Molly Stephens, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner
Image: courtesy photo
Molly Stephens, 37, partner
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Stephens has been instrumental to Quinn Emanuel's structured finance litigation practice, which represents some of the largest investors in the country. With a background in applied mathematics, she has mastered complex security disputes and achieved favorable results for a range of clients. Her achievements include successfully resolving six securities actions in which plaintiffs were claiming more than $2 billion in damages from her client, a software company's former outside director. Her work on residential mortgage-backed securities cases has resulted in what are expected to be game-changing, much-cited opinions for the industry. For example, she scored an early win for client MassMutual, which is seeking more than $1.5 billion from major banks and mortgage companies for alleged misrepresentations in RMBS sales, persuading a Massachusetts U.S. District Court to let the suits go forward despite dismissals of similar lawsuits brought by other plaintiffs.
Word that best describes you?
Loyal.
Toughest moment in law school or as a lawyer?
Defining my own path in law school after following in the footsteps of my identical twin sister, who was two years ahead of me.
Most interesting place you've traveled?
Uganda. I hiked to see the mountain gorillas. There are only 600 in the world.
What you'd do if you could take a year off?
Go to the Greek islands and write a novel.
Most unusual hobby you've ever had?
Collecting little dragon figurines called "Pocket Dragons."
Trial or deal you wish you could have worked on?
The Eisner v. Ovitz trial in Delaware — it created "the" law on fiduciary duties (and had some great personalities).
