Alumni Spotlight: Emily Bienko Brown '03
Intellectual Property Litigator
King & Spalding, NYC
Emily Bienko Brown, up until about her junior year of college, thought she might someday become Dr. Bienko. She says she realized that medical school wasn’t the right route to take because of one minor detail: “I was a little weak with blood.”
Brown—her married name—reevaluated her goals and determined that law might be a good fit. “I enjoy the process of analyzing different situations. I enjoy the competition of debate. I also thought a J.D. would be a good degree to have even if I did not end up practicing law. It just sets you up for success.”
Brown’s path has certainly led her to success. She practices intellectual property litigation at King & Spalding in New York City, where she was involved in two patent litigation jury trials in 2005 for a major soft drink manufacturer. She also represented a world-renowned Italian fashion designer and his licensee in a trade dress infringement action in federal court against an international fashion and beauty conglomerate.
Brown loves her career, and adds the pro bono work she does rounds her job out nicely. “My firm is 100 percent committed to pro bono,” says Brown. “I have worked on cases involving prisoners’ rights, landlord-tenant issues, child custody, and I have helped to draft wills for firefighters and police officers. I chose this firm in part because the values of the people here are similar to mine.” That is why she chose Notre Dame Law School, too.
“The caliber of person at Notre Dame Law School is great; they are grounded and talented,” says Brown. “There is a real human element to everyone. The faculty have our best interests at heart, both inside and outside the classroom.”
Brown, who attended undergrad at Notre Dame, had a fifth year of eligibility on the track team because she was redshirted due to injury her sophomore year. So, as a first-year law student, she ran track for Notre Dame. “The championship meet was during exams, and I had to get permission to go,” recalls Brown. “I just remember how supportive and understanding the dean and professors were. They wanted to see me succeed, and worked with me to accommodate both my exams and my meet.”
Brown recalls some of her favorite professors fondly: “A.J. Bellia is as genuine as he is brilliant. Professor Dutile made class so exciting with his quick wit and expertise. Thanks to Professor Seckinger’s trial ad class, I was much more prepared for litigation when I got to my firm than I thought I’d be.”
Brown says that for those considering law school, Notre Dame should be on anybody’s short list. “A Notre Dame Law School diploma is worth its weight in gold.”
