Kathryn Ruemmler is a partner in the Litigation Department and the global Co-chair of the White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice.
Ms. Ruemmler rejoined the firm after serving for more than five years in the Obama Administration, first in the Department of Justice and later as Counsel to the President. Ms. Ruemmler has built a reputation as a respected and formidable litigator with an unusual breadth of experience in crisis management, policy development and regulatory and enforcement matters. She has particular expertise in white collar criminal defense, SEC and other agency enforcement matters, congressional and internal investigations, and at trial.
As President Obama's chief lawyer, Ms. Ruemmler was one of his most senior advisors, providing strategic advice on all legal matters implicating domestic and foreign policy and national security. She advised on all significant litigation matters, including the most high profile and consequential cases heard by the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Ruemmler also managed the Administration's response to congressional and other investigations and was responsible for the selection and nomination process of all federal judges. She managed a team of approximately 45 lawyers and staff in the White House Counsel's office and frequently dealt with agency general counsels on their most difficult legal problems. Ms. Ruemmler worked closely with members of the President's Cabinet to manage a number of challenges ranging from the defense and implementation of the Affordable Care Act to the public debate arising from the unauthorized disclosure of government surveillance activities. President Obama described her as having "an uncanny ability to see around the corners that no one else anticipates."