Kara represents clients in civil litigation and appeals across the United States in a wide range of matters, focusing her practice on Civil Rights, Title IX and Title VII sex discrimination matters, Defamation and Business Litigation. Kara has been praised by clients as a tireless advocate who possesses a keen understanding of the challenges that individual clients face when navigating complex, emotionally fraught legal proceedings.

Kara counsels students and faculty involved in Title IX disciplinary proceedings at academic institutions nationwide at all stages of the process including, when necessary, the filing of litigation to protect client rights. Kara has achieved significant outcomes in a number of Title IX actions involving novel and complex legal issues, ultimately leading to the successful resolution of her client’s claims. 

Kara also represents employees, officers and directors in matters involving sexual harassment, gender and age discrimination in the workplace, helping them chart the best course for their cases both before and after a lawsuit has been filed. 

Kara also represents individuals who have been defamed in the media and online. Her representation includes in depth, pre-litigation analysis of relevant First Amendment issues and the navigation, and applicability, of state Anti-SLAPP statutes. 

Kara represents corporate clients, from family-owned businesses to publicly held companies, in commercial contract disputes, fraudulent conveyance actions, partnership disputes and commercial real estate litigation. She frequently assists clients in resolving disputes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education

  • Hofstra University School of Law, J.D.; managing editor of staff, Hofstra Law Review
  • College of the Holy Cross, B.A.

Admissions

  • States
  • New York
  • Courts
  • U.S. District Court – Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court – Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court District of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • New York City Bar Association
  • Selected to the New York Rising Star Super Lawyers list (2012-2015)
  • Recipient, Legal Aid Society’s Supreme Court Practice Pro Bono Award (2004)
  • Recipient, Winston & Strawn’s Pro Bono Commitment to Service Award (2004)
  • Volunteer, Safe Horizon Counseling Center
  • Former member, New York City Bar Association’s Federal Courts Committee

 

Norris v. University of Colorado, Boulder, 362 F. Supp. 3d 1001 (D. Colo. 2019) – Representation of male student against state university, defeating a motion to dismiss the student’s Title IX sex discrimination and Fourteenth Amendment due process claims. The case settled shortly thereafter.

Doe v. Grinnell College, 473 F. Supp. 3d 909 (S.D. Iowa 2019) – Representation of male student expelled from Grinnell College, most notably defeating the College’s summary judgment motion with respect to the student’s Title IX claim in the first case permitted to proceed to trial on an “erroneous outcome” theory of liability. The case settled shortly thereafter.

Fairstein v. Netflix, Inc., Case No. 20-cv-8042, 2021 WL 3501527 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2021) – Representation of well known author, attorney and former prosecutor in defamation lawsuit against online streaming service and co-writers of a popular film series, most notably defeating a motion to dismiss a number of critical scenes in the film series. The litigation continues.

Moe v. Grinnell College, Case No. 20-cv-00058 (S.D. Iowa) – Representation of male student expelled from Grinnell College in Title IX sex discrimination lawsuit, first defeating the College’s motion to dismiss the Title IX claim, addressing the novel issue of whether the “cat’s paw” theory of liability applied. The Court later denied the College’s summary judgment motion and allowed the student’s Title IX and breach of contract claims to proceed to trial. The case settled shortly thereafter. 

*Teamwikit, Inc. v. Douglas, No. CV-001595-16/NY, 53 Misc. 3d 1214(A) (Civ. Ct. 2016) – Defended individual employee of web developer in litigation brought by technology start-up company, securing early dismissal of causes of action alleging fraudulent inducement, deceptive practices and false advertising. 

*Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc. v. Whitefox Technologies USA, Inc., Case No. 600070/2009, 2013 WL 1455930 (Sup. Ct. New York County Apr. 4, 2013) – Member of trial team representing bioethanol manufacturer that secured jury verdict of over $23 million against manufacturer of ethanol dehydration equipment due to manufacturer’s fraudulent misrepresentations about its equipment.

News

*Prior to Nesenoff & Miltenberg