At Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, we take pride in the diverse backgrounds and broad experiences that each of our attorneys brings to the team. This week, we’ll be focusing on Associate Emily Christiansen, who has been with Kessler Topaz since May, 2013. She has been admitted for practice by the state bars of both Pennsylvania and New York. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her accomplishments and her involvement in major securities litigation cases.
Emily’s Background
Emily was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana. She received her Juris Doctor and Global Law certificate, cum laude, from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2012 and is a graduate of the University of Portland, where she received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Political Science and German Studies. During law school Emily worked as a law clerk at a law firm specializing in ERISA benefits litigation.
She also interned in Trial Chambers III at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (and while there was involved with the trial of the former Bosnian Serb President, Radovan Karadzic) and spent two months in India as a foreign legal trainee with the corporate law firm of Fox Mandal. Emily is a 2007 recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and is fluent in German.
Emily’s Areas of Legal Expertise
Emily practices in a variety of legal practice areas, including:
Emily’s Achievements and Highlights
Emily was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2007. Her memberships include:
American Bar Association Section of International Law
- Co-Chair of the International Anti-Money Laundering Committee (2014-present)
- Vice Chair of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee (2012 – present)
- Vice Chair of the Young Lawyers’ Interest Network (2014- present)
- Vice Chair of the International Anti-Money Laundering Committee (2011-2014)
She has also co-authored an article entitled, “International Anti-Money Laundering,” The American Bar Association Section of International Law Year In Review: 2013, Vol. No. 48 (2014).
Emily Christiansen Discusses Her Experience at Kessler Topaz
How Would you Describe Kessler Topaz's Approach?
“Kessler Topaz goes above and beyond to understand what is important to our clients, and then we work diligently to achieve the best results possible (both in terms of recovering shareholder money and in pursuing corporate governance reforms).”
Can You Tell us About a Case You've Worked On That was Particularly Inspiring?
“Although the case is still in its infancy (we filed a complaint on March 14, 2016) and litigation is ongoing, the case we filed in Germany against Volkswagen has been one of my favorite cases to work on. We filed a complaint seeking approximately 3.25 billion Euros in damages on behalf of nearly 300 institutional investors around the world. The investors' claims stem from Volkswagen's admissions in 2015 that it had installed software in various models of its diesel vehicles in order to cheat emissions testing results in the U.S. and in other countries around the globe.
The case is the largest shareholder litigation action that has ever been filed in Germany. The case has been a tremendous logistical undertaking and I'm really proud of the work we've done so far in preparing the litigation. As an added bonus, I've enjoyed being able to put my German-language skills to use in reviewing the laws and various documents.”
Which Types of Cases Interest You the Most? Why?
“My focus area is global securities litigation and I work primarily on our actions outside the U.S. I love the challenge and the variety that comes with each new case. Researching and helping our clients navigate new (to them) legal systems and laws keeps things interesting and continually presents new unique challenges.”
Selecting the right attorney to work with is important for the outcome of your case. At Kessler Topaz, we place a high value on passion and commitment to excellence in representing clients. Contact us today at Kessler Topaz if you have any legal questions or inquiries and would like to speak to a lawyer. If you’d like to contact Emily Christiansen directly, feel free to email her at echristiansen@ktmc.com or visit her profile page.