I found this path through pure serendipity and I feel fortunate to have done so. I didn't know any lawyers growing up an
Covington Spotlight: Carolyn Kubota We are proud to share the news that Covington partner Carolyn Kubota has been inducted into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), an invitation-only organization composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Carolyn's induction is a reflection of her mastery of the art of advocacy and a testament to a career marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. In celebration of Carolyn's inauguration into the ACTL and in honor of International Women's Day, we have asked Carolyn to share a bit about her path as a female litigator. What do you enjoy most about the legal profession? One of the things I enjoy most about my profession is finding the narrative in a case and developing that narrative into a successful defense. It is basically a form of storytelling. I believe that every case, no matter what the subject matter, can and should be expressed in story form, both at trial and in pre-trial pleadings. How did you choose this path? I found this path through pure serendipity and I feel fortunate to have done so. I didn't know any lawyers growing up and I never knew that lawyers of the kind I am now even existed. When I was finishing my history degree at Cornell University, I chose law school based on the unsophisticated reasoning that I liked to read and write, which seemed to be what lawyers did. In my third year of law school, I took trial advocacy on a whim and experienced something like an epiphany during the mock trial that was our final project. What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement or defining moment during your career? The trial that has defined my career more than any other is the W.R. Grace criminal trial in Missoula, Montana in 2009. The government had charged W.R. Grace and five former executives with violations of the Clean Air Act. The charges were morally akin to murder. The defendants were charged with knowingly, but secretly, exposing the townspeople of Libby, Montana to a deadly form of asbestos for decades. The facts of the exposure were undisputed and, at the time of the trial, hundreds of people in Libby had contracted mesothelioma. The government's theory was legally and factually wrong but we worried that
the tragedy the town of Libby had experienced would overwhelm the jury's emotions and lead them to convict despite the evidence. In the end, the jury bravely acquitted all of the defendants after deliberating for just one day. Which individuals have inspired you the most? I worked for 12 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles. There, I worked with lawyers who were public servants in the very best sense of the term. They worked tirelessly, motivated not by money but by their belief in their law enforcement mission, and they did so with selflessness and dedication. I see those same qualities in the leadership of Covington and it is one of the things that attracted me to the firm. Do you have any advice for women in the legal field? My daughter, Laura, is graduating from law school in May, so I've given some thought to this question. Here's what I would say: Understand that your worst trait and the one that you privately berate yourself for, is also probably your best. Hopefully, that understanding will let you go easier on yourself. Also understand that women in private practice climb a steep hill every day of their professional lives, especially if they have children. It's hard. But the profession has radically changed in the 35 years I've been practicing and I believe it will continue to change and improve in the future. Hopefully someday soon, when you walk into a room full of lawyers and scan the crowd, you will not have to try to pick out the women. Instead, you will feel a sense of comfort from the fact that lawyers all around the room look like you and share your interests and experiences.
© 2018 Covington & Burling LLP. All rights reserved.
