Once again, Seward & Kissel proves to be on a whole other level when it comes to firm culture. Last year, we wrote about the firm’s massive miniature golf competition. The Guinness people may not recognize it, but the firm did unofficially design the world’s longest hole in the office-spanning event. Now the firm is back at it, holding a baking competition in honor of Pi Day.
Billed as the Greatest Baking Show on Earth, the event covered four categories of baked goods:
1. Cakes & Pies
2. Cookies
3. Cupcakes & Muffins
4. Other (this included everything from lemon squares to “mandel broit” (a Jewish dessert similar to biscotti))
The firm sourced judging from within the office as well as inviting a few outside experts: Melissa Tavss, founder of Tipsy Scoop (liquor-infused ice cream), Spencer Baretz of Baretz & Brunelle (and his son, Noah), and Mike Denkensohn, the former Seward & Kissel COO. It was up to this crew to taste the treats and decide on winners.
Steve Nadel, staying on theme as the ringmaster of the Greatest Baking Show on Earth (Courtesy of attorney Margaret Jones who photographed the event for S&K)
In addition to Seward & Kissel personnel, the rules allowed submissions on behalf of family. As the ringmaster of ceremonies Steve Nadel explained, “We want Seward & Kissel to feel like a second family/home away from home for its people. So, if that’s the case, why not let S&K personnel’s family members partake in the fun and submit their finest baked desserts too. If your family is happy, then you’re likely going to be happy too!”
And it turns out, family members might have the strongest baking skills, with three of the four champions coming from the ranks of the extended Seward & Kissel family. The winner of each category received a $100 Amazon gift card.
A few of the entries. (Courtesy of Margaret Jones)
I don’t want to name the winners in case they never banked on having their name spread across the internet — it’s bad enough for lawyers to be in Above the Law, to say nothing of family — but we can honor the winning treats in each category:
1. Cakes & Pies: Classic Haitian Rum Cake
2. Cookies: Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
3. Cupcakes & Muffins: Banana Chocolate Muffins
4. Other: Peanut Butter Truffles
Haitian Rum Cake sounds amazing, though I’ve always been partial to a solid cookie.
Diversions like a golf tournament or a baking contest give everyone a reason to come into the office and socialize for a bit. Between longer hours and more remote work, keeping an office culture together is going to take some creativity. And Seward & Kissel keeps coming up with intriguing — and in this case, tasty — ideas on that front.
Earlier: Seward & Kissel Designs World’s Longest Miniature Golf Hole
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 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.
