Celebrating Women’s History Month: Spotlight on Ilana Char
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Buttaci Leardi & Werner is delighted to showcase the inspiration, philosophies, and expertise of our women attorneys and professional leaders – all of whom are instrumental in elevating our firm and its client service.
What woman in the firm or the business community inspires you and why?
I am inspired not only by the legal prowess and healthcare industry knowledge of my colleagues, Nicole Allocca and Elizabeth Levine, but also by their willingness to provide mentorship to other attorneys at the firm. They motivate me to bring the best version of myself to work every day and inject a sense of purpose into everything we do.
I am also inspired by the women who keep our firm running smoothly. Our administrative staff – Grettel Rosario, Marianna Spano, and Jen Villa – are quite literally the backbone of our operations. Much like a medical practice or licensed facility, running the day-to-day operations of a legal practice requires far more than the practice of law. Without their ability to handle the administrative side of the firm – not to mention their ability to keep things in perspective and set the tone for our firm culture – the attorneys wouldn’t be able to provide the level of service that our clients deserve.
What led you to the practice of law and/or to your specific area of law?
I come from a long line of physicians. I have watched both my father, a vascular surgeon, and my grandfather, a psychiatrist, own and operate their own practices for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I had assumed that their work-related stress was caused solely by the rigors of providing patient care. However, as I grew up, I learned about the complexities of the healthcare industry – from insurance enrollment and reimbursement and HIPAA-compliance to licensing and credentialing – that required their attention outside of simply providing services. I realized that my father and grandfather were confident in their abilities to practice medicine. Instead, much of their stress stemmed from the operational, legal, and administrative challenges of running their own practices.
As a result, I became motivated to help providers, who, like my father and grandfather, want to grow their practice and be paid adequately for their services. Running a successful practice requires far more than just providing patient care. I remind myself each day how incredibly lucky I am to be providing legal, operational and administrative advice to my clients, so that they can focus more on growing their practices and providing patient services.
What advice (professional or personal) would you give your younger self or the next generation of women attorneys/business leaders?
Every challenge is an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Even though it could result in momentary stress, seeking out difficult tasks and challenges will accelerate your professional development and build your confidence. With a supportive team culture, the ability to take on and overcome adversity is an important tool for success.
- Posted on: Mar 17 2025