Grace W. Knofczynski

January 1, 2024— Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C. is pleased to announce that Kevin D. Horvitz, Grace W. Knofczynski, Daniel S. Severson, and Lillian V. Smith have been promoted as partners in the firm. Kevin D. Horvitz represents clients in complex litigation at trial and appellate levels and has particular experience litigating cases involving antitrust claims, telecommunications, contract disputes, and mass torts.  He has argued on behalf of clients in federal and state courts nationwide, including in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  Before joining the firm in 2017, Kevin served as a law clerk to Judge Gerald B. Tjoflat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He graduated magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law with a J.D. and LL.M. in Law and Entrepreneurship, where he was on the Editorial Board of Duke Law Journal, and a member of the Order of the Coif. He earned his undergraduate degree in Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneurship from Vanderbilt University. Grace W. Knofczynski represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels and in administrative proceedings.  Before joining the firm in 2017, Grace served as a law clerk to Judge A. Raymond Randolph on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and received the Peter McCall Prize for the highest GPA for the three-year J.D. course.  She also served as an editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review and participated in the Supreme Court Clinic.  Grace graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tulsa with degrees in biochemistry and philosophy.  Daniel S. Severson litigates complex civil cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country.  He has represented clients in a dozen certiorari and merits stage appeals at the U.S. Supreme Court and argued cases before two federal courts of appeals.  Daniel successfully reinstated civil rights claims as court-appointed pro bono counsel in Shaw v. Foreman, 59 F.4th 121 (4th Cir. 2023).  Before joining the firm in 2017, he served as a law clerk to Judge Allyson Kay Duncan on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  Daniel graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard International Law Journal and received the Myer Dana and Etta Dana Scholarship and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Scholarship.  Daniel also holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University and was awarded Harvard University’s Presidential Public Service Fellowship for work at the U.S. Department of Defense.  He has served as a foreign affairs analyst at the U.S. Department of State and a Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan.  Daniel graduated from Bard College with degrees in political studies and French horn performance. Lillian V. Smith represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation and has substantial experience trying high-stakes matters for clients in both federal and state courts.  Before joining the firm in 2017, Lillian served as a law clerk to Judge Roger L. Gregory on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  She graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn Law School, where she was a Carswell Merit Scholar, an Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Fellow, and Editor-in-Chief of the Brooklyn Law Review.  Lillian earned her undergraduate degree with High Distinction from the University of Virginia. Kellogg Hansen is a preeminent trial and appellate litigation firm founded on the idea that talent, creativity, and hard work achieve the best results for clients.  Formed in the spring of 1993 by law school classmates Michael Kellogg, Peter Huber, and Mark Hansen, our firm has grown over the past 30 years – with each year proving that our founding principle holds true.  Today, Kellogg Hansen has more than 90 attorneys, including 41 partners, and boasts an extensive record of success for our clients.   ..

January 4, 2022— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of the families of 395 Americans killed or injured by the terrorist group Jaysh al-Mahdi in Iraq.  In this U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) case against major pharmaceutical and medical-supply corporations, the federal appellate court held that the plaintiffs’ allegations stated a claim under the ATA.  The plaintiffs are more than 1,200 Americans, who were attacked or who had a family member attacked by the terrorist group Jaysh al-Mahdi. Among the plaintiffs are more than 180 families who lost a loved one.  The defendants are the parent companies and/or subsidiaries of AstraZeneca, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Roche.  The plaintiffs allege that these companies bribed Iraqi terrorists to obtain contracts from Iraq’s terrorist-controlled Ministry of Health, knowingly financing terrorist attacks on Americans. Kellogg Hansen is plaintiffs\' trial and appellate counsel, serving as lead counsel in the courtroom.  Partner Josh Branson argued the appeal for the plaintiffs and was joined on the brief by partners David Frederick and Andrew Goldsmith.  Partners Thomas Schultz and Matthew Duffy and associate Grace Knofczynski have also been instrumental in several stages of the litigation.  The appeal received support from an impressive collection of amici, who were cited by the D.C. Circuit several times in the opinion.  A bipartisan group of eight U.S. Senators, led by Senators Grassley and Blumenthal, submitted a brief explaining why Congress enacted the ATA and describing how Defendants’ arguments defied Congress’s intent.  A group of retired U.S. military commanders also submitted a brief detailing Hezbollah’s role in planning and authorizing Jaysh al-Mahdi’s attacks.  Other effective briefs were authored by Professor Steve Vladeck and other national-security law professors, a group of anti-corruption experts, and the American Association for Justice. The lawsuit follows an extensive investigation by Kellogg Hansen and the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Sparacino PLLC.  Throughout the case, the Sparacino team has been Kellogg Hansen’s partner, serving as lead investigative counsel. Case Caption:  Atchley v. AstraZeneca, No. 20-2077 (D.C. Cir. Jan. 4, 2022). ..

May 1, 2021— Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2020 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 2020 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll Scott Attaway Daniel Bird Christine Bonomo* Matthew Drecun* Linda Elliott* Kenneth Fetterman Daniel Guarnera* Michael Guzman Julia Haines Jacob Hartman* Michael Kellogg Gerald Kerska Geoffrey Klineberg* Grace Knofczynski Sean Nadel* Bradley Oppenheimer* Ana Paul Eliana Pfeffer Gregory Rapawy Thomas Samuels* Christopher Sarma Thomas Schultz* Julius Taranto Jayme Weber Joseph Wenner* *denotes High Honor roll ..

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 ..

January 1, 2018— Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C. take pleasure in announcing that Daniel Dorris and Leslie Pope have become partners in the firm, Linda Elliott has joined the firm as of counsel, and twelve federal judicial clerks have joined as associates.  Daniel Dorris joined the firm as an associate in 2012.  Daniel has particular experience with antitrust and securities cases, multi-district litigation, and class actions.  He represented the National Credit Union Administration in a series of lawsuits regarding the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities.  He also recently briefed and argued an appeal regarding the settlement of a multi-district litigation regarding overpayments for motor fuel.  Leslie Pope joined the firm as an associate in 2012. She represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex, commercial litigation and has substantial experience trying high-stakes matters for clients in both federal and state courts.  Leslie was part of trial teams that successfully represented a client in Texas state court in a case involving high-yield debt and that achieved the first-ever royalty rate decrease from the Copyright Royalty Board for broadcasters that offer online radio services.  Leslie also represented the National Credit Union Administration in a series of lawsuits regarding the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities.   Kellogg Hansen was founded on the idea that talent, creativity, and hard work achieve the best results for clients. The firm has grown over the past 24 years – with each year proving this founding principle holds true. Nearly all Kellogg Hansen attorneys graduated from top-tier law schools and served as law clerks for federal judges. Our highly credentialed and motivated lawyers offer businesses, individuals, and governments expert counsel and innovative solutions to complex disputes and high-stakes matters. PARTNERS DANIEL V. DORRIS  Admitted to bar, 2011, Illinois; 2013, District of Columbia.  Education:  University of Illinois (B.S., summa cum laude, 2006); University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with high honors, 2010).  Order of the Coif.  John M. Olin Law & Economics Fellow.  Kirkland & Ellis Scholar.  Executive Topics & Comments Editor, University of Chicago Law Review, 2009-2010.  Law Clerk:  Hon. Pamela Rymer, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2010-2011; Hon. Gary Feinerman, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2011-2012. LESLIE V. POPE  Admitted to bar, 2010, Virginia; 2013, District of Columbia.  Education:  Harvard College (A.B., cum laude, 2006); Cambridge University (M.Phil., Philosophy, 2007); Yale Law School (J.D., 2010). Managing Editor, Yale Law Journal, 2009-2010.  Law Clerk:  Hon. Judith W. Rogers, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 2011-2012.  Languages:  Spanish.  OF COUNSEL LINDA A. ELLIOTT  Admitted to bar, 1988, District of Columbia. Education: Kalamazoo College (B.A., 1981), University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1986), Georgetown University Law Center (Prettyman Fellow 1988-1990, LL.M., 1992). Editor-In-Chief, Michigan Yearbook of International Legal Studies, 1986-87. Law Clerk: Hon. Douglas W. Hillman, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1986-1988; Hon. Harry T. Edwards, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2003-2008, 2015-2016. Staff Attorney, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, 1990-1997. Deputy Circuit Executive, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 1998-2000. Special Counsel for Legal Affairs, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2001-2003. Visiting Professor of Law, University of Peking School of Transnational Law, Shenzhen, China, 2009-present. Adjunct Professor of Law, New York University School of Law, 2007-2017. Co-Author: Federal Standards of Review: Review of District Court Decisions and Agency Actions (Thomson Reuters, 3d ed. 2018) (2d ed. 2013) (1st ed. 2008) (with Hon. Harry T. Edwards). ASSOCIATES CHRISTINE A. BONOMO Admitted to bar, 2015, New York; 2016, District of Columbia. Education: Kenyon College (B.A., summa cum laude, 2011); University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with Honors, 2014). Articles Editor, The Chicago Journal of International Law, 2013-2014. Phi Beta Kappa. Law Clerk: Hon. Peter J. Messitte, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2015-2016; Hon. Deborah L. Cook, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: Case Studies in the Advancement of Sexual Orientation Rights: Argentina and Brazil, The Chicago Journal of international Law, Volume 14.1. KEVIN D. HORVITZ  Admitted to bar, 2017, New York; (admitted only in New York; supervision by partners of the firm). Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 2013); Duke University School of Law (J.D./LL.M., magna cum laude, 2016). Order of the Coif. Law Clerk: Hon. Gerald Bard Tjoflat, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: An Unreasonable Ban on Reasonable Competition: The Legal Profession’s Protectionist Stance Against Noncompete Agreements Binding In-House Counsel, 65 Duke L.J. 1007 (2016). KYLIE C. KIM Admitted to bar, 2015, New York; 2017, District of Columbia. Education: Ewha W. University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2011); Harvard Law School (J.D., 2014). Article Editor, Harvard Environmental Law Review, 2012-2013; Member, Harvard Environmental Law Moot Court Team, 2012-2013; Executive Online Editor, Harvard International Law Journal, 2013-2014; Captain, Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, 2013-2014; Supreme Court Moot Director, American Constitution Society, 2013-2014; Founder and President, Harvard International Juris Doctor Students Society, 2013-2014. Law Clerk: Hon. Steven D. Merryday, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2014-2016; Hon. Charles R. Wilson, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2016-2017. Languages: Korean.  ROBERT C. KLIPPER  Admitted to bar, 2016, Maryland; 2018, District of Columbia. Education: Yale University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2011); Yale Law School (J.D., 2016). Phi Beta Kappa. Editor, Yale Law Journal, 2015-2016. Law Clerk: Hon. Pamela Harris, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2016-2017. Languages: Mandarin.  GRACE W. KNOFCZYNSKI  Admitted to bar, 2016, Pennsylvania; (admitted only in Pennsylvania; supervision by partners of the firm). Education: University of Tulsa (B.S., magna cum laude, B.A. magna cum laude, 2013); University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 2016). Phi Beta Kappa. Order of the Coif. Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 2014-2015. Senior Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 2015-2016. Law Clerk: Hon. A. Raymond Randolph, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, 2016-2017  ALBERT PAK Admitted to bar, 2017, New York; (admitted only in New York; supervision by partners of the firm). Education: Stanford University (B.A., M.A., 2013); Yale Law School (J.D., 2016). Phi Beta Kappa. Lead Editor, Yale Journal on Regulation, 2014-2015. Managing Editor, Yale Journal of International Law, 2015-2016.   Law Clerk: John M. Rogers, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: Book Note, reviewing Joel P. Trachtman, The Future of International Law: Global Government (2013), 39 Yale Journal of International Law 198 (2014). Languages: Korean. ALEX A. PARKINSON  Admitted to bar, 2016, New York; 2018, District of Columbia. Education: Harvard University (B.A., 2011); The University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with high honors, 2015). Staff Editor, University of Chicago Law Review, 2013-2014. Editor in Chief, University of Chicago Law Review, Vol. 82, 2014-2015. Law Clerk: Hon. Robert D. Sack, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: Class Actions as Firms, 2017 Columbia Business Law Review 740; Behavioral Class Action Law, 65 UCLA Law Review (forthcoming); Comment, Comcast Corp. v. Behrend and Chaos on the Ground, L81 University of Chicago Law Review 1213 (2014). CHRISTOPHER M. SARMA* Admitted to bar, 2016, New York (admitted only in New York; supervision by partners of the firm). Education: Wesleyan University (B.A., 2009); Oxford University (MSc, 2011); Cornell Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2015). Articles Editor, Cornell Law Review, 2014-2015; Law Clerk: Hon. Edward R. Korman, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2015-2016; Hon. Andrew J. Kleinfeld, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: Note, Citizenship and the War on Terror: Should Federal Courts Consider a Plaintiff’s Citizenship in Post-9/11 Litigation?, 100 Cornell Law Review. (2015). DANIEL S. SEVERSON Admitted to bar, 2016, New York; 2017, District of Columbia. Education: Bard College (B.A., 2010); Harvard University (M.P.P., 2016); Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2016). Editor in Chief, Harvard International Law Journal, 2015-2016. Law Clerk: Hon. Allyson Kay Duncan, U.S. of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: The Encryption Debate in Europe, Hoover Institution (forthcoming 2017); The Court and the World: An Interview with Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer, 57 Harvard International Law Journal 253 (2016); National Security Reporting Requirements: Managing the Tension Between Secrecy and Accountability, 2016; American Surveillance of Non-U.S. Persons: Why New Privacy Protections Offer Only Cosmetic Change, 56 Harvard International Law Journal 465 (2015). Languages: French, Mandarin.  LILLIAN V. SMITH* Admitted to bar, 2017, New York (admitted only in New York; supervision by partners of the firm). Education: University of Virginia (B.A., with high distinction, 2008); Brooklyn Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 2016). Editor in Chief, Brooklyn Law Review, 2015-2016. Law Clerk: Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: Note, Recreating the “Ritual Carving”: Why Congress Should Fund Independent Redistricting Commissions and End Partisan Gerrymandering, 80 Brooklyn Law Review 1641 (2015).  DAVID S. SUSKA  Admitted to bar, 2016, Virginia; (admitted only in Virginia; supervision by partners of the firm).   Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 2008, M.A., 2009); University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with Honors, 2016). Law Clerk: Hon. Frank H. Easterbrook, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2016-2017. Author: The Federal–State Standing Gap, William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal (forthcoming 2018); Reappraising Dodd-Frank’s Living Will Regime, 36 Review of Banking & Financial Law 779 (2017); Regulatory Takings and Ridesharing, 19 New York University Journal of Legislation & Public Policy 183 (2016). JULIUS P. TARANTO Admitted to bar, 2017, District of Columbia; Education: Pomona College (B.A., cum laude, 2012); Yale Law School (J.D., 2016). Coker Fellow, Constitutional Law. Co-President, Yale Law School National Security Group, 2014-2015. Law Clerk: Hon. Jeffrey S. Sutton, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2016-2017. Co-Author:   Comment, Stare Decisis and Secret Law: On Precedent and Publication in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Yale Law Journal (2015). ..