Leading Appellate Lawyer Aileen McGrath Joins Akin Gump in San Francisco
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(San Francisco) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Aileen McGrath, a highly accomplished California litigator and appellate lawyer, has joined the firm’s Supreme Court and appellate practice as senior counsel in San Francisco. Most recently, Ms. McGrath, a former U.S. Supreme Court clerk, served as co-chief of appellate litigation in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office.
During her time at the City Attorney’s office, Ms. McGrath served as lead counsel for San Francisco in a variety of matters at all levels of federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and California appellate courts. She successfully represented the city in lawsuits challenging the federal government’s attempts to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities. She also led the representation of San Francisco in a lawsuit against high-capacity firearm magazine retailers, defended challenges to various city ordinances and policies, and formed part of the U.S. Supreme Court team that invalidated Proposition 8’s ban on same-sex marriage in California.
“Aileen is one of the most talented California litigators of her generation and a terrific addition to our appellate team on the West Coast,” said Pratik A. Shah, head of Akin Gump’s Supreme Court and appellate practice. “With several recent big wins, including a major 9th Circuit victory against federal conditions on funding, she will quickly become a go-to lawyer for our clients confronting complex challenges in California and beyond.”
Added Ms. McGrath, “Under Pratik’s leadership, Akin Gump’s Supreme Court and appellate practice has cemented itself as one of the country’s top appellate practices and a home to rising stars from government service. I am excited to be joining this team and putting my experience to work for the firm’s clients, along the West Coast and across the country.”
About Aileen McGrath
Ms. McGrath began her tenure at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office in 2012 as deputy city attorney on the Complex and Affirmative Litigation team. She left in 2015 for a year to work as a chambers attorney on the California Supreme Court for Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar.
Earlier in her career, Ms. McGrath was an associate at a large international law firm. Upon graduation from law school, she served as a law clerk, first to Judge Michael Boudin of the U.S. Court Appeals for the 1st Circuit in Boston and then to Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ms. McGrath received her J.D, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where she was awarded the Sears Prize, given to the top two students in a class, and was president of the Harvard Law Review. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Columbia University.
About Akin Gump’s Supreme Court and Appellate Practice
Akin Gump’s Supreme Court and appellate practice is renowned as one of the nation’s top appellate practices, having placed on The National Law Journal’s prestigious Appellate Hot List in 12 of the past 13 years. It is made up of an elite group of advocates, including veterans of the Solicitor General’s office and former Supreme Court clerks. They brief and argue dozens of cases every year in federal and state appellate courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm’s appellate team also works with other lawyers at the trial level, handling dispositive motions and ensuring that key legal arguments are preserved for appeal.
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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