Greg Suess

Born: Sept. 13, 1972 (26)

Lawyer

Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil & Shapiro LLP

Greg Suess has had a busy two years since becoming the youngest graduate in the 10-year history of the law and MBA degree program at Pepperdine University.

Now a general corporate attorney who focuses on securities and entertainment, Suess did due diligence on a $500 million bond offering by MGM Grand Inc., and on PolyGram’s purchase of a film library valued at $225 million.

In addition, he has recruited a number of new clients for his firm, including Intersport Productions, which does extreme sports programming for television, and the Brewer twins, a pair of internationally known male models.

Suess (pronounced “cease”) graduated from USC’s entrepreneur program in 1994 before tackling Pepperdine University’s combination law and MBA degree, which he completed in just three years at the age of 24.

He says much of the motivation that drives his 70-hour workweeks comes from his parents. “My dad is a pharmacist and my mom a real estate agent. They always taught me to think bigger,” he says. “In training for the entrepreneur program, I really learned to love the creation of value, going from nothing to no limit.”

While studying, he also found time to do research for the likes of Michael Milken and Kenin Spivak, now vice chairman of hair product firm John Paul Mitchell Systems.

“Greg is an unusual combination of driving ambition tempered by warmth and honesty,” said Spivak.

Scott Smith