Employer: Davis Wright Tremaine
Title and Practice Area: Counsel, First Amendment Media Law

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year of practice? Representing prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, I saw how essential it is that the legal community step up to serve those who have nowhere else to turn. That work helped me understand what kind of lawyer I wanted to be: one who defends constitutional rights, even for those who are unpopular.

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice. Corporate plaintiffs' strategy of pairing libel suits with RICO claims poses an existential threat to advocacy organizations who amplify their message through online petitions, social media campaigns, etc. Winning dismissal of two such lawsuits against my client sent a message that this critical speech cannot be silenced.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor, and what has he or she taught you? As a First Amendment media lawyer, I could do no better than learn from a lioness of the bar, Laura Handman. She has taught me that curiosity and humility are essential traits for successful litigators.

Please share a brief key to your success. My practice is aligned with my values. To me, serving "the enemy of the people" makes every day completely unpredictable—and fun! I love and respect what my clients do, which helps us work together to produce positive outcomes