ÈâÂþÎÝ

Litigation Associate, Katten Muchin Rosenman, New York

Describe your current position: What are the challenges? What do you like most about it?

As an associate in the Financial Markets Litigation and Enforcement group at Katten Muchin, I primarily represent banks, broker-dealers, and other financial institutions in high-stakes civil litigation. The cases I work on frequently involve allegations of fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and violations of federal securities laws. The work is fast-paced and varied. On any given day, I could be researching or briefing a motion, taking or defending a deposition, in a hearing, or preparing for trial. I love that the work involves analyzing complex issues and coming up with smart and creative ways to problem-solve for our clients. The legal landscape is complicated and constantly evolving, which keeps the work both challenging and exciting.

What advice do you have for law students interested in litigation?

A piece of advice that I received when I was a first-year associate was that there is no one way to practice. The best thing you can do early in your career is to observe as many attorneys in action as possible and adopt the practice styles that resonate with and work for you. Clinics and seminars focused on advocacy often provide opportunities to shadow attorneys in court and may also allow you to test out different styles, tools, and strategies through simulations or actual practice. I would also encourage anyone interested in litigating to take every opportunity to hone your legal writing skills.

How did ÈâÂþÎÝ Law prepare you for your career path?

One way that ÈâÂþÎÝ Law prepared me well for practice was by offering courses taught by professors who were leaders in their practice areas, with substantial real-world experience. Some of my favorite classes at ÈâÂþÎÝ Law were seminars and clinics taught by these professors, such as a seminar on criminal justice with Professor , a DA externship taught by Professor Anne Milgram ’96, a trial simulation course taught by Professors ’75 and ’94, and a state courts and appellate advocacy seminar taught by Judge that culminated in a memorable trip to the New York Court of Appeals.

The issues that we grapple with in practice are often nuanced. There is not always one right answer. These professors challenged me to think through problems with an open mind, and to be critical, practical, and effective in my work.

What was your favorite class or favorite activity at the Law School?

A highlight of my time at ÈâÂþÎÝ Law was being part of ÈâÂþÎÝ Law's . The Moot Court Board at ÈâÂþÎÝ is unique in that it functions as a journal, because the casebook division of the Moot Court Board publishes a set of moot court problems written and edited by Moot Court members each year. During my time at ÈâÂþÎÝ, I joined the casebook division and was able to create, write, and publish my own moot court problem. As the associate executive editor for the casebook division of the Moot Court Board, I also really enjoyed diving into different legal issues and workshopping other moot court problems with the other authors. It was very gratifying to see our hard work pay off in a published casebook that reached more than 100 law schools!

I also had a lot of fun mooting different competition teams as part of the Moot Court Board, and loved learning about different, and sometimes obscure, areas of the law—such as space law—through the mooting process.

One other class I really enjoyed was Professor ’s Art Law class, which took us to different museums and galleries in the city and explored interesting questions of free speech, censorship, and copyright at the intersection of art and law.

When you’re not working, what do you most like to do?

I love watching horror movies, trying new restaurants in New York with my friends, going to concerts with my husband, and going to Central Park with my dog.     

How have you stayed connected with the Law School community since graduating?

This past year, my class celebrated our fifth-year reunion. I was able to meet alumni from other classes by serving on the reunion committee and really enjoyed reconnecting with friends and classmates at our reunion in April. As a former member of the Law Women board, I’ve also been able to stay involved by attending Law Women alumni events post-graduation. Beyond that, some of my closest friends are friends I made at ÈâÂþÎÝ, whom I see regularly.

If you could go back in time, what kind of advice would you give yourself?

Take every opportunity to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone!