Aileen represents clients in high-stakes appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court and appellate courts throughout the country, with a particular focus on federal and state appellate courts in California. Aileen has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and has first-chaired a number of other U.S. Supreme Court representations. Aileen has also argued multiple appeals in the 9th Circuit and California Courts of Appeal as well as dozens of dispositive motions in California federal and state trial courts. She is a Chambers-recognized California appellate expert and has been recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” in the Supreme Court and appellate field by The Legal 500.

Aileen has particular experience and expertise in constitutional and civil rights issues, consumer protection cases, class actions, labor and employment matters, state and local government litigation, and state and federal administrative proceedings. In addition to her appellate work, Aileen frequently works with clients at the trial court level. She is known as a creative problem-solver and high-level strategist, and often works with trial teams to solve complicated legal problems or to draft and argue high-profile motions.

Prior to joining Akin, Aileen served as co-chief of appellate litigation in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. She began her tenure at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office in 2012 as Deputy City Attorney on the Complex and Affirmative Litigation team. During her time at the City Attorney’s Office, she served as lead counsel for San Francisco in a variety of matters at both the trial and appellate level, in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Earlier in her career, Aileen served as a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Michael Boudin of the U.S. Court Appeals for the 1st Circuit. She also worked as a chambers attorney on the California Supreme Court for Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar.

Aileen received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where she was awarded the Sears Prize, given to the top two students in a class, and was president of the Harvard Law Review. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Columbia University.