#CovVeterans Spotlight Series: Gabe Gates, Liz Hall, and David Leapheart
November 16, 2020
Welcome Gabe Gates, Liz Hall, and David Leapheart who recently joined the firm as associates in the Washington office.
Gabe Gates recently received his law degree from Georgetown, where he was a member of The Georgetown Law Journal and Executive Editor of the Annual Review of Criminal Procedure. He was a summer associate at Covington in 2019. Prior to law school, Mr. Gates served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, most recently as an analyst with the Pentagon and Defense Intelligence Agency. He was the senior intelligence duty officer at Osan Air Base in South Korea from 2015 to 2016, deployed as part of a Joint Special Operations Task Force to Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015, and was a mission operations commander at Ramstein Air Base in Germany from 2013 to 2015. He received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University in 2007.
What was it about Covington that drew you to the firm?
Honestly, I was drawn to Covington for a lot of the same reasons I was drawn to the Air Force. From the start, it was clear that Covington is a firm with a leading reputation for excellence, integrity, and service to others. During the recruiting process, I detected a lot of values at Covington that are the hallmarks of military service, and I knew it would be a rewarding and meaningful place to practice law.
How has our Veterans Affinity Group contributed to your experience at Covington?
The Veterans Affinity Group has been enormously important to my integration at the firm. Transitioning out of the military is not easy, and the Veterans Affinity Group was a great resource for me as I navigated the adjustment. Plus, it is always nice to have a group of people that you can get together with and swap war stories that do not involve document review and filing deadlines.
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Liz Hall recently received her law degree from Berkeley, where she was a member of the Berkeley Journal of International Law. She was a summer associate at Covington in 2019. Prior to law school, Ms. Hall served eight years as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. As a naval aviator, she flew 1500+ hours as a weapons systems officer and flight instructor in the F-18 Super Hornet. She also served as an Ambassador for Women in Combat Aviation between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. Ms. Hall received her undergraduate degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2009.
What was it about Covington that drew you to the firm?
Every attorney I met was humble, professional, an expert at their craft, and made it clear there was no competition between colleagues. My entire professional life has been dedicated to the importance of team achievements over individual success; it was important for me to find that professional environment. I was quickly introduced to the extensive network of veterans at the firm, many of whom also made a major career transition from military to law. These connections also set Covington apart, and made me feel that this was a firm in which I could thrive.
What was a highlight for you from your summer with Covington?
Building strong connections with fellow Berkeley Law alumni, the veterans affinity group, and my summer classmates was the highlight of my summer. I developed great friends and mentors, and I'm thrilled to return as their colleague.
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David Leapheart recently completed a clerkship with Judge Raymond Kethledge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Ann Arbor, MI. From 2015 to 2019, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, most recently as a prosecutor. He received his law degree from NYU in 2014, where he was editor-in-chief of the New York University Law Review. Mr. Leapheart received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 2010.
Please describe your military service.
I joined the Marine Corps just before law school, when I went through Officer Candidates School in 2011. I joined as a "law contract," which meant that, after law school, I would be a Judge Advocate (what other services refer to as "JAG"). After Law School was on Active Duty from 2015-2019. My first billet was to provide civil legal assistance to Marines on base, then I transitioned to a deployment in Afghanistan. My final billet was as a prosecutor for misconduct at various commands around the country.
My time in Afghanistan was my highlight. I worked nonstop, but I was surrounded with an incredible, multidisciplinary group of professionals. Even when we disagreed, everyone was respectful and focused on our mission. The legal issues surrounding the rules of engagement were dynamic and difficult, so everyday held a new challenge. There are very few opportunities for young attorneys to advise clients on the law of war in real time. I was very fortunate to have had that opportunity.
What are you most looking forward to as you start practicing at Covington?
If I learned anything from my service, it's that the military's greatest asset is its people. Likewise, I'm looking forward to meeting and working with my colleagues here at Covington—getting to know them professionally and personally. I've certainly started doing that but I hope we can get back into the office soon so I can forge strong relationships. The more relationships I have, the more I can contribute.
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