Rising Star: Tonya Vachirasomboon

Tonya Vachirasomboon thought she'd someday own a dance studio. Instead, she practices in the business advisory department at Bingham McHale, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, start-ups and contracts.

The finance and real estate major was minoring in dance at Indiana University with plans to teach at her own dance studio.

"For a long period, I thought I was going to be a ballet dancer," said Vachirasomboon.

But she ended up discovering a new path when she took a business law class.

"I talked to some professors and discovered that business law was something I wanted to get into," Vachirasomboon said.

She was surprised how easy the transition from school to practicing law was for her. Vachirasomboon enjoys helping clients make informed decisions and that she is continually learning.

She was instrumental in helping found the street law program at Howe High School on the Eastside of Indianapolis, where students get a feel for what it's like to be a lawyer. And in 2011, Indiana Lawyer named Vachirasomboon an up-and-coming attorney.

Vachirasomboon doesn't dance much these days, but she's still active. She teaches a Yoga of the Heart class at City Yoga. The class is geared toward those affected by HIV/AIDS, their caregivers and health-care professionals.

"This was a better fit for me. You are continually learning, and it never gets boring," she said. "I'm leaving it up to the advanced professionals to open a dance studio."

How did you manage to stand out in a crowd and advance quickly in your career?

When I first started out, my goal was to be the best attorney I could be. I've learned that hard work and dedication to my clients pays off. I'm thankful to be working in a field where I'm constantly learning and challenged to think outside the box to find efficient and effective solutions for my clients.

What was your first job? How did it impact your future?

I was a ballet teacher in high school. I learned how to inspire and bring out the best in the others. I also learned that it's not the end game that matters, but it's the preparation and the work leading up to the performance where one grows the most.

I think the experience taught me that hard work and diligence is necessary all the way to the end in any project or task.

What's the toughest mistake you ever made, and what did you learn from it?

When I first started, I was hesitant to speak up or voice an opinion for fear of being wrong. I quickly learned that by taking a chance and being confident I could grow and be successful in this field.

How important is it to have a mentor? Did anyone in particular help you advance in your career?

It's of paramount importance to have a mentor. It's important to be able to share your concerns and obstacles with more experienced attorneys or business leaders to advance in any career.

I've had so many (mentors). There are multiple people that stand out. They are in equal footing. The attorneys at my firm that have been instrumental in my career are Jeremy Hill, Keith Bice, Melissa Ford, Matthew Troyer, Jeffrey Kirk and Kristin Dutton.

I think soliciting advice from experienced attorneys was critical to my building my career. They help guide me in the practice of law.

What advice would you give to other young people trying to get started in the legal field?

Law is a great profession if you are a curious person and like to learn new things. Rarely a day goes by that I don't learn anything new. It's important to have a collegial attitude.

It's equally important to learn the value of hard and detailed work, and efficiently and effectively providing solutions to clients.

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Business and Contracts Talk

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Rising Star: Tonya Vachirasomboon

Rising Star: Tonya Vachirasomboon

Tonya Vachirasomboon thought she'd someday own a dance studio. Instead, she practices in the business advisory department at Bingham McHale, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, start-ups and contracts.

The finance and real estate major was minoring in dance at Indiana University with plans to teach at her own dance studio.

"For a long period, I thought I was going to be a ballet dancer," said Vachirasomboon.

But she ended up discovering a new path when she took a business law class.

"I talked to some professors and discovered that business law was something I wanted to get into," Vachirasomboon said.

She was surprised how easy the transition from school to practicing law was for her. Vachirasomboon enjoys helping clients make informed decisions and that she is continually learning.

She was instrumental in helping found the street law program at Howe High School on the Eastside of Indianapolis, where students get a feel for what it's like to be a lawyer. And in 2011, Indiana Lawyer named Vachirasomboon an up-and-coming attorney.

Vachirasomboon doesn't dance much these days, but she's still active. She teaches a Yoga of the Heart class at City Yoga. The class is geared toward those affected by HIV/AIDS, their caregivers and health-care professionals.

"This was a better fit for me. You are continually learning, and it never gets boring," she said. "I'm leaving it up to the advanced professionals to open a dance studio."

How did you manage to stand out in a crowd and advance quickly in your career?

What was your first job? How did it impact your future?

I was a ballet teacher in high school. I learned how to inspire and bring out the best in the others. I also learned that it's not the end game that matters, but it's the preparation and the work leading up to the performance where one grows the most.

I think the experience taught me that hard work and diligence is necessary all the way to the end in any project or task.

What's the toughest mistake you ever made, and what did you learn from it?

When I first started, I was hesitant to speak up or voice an opinion for fear of being wrong. I quickly learned that by taking a chance and being confident I could grow and be successful in this field.

How important is it to have a mentor? Did anyone in particular help you advance in your career?

It's of paramount importance to have a mentor. It's important to be able to share your concerns and obstacles with more experienced attorneys or business leaders to advance in any career.

I've had so many (mentors). There are multiple people that stand out. They are in equal footing. The attorneys at my firm that have been instrumental in my career are Jeremy Hill, Keith Bice, Melissa Ford, Matthew Troyer, Jeffrey Kirk and Kristin Dutton.

I think soliciting advice from experienced attorneys was critical to my building my career. They help guide me in the practice of law.

What advice would you give to other young people trying to get started in the legal field?

Law is a great profession if you are a curious person and like to learn new things. Rarely a day goes by that I don't learn anything new. It's important to have a collegial attitude.

It's equally important to learn the value of hard and detailed work, and efficiently and effectively providing solutions to clients.