Steptoe LLP has expanded its Government & Regulatory Litigation practice with the addition of appellate and government litigator Michelle Kallen. Michelle, previously with Jenner & Block, joins the firm as a partner in Washington, DC and as co-leader of the appellate practice.
The former Solicitor General of Virginia, Michelle helps clients navigate complex matters before federal and state appellate courts, with a particular focus on administrative law, privacy, and cryptocurrency issues. With unique insight into multistate and constitutional litigation matters, she represents leading companies in the technology, cryptocurrency, and transportation industries. She is highly regarded for her extensive government experience, and award-winning appellate work.
As part of her practice, Michelle files briefs and litigates matters in the US Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Virginia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Eastern District of Virginia, and other state and federal courts. Michelle has represented clients in connection with some of the highest-profile crypto cases, including representing Custodia Bank in the Tenth Circuit in its litigation against the Federal Reserve. She achieved notable wins in these venues during her tenure in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, including defending the Commonwealth against challenges to its COVID-19 response. Michelle also served as lead counsel representing Virginia, Illinois, and Nevada in their litigation to vindicate ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Michelle's past government work also includes serving as Special Litigation Counsel in the US House of Representatives, where she represented the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol in litigation.
"I expect 2025 will be an active year for our clients in government litigation and crypto. Michelle’s arrival is well-timed and her extensive experience and deep understanding of appellate litigation make her well-suited to tackle our clients' most difficult government challenges. I am thrilled to welcome her to the firm,” said Elyse Echtman, leader of Steptoe's Government & Regulatory Litigation practice.
Members of Steptoe’s Government & Regulatory Litigation practice have handled a number of significant matters. This includes successfully defending DISH Network L.L.C. at trial in one of the highest stakes telemarketing cases in the nation, which was brought by the FTC and the states of California, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio seeking civil penalties upward of $23 billion; representing a pipeline operator in efforts by state officials to shut down a 654-mile pipeline; defending a company providing "back-end" fulfilment services to businesses in the debt industry in a first-of-its-kind case brought by the DOJ on behalf of the FTC, alleging novel violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) and Section 5 of the FTC Act.
"I am excited to join Steptoe's esteemed Government & Regulatory Litigation practice serving clients in a number of highly-regulated industries," said Michelle. "Following this last Supreme Court term, the administrative law landscape is quickly shifting. Steptoe provides the perfect platform to expand my government and appellate practice and my offerings to clients in the fintech and crypto space."
Michelle earned her BA from Stanford University and her JD from Vanderbilt University Law School.
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About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.
The diversity of the firm is a critical factor in its success. The firm’s chair is a woman; the majority of the firm’s elected executive committee is female; and the majority of Steptoe's 10 offices are managed by women. The firm's six-person professional business services leadership is equally diverse, with two women of color, and other leaders who openly identify as LGBTQ+. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.