Judith Olans Brown Forum: Practitioner-in-Residence – Debra Katz

Debra Katz, a nationally recognized civil rights and employment lawyer best known for representing Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Vanessa Tyson, among others, has been named by Northeastern Law’s Judith Olans Brown Forum for the Advancement of Women in the Law as its first Practitioner-in-Residence. Katz will visit the law school for three days, from March 9 to March 11, 2022.

While in residence at Northeastern, she will share comments and insights about her high-profile cases as well as civil rights, employment discrimination, sexual harassment and more. Her visit will include class lectures, meetings with groups such as the school’s Women’s Law Caucus and graduates, and she will hold office hours to build personal connections with students, staff and faculty.

Katz is a founding partner of Katz, Marshall & Banks, where she concentrates her practice on employment discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower and Title IX matters. She has developed extensive litigation experience in federal and local courts and has achieved significant courtroom successes in a number of high-profile cases. She has been recognized as Civil Rights Lawyer of the Year for Washington, DC, by The Best Lawyers In America for 2018, as one of the “toughest” employment lawyers in Washington, DC, by Washingtonian magazine and as an expert in sexual harassment, employment and whistleblower law by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, TIME magazine and others.

Expanding upon the success of Northeastern Law’s signature Women in the Law Conference, the Brown Forum, named in honor of Professor Emerita Judith Olans Brown, was established by Brown and her husband, Jim, in 2021 to support the advancement of women attorneys and students at Northeastern Law.

“We are incredibly honored to have Debra Katz as our first practitioner  and we are grateful for the support from Jim and Judy Brown and many other WIL supporters and sponsors who make this happen,” said Mielle Marquis, director of external affairs and co-founder of the Women in the Law program. “Through her advocacy and tenacity, Debra has played a pivotal role in the #metoomovement. She has fought for victims of sexual harassment, advocated for legislative change, been recognized as a trailblazer and changemaker by too many groups and organizations to mention!”

The 14th annual Women in the Law Conference will take place on May 13, 2022, with the theme, Leading at Every Level. As part of its expanded programing, the Brown Forum will also support a one-day Leadership Masterclass on April 13, 2022, designed for high level Northeastern Law women attorneys.