London University, School of Oriental and African Studies, M.A. With Distinction, 1998
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1996
Clerkships
Law Clerk, Justice Stephen G. Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court, 2003-2004
Law Clerk, Israel Public Defender Service, Nazareth, Israel, 2002-2003
Law Clerk, Judge Harry T. Edwards, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2001-2002
Admitted
2003, New York
2005, District of Columbia
Ariela Migdal conducts impact litigation on behalf of state and local governments and tribes, class-action and other mass-tort plaintiffs, and companies. She handles all stages of litigation, from designing and planning a case through discovery, briefing, trial, and appeal.
Ariela’s diverse practice includes reproductive rights litigation, consumer-protection and health cases, litigation protecting natural resources, complex bankruptcy appeals on behalf of mass-tort victims, and immigrants’-rights cases on behalf of unaccompanied children facing deportation. Ariela also has experience litigating class actions and multi-district cases, primarily on appeal.
Recently, Ariela played a crucial role in representing the State of Florida in its suit against major pharmaceutical companies for their role in causing the opioid addiction crisis. This case settled following a jury trial and resulted in billions of dollars to fund treatment and prevention programs throughout Florida. Ariela presented a key expert to the jury, argued many motions including on summary judgment, drafted pleadings and critical briefing including at the motion-to-dismiss and summary-judgment stages, and conducted fact and expert depositions.
Ariela’s pro bono docket includes serving as lead counsel for unaccompanied minors seeking relief from deportation. She obtained Special Immigrant Juvenile Status visas for four minor siblings from Honduras, in collaboration with the non-profit Safe Passage Project, resulting in dismissal or closure of the deportation cases against these children.
Before joining Kellogg Hansen, Ariela worked at the national office of the American Civil Liberties Union, where she litigated civil and women's rights cases. She played a pivotal role in representing military servicewomen in challenging the Pentagon's rule prohibiting women from serving in ground combat units. The Pentagon changed the policy shortly after the suit was filed.
May 1, 2024— Twenty-three Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2023 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Twelve Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011.
The complete list of 2023 Honor Roll members hail from 166 firms, solo practices, federal and local government agencies, corporations, associations, and public interest organizations, accounting for least 392,750 hours of pro bono service across all types of practice. It can be found here.
Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia stated:
“Thank you for answering – and in many cases exceeding – the call to service embodied by Rule 6.1. We know that your actions stem not only from a commitment to your ethical obligations, but also from your principled belief in equal access to justice. We are pleased to recognize your dedication by including your name on this year’s Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll.”
Kellogg Hansen 2023 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
Rachel T. Anderson*
Scott K. Attaway*
Justin B. Berg*
Geoffrey Block*
Mary Charlotte Y. Carroll*
Tiberius T. Davis
Abigail E. DeHart*
Hannah D.C. DePalo
D. Chanslor Gallenstein
Nataliia Gillespie
Jordan R. Gonzalez
Minsuk Han*
Mark P. Hirschboek
Derek T. Ho*
Geoffrey M. Klineberg*
Ariela M. Migdal
Matthew D. Reade*
Catherine M. Redlingshafer
Derek C. Reinbold*
Caroline A. Schechinger
Andrew Skaras
Alex P. Treiger*
Daren G. Zhang*
* denotes High Honor Roll
..
December 2, 2023— New York City-based non-profit Safe Passage Project recently highlighted Kellogg Hansen for a notable pro bono case. The Kellogg Hansen team, led by Ariela Migdal, represented four siblings who fled Honduras in the face of rampant gang violence and discrimination. The team advocated for the children in family court and immigration proceedings, obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for the four children. The team subsequently succeeded in closing or dismissing the deportation cases against each of them.
The two brothers just graduated from high school and the oldest sister is currently a high school senior. The youngest sister is seven years old and attends school in the Bronx, where the family lives. The clients and their mother are grateful to the firm for supporting their cases pro bono.
Katherine Tondrowski conducted extensive work on these cases in collaboration with Ariela, both in her capacity as an LAA and while in law school. After Katherine’s transition to an associate position, Taylor Phillips conducted additional work on these cases.
..
May 1, 2023— Twenty-seven Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2022 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Nineteen Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The complete list of 2022 honorees can be found here.
Kellogg Hansen 2022 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
Scott K. Attaway*
Daniel G. Bird*
L. Vivian Dong
Daniel V. Dorris
Matthew N. Drecun
Ryan M. Folio
David C. Frederick*
D. Chanslor Gallenstein*
Dustin G. Graber
Kimberly V. Hamlett*
Minsuk Han*
Ashle Holman*
Geoffrey M. Klineberg*
Jonathan I. Liebman
Eric J. Maier*
Samuel A. Martin*
Ariela M. Migdal
Bradley E. Oppenheimer*
Gregory G. Rapawy*
Catherine M. Redlingshafer
Derek C. Reinbold*
Caroline A. Schechinger*
Daniel S. Severson*
Andrew C. Shen*
Julius P. Taranto*
Alex P. Treiger*
Matthew J. Wilkins*
* denotes High Honor Roll
..
May 1, 2021— Nineteen Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Twelve Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The complete list of 2022 honorees can be found here.
Kellogg Hansen 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
Scott K. Attaway
Alejandra Ávila*
Daniel G. Bird*
Katherine C. Cooper*
Matthew N. Drecun*
Linda A. Elliott*
Kimberly V. Hamlett*
Minsuk Han*
Vetan Kapoor
Geoffrey M. Klineberg*
Ariela M. Migdal
Aaseesh P. Polavarapu*
Catherine M. Redlingshafer
Derek C. Reinbold
Christopher M. Sarma
Thomas G. Schultz*
Julius P. Taranto*
Jayme L. Weber
Matthew J. Wilkins*
..
May 1, 2020— Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2019 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Nine Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The complete list of 2022 honorees can be found here.
Kellogg Hansen 2019 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
Scott K. Attaway
Christine A. Bonomo*
Kimberly A. Briggs*
Andrew J. Churella*
Katherine C. Cooper*
Daniel S. Guarnera*
Michael J. Guzman*
Julia Haines*
Minsuk Han*
T. Dietrich Hill*
Mark P. Hirschboeck*
Bethan R. Jones*
Michael K. Kellogg*
Geoffrey M. Klineberg*
Grace W. Knofczynski
Gabriel A. Kohan
Sean A. Lev
Benjamin D. Margo
Ariela Migdal*
Sean M. Nadel*
Bradley E. Oppenheimer*
Albert Y. Pak
Ana N. Paul*
Michael S. Qin
Gregory G. Rapawy
Melissa Rodriguez*
Thomas B. Samuels*
Thomas G. Schultz*
Benjamin S. Softness
James W. Webster*
Collin R. White
*denotes High Honor roll
..
April 16, 2019— Thirty-two Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2018 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Twenty-five Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The 2018 Honor Roll members represent all sectors of the legal community, including 168 law firms and individual practices, as well as federal and local government agencies, corporations, associations, law schools and public interest organizations.
Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Chief Judge Robert Morin of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia stated:
“We salute you for using your talents and expertise to help those unable to afford an attorney, to ensure that they too have equal access to justice. Your compassion and dedication, as evidenced by your pro bono service, have helped to level the playing field.”
Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C.
Scott K. Attaway*Christine A. Bonomo*Katherine C. Cooper*Brendan J. CrimminsMatthew M. DuffyLinda A. Elliott*David C. Frederick*Andrew E. Goldsmith*Daniel S. Guarnera*Joshua HafenbrackFrederick G. Hall*Minsuk Han*Jacob E. HartmanAndrew M. Hetherington*T. Dietrich HillMark P. Hirschboeck*Geoffrey M. Klineberg*Benjamin D. Margo*Rachel P. May*Ariela Migdal*Jeremy S. NewmanBradley E. Oppenheimer*Albert Y. Pak*Michael S. Qin*Benjamin L. Rudofsky*Thomas B. Samuels*Christopher M. SarmaThomas G. Schultz*Daniel S. Severson*Lillian V. Smith*Benjamin S. Softness*Julius P. Taranto*
* denotes High Honor Roll
..