Internationally Recognized Business Lawyer, Karen A. Monroe, Joins Phillips Nizer LLP
10/16/2019Ms. Monroe will be based in Phillips Nizer’s New York City office and new branch office in Geneva, Switzerland.
Expanding its international platform for advising clients on cross-border matters, Phillips Nizer LLP has added Karen A. Monroe as partner. Ms. Monroe will continue her practice as an international business lawyer focusing on corporate, commercial, tax, and intellectual property law, with an emphasis on cross-border legal matters among the U.S., Switzerland, and Europe.
Ms. Monroe has spent the last 20 years of her career working in Geneva, Switzerland, and has spent her entire career solving multi-jurisdictional legal issues. In particular, she helps Swiss companies in the U.S., and U.S. companies in Switzerland solve legal issues and expand their businesses. She also assists dual U.S./Swiss nationals and other countries’ dual nationals resolve legal issues relating to tax, real estate, and estate planning. Ms. Monroe is a dual U.S. and Swiss national and speaks and works daily in English and French. Ms. Monroe is from New York City and admitted to the New York State bar. She will split her time between the New York and Geneva, Switzerland offices.
Her clients include individuals, start-ups, and multinationals across a variety of market sectors, including MedTech, robotics, biotech, life sciences, food and beverages, software, telecommunications, luxury goods, manufacturing, and entertainment. Her cross-border legal practice has touched jurisdictions around the world including the U.S., Switzerland, China, Russia, Japan, Moldova, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Latin America.
“We are very pleased to welcome Karen to Phillips Nizer. Her extensive international and cross-border experience make her a great fit for our firm and our clients will greatly benefit from our expanded global platform. With her deep knowledge of international legal issues, Karen will provide added depth to Phillips Nizer’s international practice, and leading IP practice, which has been recognized for its strong work in fashion, retail and entertainment, and tax practices,” said Phillips Nizer Managing Partner Marc Landis.
“Intellectual property has become a truly global issue, as clients continue to find new ways to unlock value. Karen’s detailed experience handling cross-border IP and her knowledge of Europe make her a strong addition to our team as we focus on growing our intellectual property capabilities,” said Monica McCabe, Chair of Phillips Nizer’s Intellectual Property Practice Group.
“I have known the firm and some of its lawyers for many years. Phillips Nizer has a reputation for excellence in a wide range of areas where cross-border issues are important. The firm’s strength in areas of growth in Europe, and its longstanding reputation as a top firm in industries such as entertainment, luxury goods and retail, will be a perfect complement to my work and client base,” said Ms. Monroe.
Ms. Monroe is immediate past president of the Foreign Lawyers Section of the Geneva Bar Association, a position she held for five years. She also served for four years as legal counsel to Democrats Abroad-Switzerland. She currently serves as outside general counsel and as a member of the board of directors of Swiss and U.S. for-profit and not-for-profit companies.
She regularly speaks at conferences and universities on cross-border legal issues, including teaching MBA-level courses on U.S. contract law and U.S. intellectual property law each year at the University of St. Gallen, the leading business university in Switzerland. She is the author of numerous articles on cross-border legal issues and is an active member of the International Bar Association.
Prior to joining Phillips Nizer and for the last 15 years, Ms. Monroe was a partner with Wilk Auslander LLP, managing the firm’s Geneva office.
Ms. Monroe received her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law and her B.A. in political science and French literature from Binghamton University.