Roberta Kaplan

Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan is a lawyer who works for the law offices of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. She currently represents Edith Windsor, a widow forced to pay $363,000 in federal estate tax, in a case challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"), the statute that defines marriage for federal purposes as between one man and one woman. She argued that case,, before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.

Early education and background
Roberta Kaplan graduated magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University in 1988, and went on to receive her Juris doctorate from Columbia Law School in 1991.

While serving as a senior law clerk to then Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, Kaplan assisted Judge Kaye in connection with a number of articles, including State Courts at the Dawn of a New Century: Common Law Courts Reading Statutes and Constitutions, 70 NYU L Rev 1-35 (April 1995). She also clerked for Judge Mark L. Wolf of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Legal carrer
Kaplan has represented clients such as Fitch Ratings, JPMorgan Chase in matters involving mortgage-backed securities, structured finance transactions, and credit rating opinions. She also served as lead trial counsel representing California following the bankruptcy of Pacific Gas & Electric Company resulting from the California energy crisis in 2001.

She has argued the case challenging the inability of same-sex couples to marry in New York before the New York Court of Appeals in 2006. Robbie currently represents Edith Windsor which is currently before the Supreme Court.

Kaplan's legal work has been honored by a number of organizations, including the New York City Council, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the National Organization for Women.

Work outside of legal representation
Kaplan currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Gay Men's Health Crisis. She recently served on New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman's Task Force on Commercial Litigation in the 21st Century and was chosen by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to serve on his Transition Committee.

She has published on a variety of legal topics, including the chapter, "Investigating the Case" in Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, as well as the chapter, "Interplay Between Commercial Litigation and Criminal Proceedings" in Commercial Litigation in the Federal Circuit Courts.

In 2011, she was honored as the distinguished alumna of the year by the Columbia Law School Women's Association. She has also received the New York County Lawyers' Association's William Nelson Cromwell Award.

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