Features Women in Law

For as long as there have been products to sell, there have been companies claiming their products are the best. But, as Kimberly Murphy explains, they actually, legally, need to prove it. She’s the global chief competition counsel for Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the general counsel for its North America Family Care Business. The Irving, Texas-based […]

It’s a site that makes her glow, nearly 500 sprawling acres of 400,000 shiny rectangular modules sucking in solar rays in a remote valley 30 miles north of the Chilean capital of Santiago. For Paulina Cox Vyhmeister had a strong hand in making this project a reality, and it’s a major contributor to her homeland’s […]

A first generation American with Korean parents, Sara Vogt-Lowell and her mother moved apartments often as they sought better school districts and neighborhoods. But they never had the chance to move into a house, so a backyard and pets weren’t possible. Now, as chief legal officer for American Homes 4 Rent, Vogt-Lowell is helping working families […]

Growing up in India, Subhashini Ayyalasomayajula was always interested in science. So, after earning her master’s degree in microbiology at Osmania University, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in immunology. “I continue to be curious about science and how the body functions,” she says. “It’s so beautiful and complex, and yet so […]

It’s the most intangible and invaluable asset, corporate culture. Encompassing everything from corporate identity and community reputation to work environment and vendor relationships, company culture is as important as limiting liability, Maryfrances “Fran” Cooper emphasizes. As general counsel and vice president of human resources for Goodville Mutual Casualty Co., she’s responsible for both. Goodville’s distinctive […]

Stephanie Karfias understands how difficult it can be for people to get the credit they need, especially in the face of major setbacks. “Life can be unpredictable. One moment you’re feeling healthy in all aspects. Then, suddenly, you’re in a car accident and sustained serious injuries that result in astronomical hospital bills and a complete […]

Aileen Schwartz was in kindergarten in Maryland when her teacher said she’d make “a good Philadelphia lawyer.” The comment was unexpected, and Schwartz recalls her parents didn’t know what to make of it. However, it was meant as a compliment, as Philadelphia lawyers had a long tradition as the best trained in law and rhetoric […]

At Western Michigan University, there wasn’t always a written policy outlining accommodations for students with disabilities. “A lot of professors and supervisors were making decisions on their own and trying to do the right thing, but it caused a lot of issues,” says Jessica Swartz, WMU’s deputy general counsel. In October 2020, a reasonable accommodation […]

It was bad enough that Karen Turner McWilliams was expecting an expensive car repair bill while attending the University of Virginia. It got worse when she went to get her car because the bill was much higher than the estimate. “I felt like I was a victim of a bait and switch,” she recalls. “It […]

In 2012, Adrienne Hollander’s resilience and grit were unexpectedly tested. She gave birth on Tuesday and went on maternity leave—only to find out on Friday that the firm employing her for the last four years had closed its doors. She’d been with Dewey & LeBoeuf since 2007, beginning first at Dewey Ballentine as a summer […]