Megan F. Fry

Attorney and Shareholder, Clark Partington Attorneys at Law

Megan Fry is an attorney and shareholder with Clark Partington in Pensacola, where she has practiced for 17 years. She represents financial institutions, title insurance companies, and small businesses in commercial litigation, achieving outcomes that support both legal and strategic goals. Megan was the first woman to chair the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department and to serve on its Executive Committee. She currently serves as general counsel to the Escambia Children’s Trust and Triumph Gulf Coast. Fry is also deeply engaged in community service and leadership. She is on the University of West Florida Foundation Board and has held prior leadership roles with the Children’s Home Society and NAIOP Northwest Florida. She is a graduate of Leadership Pensacola and Leadership Florida Connect.

Describe a defining moment or achievement in your career.

I began the practice of law in 2008 in the firm’s real estate transactional department. The Great Recession hit in the first six months of my tenure with the firm, and the real estate transactions came to a grinding halt due to economic fear and uncertainty. The firm could have decided it did not need a brand-new real estate lawyer; however, my ultimate mentor, Bill “Bubba” Bond, and our current firm president, Keith Bell, put me to work in the firm’s commercial litigation department representing financial institutions as they navigated portfolios of defaulted loans. All I needed was the opportunity—and that small chance they gave me granted me an opportunity to craft a truly gratifying career.

How do you define success?

I define success as the ability to create impact, both professionally and in the community, while remaining authentic and creating my own path. While recognition often comes in the form of titles or awards, I’d rather think that success is the ability to use influence to advance those around me and leave each interaction, client, and community better than I found them. I often joke that if my obituary never mentioned I was a lawyer, that would be fine with me; I would rather be remembered
as creating a positive impact on those around me and having lived a life that is full of love and adventure with my family and friends.

What motivates you? 
I like a challenge and testing my mental toughness. If something looks difficult or involves complex personalities or issues, I am drawn to it. I like to navigate conflict in a way that is practical, often formulating the ideal outcome and working backward to set goals to achieve it. I also love working with groups that have different (and maybe difficult) personalities to better understand each other and create consensus. If I leave an interaction having heard “oh, I didn’t think about it that way,” I know that I have used my voice effectively.

What lessons have you learned along the way that have improved your professional life? 

Resilience is everything. In litigation and in life, you cannot control the outcome, but you can control your preparation and response. Failure and defeat are inevitable; crumbling under the weight of it is not.

What advice do you have for young women pursuing their careers?

No one will hand you permission to lead. Trust is built by showing up, doing the work, and speaking up when it feels uncomfortable. Confidence is built, and you will not feel confident until you achieve competence. Work your craft, build your expertise, and use your voice, and one day, you will look up and realize you are recognized as a leader without any need to demand it. Every challenge makes you stronger, and every barrier that you break—while it may bloody you—is clearing the way for someone else.