Covington's Beth Brinkmann on Returning to Argue at SCOTUS

Covington's Beth Brinkmann on Returning to Argue at SCOTUS

August 26, 2019, The National Law Journal

Beth Brinkmann spoke with the National Law Journal and discussed her recent win at the Supreme Court, her former national appellate practice for the federal government, and the role of other women Supreme Court clerks as leaders at Covington.

Ms. Brinkmann marked her 25th argument before the Supreme Court with a win in a major patent case against the federal government. She noted that the Justices asked the most challenging questions and got to the heart of the case quickly. "It was the first time I had argued before the newer justices, but it still was familiar because I had worked with Justice Elena Kagan at DOJ and argued before Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was on the D.C. Circuit.” Ms. Brinkmann talked about her return to the Supreme Court lectern after having argued for 8 years as Deputy Assistant Attorney General on behalf of the federal government in high-profile appellate cases across the country.  She also discussed her involvement in the government's Supreme Court strategy and briefing during those years.

Ms. Brinkmann highlighted the outstanding women who argue at the Supreme Court. She noted that "they are stars at the top of the profession, regardless of gender. They are sure bets for private clients who are becoming increasingly aware of that.”  And she emphasized how other women who had shared her opportunities as a Supreme Court advocate or law clerk have risen to leadership roles throughout the legal profession. At Covington, Carolyn Corwin argued nine cases at the Supreme Court before coming to the firm as an early trailblazer, Emily Henn, former law clerk to Justice O'Connor, serves on the firm management committee, and Trisha Anderson, former law clerk to Justice Kagan, recently returned to the firm to focus on national security matters.