
Kim Koopersmith
Chairperson Emeritus
Areas of Focus
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Former chairperson of the firm.
- Named The American Lawyer’s 2024 Distinguished Law Firm Leader.
- Recognized for her innovative and transformative approach to law firm leadership, including being named one of Financial Times’ Innovative Law Firm Leaders in 2020.
For 12 years, Kim Koopersmith served as the chairperson of the firm. Kim guided the strategic direction of Akin and led the firm’s management committee.
Kim played a key role in the enhancement of the firm’s overall performance and earned numerous industry recognitions and plaudits for her leadership. Among them, Kim was named The American Lawyer’s 2024 Distinguished Law Firm Leader. In 2020, she was named by the Financial Times as one of its Innovative Law Firm Leaders for her groundbreaking approach to leadership and success in guiding the firm’s continued growth. During her tenure, the firm was on The American Lawyer's A-List 10 times. Kim also spearheaded the firm’s commitment to pro bono, with nearly 90,000 hours of pro bono work done annually by the firm.
For 20 years prior to her role as chair, Kim was a partner in the firm’s litigation practice, where she handled complex commercial litigation matters and served as relationship partner to several of the firm’s largest clients.
EducationJ.D., Fordham University School of Law, 1984
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, 1981
J.D., Fordham University School of Law, 1984
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, 1981
Bar AdmissionsNew York
New York
- The American Lawyer, Distinguished Law Firm Leader, 2024.
- Feerick Center for Social Justice, Spirit of Service Award, 2023.
- Financial Times, North American Innovative Lawyers – Law Firm Leaders, 2020.
- Fordham Law Alumni Association, Fordham Law School’s Medal of Achievement, 2019.
- New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Law & Society Award, 2019.
- Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, Flex Leader Award, 2018.
- The Lawyer, The Hot 100, 2015.
- Co-chair, Board of Directors, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the leading not-for-profit organization fighting for racial justice.
- Member, Board of Directors, Equal Justice Works, a not-for-profit organization that enables law students interested in public interest careers to obtain fellowships at legal services organizations.
- Member, Board of Directors, TEAK Fellowship, a not-for-profit organization focused on educational opportunities for students in underserved New York City communities.
- Former member, Board of Directors; Current member, Senior Leadership Council, Her Justice, an organization providing free legal services to women living in poverty in New York City.