Seward & Kissel never shies away from bringing a little irreverence to its otherwise buttoned-up world. In an era marked by work-from-home initiatives and lateral turnover, Seward & Kissel works to create a culture that makes everyone happy to go to work.
Last week, the firm held its annual Ugly Sweater Contest which was less “office holiday party” and more full-scale production, complete with themed floor competitions, a coordinated runway walk, and a judging panel that included not one, but five Steve Nadels.
Spanning seven floors and involving approximately 125 participants, the contest turned the firm’s office into a holiday runway show. Each floor selected a corresponding song for their grand entrance, and strutted their stuff on the catwalk to compete for top honors. From festive classics like “Jingle Bells” to unexpected anthems like Darth Vader’s “Imperial March” to Blasterjaxx/Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco.”
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The competition, coordinated by partner Steve Nadel, reached every corner of the Seward & Kissel ecosystem, even tapping into its unique connection to the Steve Nadel Club — a real-life network of guys across the country all named Steve Nadel. Five Steves joined the judging panel virtually via Teams.
And because Seward & Kissel never does anything halfway, the firm enlisted Gary Berger, audit partner from CohnReznick, to serve as an official auditor for the contest. Because S&K does its fun to the hilt.
For the second consecutive year, the 19th floor emerged victorious in the “Best Floor” category, with a Wicked-themed presentation. Associate and 19th floor captain Jenny Elberg, took “Best Individual Outfit” as a green-skinned Wicked Witch. Another floor channeled its inner Jack Sparrow as The Pirate Ship (complete with Maritime Group contributions), while the 22nd floor was “Feeling ’22” with a Taylor Swift theme.
If this all sounds delightfully over-the-top, that’s because it is. The Ugly Sweater Contest has become a hallmark of Seward & Kissel’s holiday season, embodying the firm’s unique culture of combining high standards with a sense of fun.
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With themes growing more elaborate each year and the stakes getting higher, it’s clear that S&K’s contest isn’t just about sweaters anymore — it’s a pitch battle for floor dominance. And the 19th floor is building a mini-dynasty.
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.