TODAY (5/9/18) Kalpana Kotagal, a Partner in Cohen Milstein, and the University of California, Irvine School of Law 2018 Commencement Speaker, called in to our KUCI 88.9fm studios!

LISTEN to today's conversation
with Kalpana Kotagal!

Practice Areas
Civil Rights & Employment

Admissions
District of Columbia • New York

Education
University of Pennsylvania, J.D., cum laude, 2005 • Stanford University, B.S., with Honors, 1999

Clerkships & Fellowships
Law Clerk, the Hon. Betty Binns Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2005-2006
About Kalpana Kotagal

Kalpana Kotagal is a Partner in Cohen Milstein, and a member of the firm’s Civil Rights & Employment practice and Chair of the firm’s Hiring and Diversity Committee. She is also the co-author of the "Inclusion Rider," referenced by Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand in her 2018 Best Actress acceptance speech.

Ms. Kotagal focuses almost exclusively on employment class actions involving allegations of discrimination. Currently, she represents a class of female sales employees in a Title VII and Equal Pay Act case against one of the nation's largest jewelry chains in Jock, et al. v Sterling Jewelers Inc. Her clients have alleged a pattern of sex discrimination in compensation and promotions.

Ms. Kotagal also played an instrumental role in representing Wal-Mart employees in the landmark Supreme Court case Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a case establishing new rules governing class certification. Ms. Kotagal earned her B.S. from Stanford University, with honors, and her J.D. cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a James Wilson Fellow. Ms. Kotagal was Articles Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Ms. Kotagal served as a law clerk to the Honorable Betty Binns Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. 

A noted public speaker, Ms. Kotagal recently addressed the 2018 Democratic Attorneys General Spring Policy Conference and the National Women’s Law Center’s Spring Reception in Washington, D.C. In June she will be speaking at the American Constitution Society’s 2018 National Convention, and the 2018 National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention. 

Ms. Kotagal is honored to be invited to by the University of California, Irvine School of Law to be its Commencement Speaker for the 2018 Commencement.