Litigators, YES Litigators: One Attorney’s Journey Within and Without the Legal Industry
Concepts: Litigation, Litigation Career, Legal Technology
Litigators who do other things besides litigate. You probably even know some.
Some perform comedy, some act on stage or in film, and some are gifted musicians or drummers. (Drummer joke, if that’s not too edgy.) One highly acclaimed San Francisco class action litigator is talented on the drum kit and owns her own drum company. Another Los Angeles-based litigator started his own record label. Another San Francisco litigator left the profession, moved to South Africa, and led people on safari. Others write books, or develop technology solutions. Still others launch businesses, teach, or back important causes.
Litigators do many things. One job closer to home is when he or she moves from private practice to a corporate legal department. But what about when the company is on the smaller size with a modest legal department whose members are expected to handle an assortment of matters? Hiring is an important decision for any company, but when it’s a smaller organization selecting in-house counsel it is arguably even more critical. When a company isn't engaged in litigation, one might think a litigator wouldn’t be the first choice to add to the team.
In this episode we talk about all the things one litigator has done, and the advantages she feel such professionals can bring to small companies – one that isn’t embroiled in litigation, and would like to keep it that way.
She is Somya Kaushik, former litigator, current in-house counsel, entrepreneur, adjunct law professor, writer, leader, and children’s book author.
I hope you enjoy the episode. If so, give us a rating!
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This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation. The Journal is a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the vLex Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, and Docket Alarm.
If you have comments, ideas, or wish to participate, please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.
Tom Hagy
Litigation Enthusiast and
Host of the Emerging Litigation Podcast
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She is senior corporate counsel for Mineral, an HR and corporate compliance company which was recently acquired by Miratech, a tech solutions company for legal, HR, and governance, risk and compliance.
In 2013 she founded EsqMe, Inc., a sharing platform where lawyers can exchange legal documents, templates, motions, and forms, where she served as general counsel.
She is also an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, speaks around the country on legal technology, IP, privacy and technology matters, and has been a guest lecturer at MIT, The George Washington University, New York Law School, and Claremont Colleges.
Newly relocated to Chicago from Portland, Ore., where she practiced intellectual property and privacy law, for nearly five years Somya was president of the South Asian Bar Association of Oregon.
Before moving to Portland, Kaushik practiced litigation in New York where she represented clients in healthcare, technology, commercial and IP cases.
Kaushik has also represented clients in notable pro-bono matters including a criminal defense client in a 75-count superseding indictment in federal court in Brooklyn, and a large USPTO trademark infringement matter brought against her client by Under Armour Inc.
Kaushik founded EsqMe, Inc., a legal technology company aimed at helping lawyers practice law more efficiently and cost effectively. Her firsthand experience as CEO gives her a unique perspective and advantage when representing clients in the innovation, IP, technology and entrepreneurial space.
Somya is on the Fastcase 50, a list that honors innovators and leaders in the legal industry.
Education: New York Law School, J.D.; George Washington University, B.A., Psychology and Political Science; London School of Economics; and Harvard Business School.
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*Ms. Hagy is the younger daughter of the host of this podcast, which, now that I think about it, could use some illustrations to brighten up the place.