Kathryn Ruemmler

Kathryn Ruemmler
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Name	Kathryn Ruemmler
Birth date	6 February 1971
Birth place	Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Education	Gonzaga University (BA), Georgetown University Law Center (JD)
Occupation	Lawyer, corporate executive
Title	Chief Legal Officer, Goldman Sachs, Former White House Counsel

Kathryn Ruemmler is an American lawyer and corporate executive who served as the White House Counsel to President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014. She was the first woman to hold the position on a permanent basis. Following her government service, she entered private practice at the law firm Latham & Watkins before being appointed Chief Legal Officer of the global investment bank Goldman Sachs in 2021.

Early life and education

Kathryn Ruemmler was born in Spokane, Washington, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. She completed her undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University, a Jesuit institution, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then attended law school at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., graduating with a Juris Doctor degree. During her time at Georgetown University Law Center, she served as an editor for the Georgetown Law Journal, a prestigious legal publication.

Legal career

Ruemmler began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Timothy K. Lewis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She then joined the United States Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section, which handles cases of corruption and election crimes. Her work there included serving on the prosecution team for the high-profile Enron scandal, specifically in the trial of former Enron executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. Following her tenure at the Justice Department, she became a partner at the international law firm Latham & Watkins, specializing in white-collar defense and government investigations.

White House Counsel

In 2009, Ruemmler joined the Obama administration as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice. She was later appointed Deputy White House Counsel, serving under Bob Bauer. In June 2011, President Barack Obama named her to succeed Bauer as White House Counsel, making her the first woman to hold the role permanently. As Counsel, she was the chief legal advisor to the President and the Executive Office of the President, overseeing a wide range of legal and constitutional issues. Her tenure spanned significant events, including the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, the response to the Benghazi attack, and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Private practice and corporate roles

After leaving the White House in 2014, Ruemmler returned to Latham & Watkins as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office, co-chairing its Government Investigations and White-Collar Defense practice. Her client work involved advising major corporations and individuals in complex matters before the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Congress. In a major career shift, she was appointed Chief Legal Officer of Goldman Sachs in 2021, joining the firm's Management Committee and overseeing its global legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs. This role places her at the helm of legal strategy for one of the world's preeminent financial institutions, navigating an environment of intense regulatory scrutiny from bodies like the Federal Reserve and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Personal life

Ruemmler maintains a private personal life. She is known to be an avid runner and has participated in several marathons. Her professional achievements have been recognized by various legal publications, including consistent inclusion in lists such as those by The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal.

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:American lawyers Category:White House Counsels Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:People from Spokane, Washington