusion. Devoted to the DEI conversation inside corporate law departments, Lloyd rev…
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Ep #2 Lloyd Johnson | Founder of Chief Legal Executive on Diversity and the Legal Profession
28:50
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Join Chris Batz on his second episode of The Future is Bright Podcast as he welcomes guest speaker Lloyd Johnson to learn more about how he has taken the hardships in life and turned them into motivation to be a legal industry leader, influencer, and advocate for women and attorneys of color. Chris Batz spends this week’s episode talking to Lloyd J…
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Ep #1 Dara Redler | Chief Legal Officer at H&R Block on Iconic Brands and Transformation
39:05
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Join Chris Batz for the inaugural first episode of The Future is Bright Podcast as he brings on guest Dara Redler to learn about her legal career success at iconic brands and her passion for transformation, authentic leadership, and giving back. Chris Batz speaks to Dara Redler, born and raised in Pennsylvania and now resides in Atlanta, where she …
…
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