Carolyn is a trial lawyer focusing on commercial and employment disputes. Carolyn was declared by American Lawyer Media to be one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in Pennsylvania and was described in that article as "one of the most feared civil defense lawyers, especially in employment law." She was featured in Forbes Magazine as one of the most sought-after civil defense lawyers in Philadelphia.
Carolyn has extensive experience in defending Federal and State Class action matters, including Employment Discrimination, Anti-Trust, Securities Fraud, Medical Device cases, and various commercial class matters. Carolyn also has extensive experience in the defense of Civil Rights Class claims.
Not only has Carolyn enjoyed great success in court on behalf of her clients, she has also successfully represented numerous clients in preliminary injunction matters and commercial negotiations in order to avoid trial. And, in addition to these traditional litigation skills, Carolyn also regularly represents large corporations and smaller companies in Board issues, including confidential investigations and advising on Board actions.
She is frequently consulted as an expert on various aspects of complex litigation from jury selection techniques to cross examination and effectiveness in closing arguments. She has served as a jury selection expert in a massive toxic tort matter and has both served as an expert in the conduct of workplace discrimination investigations and advised clients with respect to such investigations. She also serves as a mediator in employment discrimination lawsuits.
In recognition of her distinguished record as a trial lawyer, she has been called upon by high state officials to handle and try major pieces of sensitive and high profile litigation. These cases involved novel constitutional questions and have required extensive litigation of complex evidentiary issues.
In January 2005, senior Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter asked Carolyn to serve as General Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Senator Specter was Chairman for the Supreme Court nominations hearings of both Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Alito. In addition to these nominations hearings, Carolyn advised Senator Specter on class action litigation reform, bankruptcy reform, asbestos reform, Reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act, Data Privacy and Protection legislation, Department of Justice Reauthorization legislation, Cameras in the Courtroom legislation, Reporter’s Privilege legislation, the National Security Agency Terrorist Surveillance Program legislation, investigations into secret government programs, terrorist detainee legislation, and much more. She returned to Reed Smith in March 2006 with a keen awareness of the government process and how legislation is enacted.
