Practice Profile: Shivani Poddar is an experienced litigator, who focuses her practice on a broad range of commercial, securities, real estate, bankruptcy and employment-related disputes in federal, state and bankruptcy courts and arbitration. Shivani frequently represents financial institutions, investors, commercial real estate firms, and other domestic and international entities, in all phases of litigation.

Leadership, Pro Bono and Civic Work: In 2011, Shivani received the New York Legal Services Pro Bono Recognition Award for her successful representation of numerous unemployed individuals before the New York State Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board.  In 2015-2016, Shivani represented the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project in filing an amici curiae brief with the New York Court of Appeals, urging the Court to curtail the lower courts' practice of dispensing with an evidentiary hearing in child custody cases. The Court agreed, and its ruling changed the legal standard by which child custody cases are handled in New York.  In 2018, Shivani represented a Syrian refugee, by submitting a brief to the United Nations, arguing that refugee status and resettlement was warranted due to religious persecution in Iraq.

Shivani is a member of the New York City Bar Association's litigation committee and previously served two terms as the secretary of the arbitration committee. She is a co-founder of Herrick's Women's Initiative Network, the founder of the Mentoring Circles Program and the Business Development Spotlight Series.

Prior Experience: 

Herrick, Feinstein LLP, associate 2016-2018; partner, 2019-current

Brown Rudnick LLP, associate, 2010-2016 

Education:

American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 2010

Boston University, B.A. in International Relations, 2006

What advice would you give to young lawyers? Take ownership of your work and think about the big picture of every case.