18 Legal Celebrities At The White House State Dinner
Who were some of the famous lawyers at Tuesday night's White House State Dinner?
8. Justice Elena Kagan, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
The first woman to serve as U.S. Solicitor General, as well as the first female dean of Harvard Law School (her alma mater), Justice Kagan is the newest member of SCOTUS. This means she has to answer the door during the justices’ private conference and serve on the SCOTUS cafeteria committee.
9. Ms. Roberta Kaplan, New York, NY
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The Columbia Law grad and Paul Weiss partner is Above the Law’s reigning Lawyer of the Year, due in large part to her successful representation of Edith Windsor in a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. (Edie Windsor attended the state dinner as well.)
10. Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
As managing director of the IMF, Lagarde is one of the world’s most powerful lawyers and law school graduates. But she also has Biglaw street cred: before she entered the finance world, she served as chair of Baker & McKenzie.
11. The Honorable Patrick Leahy, President Pro Tempore (United States Senate)
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The Georgetown Law grad and former prosecutor has served in the Senate since 1975 and currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.
12. Ms. Karen Narasaki, Washington, DC
The UCLA Law grad and former Perkins Coie associate is best known for her work as a civil rights leader, much of it performed while she served as president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC).
13. The Honorable Tom Perez, Secretary of Labor
Before he joined the Cabinet, the Harvard Law grad served as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s civil rights division.
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14. The Honorable Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative the United Nations
Although she graduated from Harvard Law School, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Power is known more for her scholarship and journalism about foreign affairs, as opposed to legal practice. Leaving her undiplomatic days behind her, Ambassador Power is now our nation’s leading voice at the U.N.
15. The Honorable Kathy Ruemmler, Assistant to the President and Counsel to the President, Washington, DC
The White House Counsel — previously a partner at Latham & Watkins, a federal prosecutor, and the editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal — is known for her prosecution of Enron’s top executives. Plus her fabulous shoe collection.
16. The Honorable Charles Schumer, United States Senator (New York)
Serving in the Senate since 1998, Chuck Schumer graduated from Harvard Law and passed the New York bar exam, but never practiced quickly moved into politics. One of his two daughters, Jessica Schumer, works in the White House and was recently recognized as one of 30 top lawyers under 30.
17. Mr. David Stern
The former commissioner of the National Basketball Association started working for the NBA as general counsel. Before that, the Columbia Law grad was a partner at sports-law powerhouse Proskauer (where he served as outside counsel to the NBA).
18. Mr. Cass Sunstein
The prominent professor at Harvard Law School (his alma mater) served as head of the powerful Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under President Obama. Sunstein also happens to be Mr. Samantha Power.
What was it like to be surrounded by all this starpower? As Alabama lawyer Caleb Ballew told me, “I never got the feeling that these A-listers and big-time people were sending out the image of being super-important. Everyone was so down to earth; that’s the vibe I got.”
Congratulations to the 18 legal luminaries who attended this magnificent event. By virtue of their accomplishments and contributions to the worlds of law and public policy, they earned their invitations to this night to remember.
UPDATE (4:45 p.m.): Also in attendance: Peter Beshar, general counsel of Marsh & McLennan, the giant insurance brokerage, and Sarah Beshar, a partner at Davis Polk. We previously wrote about Peter Beshar’s mother, Christine Beshar, who was the first woman partner at Cravath. Biglaw runs in the family; before going in-house, Peter Beshar was a partner at Gibson Dunn.
UPDATE (2/17/2014, 3:45 p.m.): Another notable guest: leading appellate litigator Alan Untereiner, name partner at Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber LLP. I interviewed with Untereiner years ago when he was a partner at Mayer Brown. Untereiner attended the dinner with his wife, Dr. Karen Donfried, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs. (Gavel bang: a commenter.)
Obama Invites Donors, Celebrities To Hollande State Dinner [Time]
Expected Attendees at Tonight’s State Dinner [White House]
Earlier: How Did Two Young Lawyers Get To Have Dinner With The Obamas?
