Michael R. Gotham
- Senior Director of Legal Talent
As the firm's Director of Attorney Recruiting and Retention, Mike Gotham oversees the recruitment of law students, lateral associates and counsel, as well as associate and counsel orientation, integration, evaluation, promotion and compensation.
This includes the firm's diversity and other 1L fellowship programs and the firm's summer associate program. Mike directs the annual evaluation and spring evaluation processes and facilitates the work of the firm's Associate & Counsel Evaluation Committee. Mike also is in charge of associate and counsel compensation for each of the firm's U.S. offices.
Mike has nearly 20 years of experience working with law students and law firm associates in the areas of career services, recruiting, diversity, evaluation, compensation and development. Prior to working in national law firms, Mike served as the director of career services and public service externships at the University of Washington, his alma mater, from 1995 to 2000.
Mike is a long-time and active member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), having served as president of NALP and on its board of directors for five years. He has chaired multiple sections, working groups and task forces. He is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Washington Law Review.
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, J.D., Editor-in-Chief, Washington Law Review, 1993
- Washington State University, B.A., English, summa cum laude
Related Employment
- Heller Ehrman LLP, San Francisco, CA, Attorney Recruiting, Director, 2006 - 2008
- Stoel Rives LLP, Seattle, WA, Lawyer Recruiting and Professional Development, Director, 2003 - 2005; Lawyer Recruiting and Professional Development, Manager, 2000 - 2003
- University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA, Career Planning and Public Service Center, Director, 1995 - 2000
- Garvey Schubert & Barer, Seattle, WA, Summer Associate, 1992; Associate, 1993 - 1995
Impact
Professional Leadership
- National Association for Law Placement, 1995 - present
Member, Ethics & Standards Advisory Group, 2014 – present
Member, Annual Education Conference Planning Committee, 2013 – 2014
Member, By-laws Task Force, 2010 – 2011
Immediate Past President, 2009 - 2010
President, 2008 - 2009
Member, Part V (timing guidelines) Task Force, 2007 - 2008
President-Elect, 2007 - 2008
Chair, 2006 Annual Education Conference Committee, 2005 - 2006
Recipient, NALP President’s Award, 2005
Member, Recruitment Practices Committee, 2004 - 2005
Member, 2005 - 2010 Long Range Strategic Planning Team, 2004
At-Large Director, Board of Directors, 2002 - 2004
Chair, Timing Guidelines Task Force, 2003 - 2004
Member, Educational Programming Advisory Council, 2001 - 2002
Chair, Public Service Committee, 2000 - 2001
Member, 2000–2005 Long Range Strategic Planning Team, 1999
West / Rocky Mountain Region Co-Chair, Public Service Committee, 1999 - 2000
West / Rocky Mountain Region Member, Nominating Committee, 1998 - 1999
West / Rocky Mountain Region Co-Chair
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Committee, 1998 - 1999
Professional Development Consortium, 2002 - 2005
- Member, Ethics & Standards Advisory Group, 2014 – present
- Member, Annual Education Conference Planning Committee, 2013 – 2014
- Member, By-laws Task Force, 2010 – 2011
- Immediate Past President, 2009 - 2010
- President, 2008 - 2009
- Member, Part V (timing guidelines) Task Force, 2007 - 2008
- President-Elect, 2007 - 2008
- Chair, 2006 Annual Education Conference Committee, 2005 - 2006
- Recipient, NALP President’s Award, 2005
- Member, Recruitment Practices Committee, 2004 - 2005
- Member, 2005 - 2010 Long Range Strategic Planning Team, 2004
- At-Large Director, Board of Directors, 2002 - 2004
- Chair, Timing Guidelines Task Force, 2003 - 2004
- Member, Educational Programming Advisory Council, 2001 - 2002
- Chair, Public Service Committee, 2000 - 2001
- Member, 2000–2005 Long Range Strategic Planning Team, 1999
- West / Rocky Mountain Region Co-Chair, Public Service Committee, 1999 - 2000
- West / Rocky Mountain Region Member, Nominating Committee, 1998 - 1999
- West / Rocky Mountain Region Co-Chair
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Committee, 1998 - 1999
- Professional Development Consortium, 2002 - 2005
- Seattle Area Legal Recruiting Administrators, 2000 - 2005; President, 2003
- University of Washington Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors, 2002 - 2008; President, 2005 - 2006
- King County Bar Association Ethnic Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee, 2004 - 2005
- Northwest Minority Job Fair Coordinating Committee, 1995 - 2002; Chair, 2000, 2001
- Puget Sound Area Minority Clerkship Program Coordinating Committee, 1995 - 2002; Chair, 2001, 2002
- Law School Admission Council, 1996 - 2000
- Education Committee, Washington State Access to Justice Board, 1996 - 2000
