Katy founded von Mehren Legal Search in 2013 after spending three decades working as a law firm recruiter.  Her career started in New York with Davis Polk and Wardwell and Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon.  Having made the decision to move to Boston, Katy joined Palmer & Dodge where she remained through the firm’s merger with Edwards Angell. At P&D she started the recruiting department and led all aspects of attorney and technology specialist hiring. She was a member of the Associate Evaluation, Diversity and Conflicts Committees.  In 2006, Katy moved to Ropes & Gray to run legal recruiting firm wide and later was recruited to join Mintz Levin to grow that firm through lateral partner recruitment.

An active member of NALP (National Association for Law Placement) Katy co-authored NALP’s Open Letter to Law Students; served on the Mark of Distinction Committee; was a liaison to the Boston Area City Group and served as Regional Coordinator for the Northeast Region.  She is a past president of the Massachusetts Legal Recruitment Association (MALRA) and a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management. .

Considered an expert in her field, she is a frequent speaker on law school campuses and at conferences on subjects ranging from interviewing to integration.   Recent speaking engagements include:

• A Step to Step Guide to Lateral Partner Recruiting: From Identifying Firm Needs to Successful Integration (NALP Annual Conference)
• Practical Tips on Making a Lateral Move (webinar for Harvard Law School alumni)
• Lateral Partner Hiring, Start Your Engines, Assemble your Team, Integration Starts Now (2016 NALP Annual Conference)
• Thinking of Moving In-House? Practical Tips for Lawyers Thinking of Taking the Leap (webinar for Boston College Law School alumni)
• Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover (NALP Annual Conference)