Angela Liu ’09 is a securities litigation partner in Dechert’s litigation practice group, where she focuses on securities class actions, derivative suits, M&A litigation, investigations, and corporate governance disputes.
In addition to her work at Dechert, Liu has participated in high impact pro bono cases and has worked with the ACLU Voting Rights Project to challenge restrictive voting laws in Wisconsin, Kansas, and Tennessee. She has also addressed the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva and human rights mission in the Balkans with the Advocates for Human Rights.
She recently took time to answer a few questions about her career and giving back to Carolina Law with both financial support and her time.
What has been your legal journey since graduating from Carolina Law?
After graduating from Carolina Law, I clerked for the Honorable John R. Gibson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. I then went to work at an international law firm and later helped to open the Chicago office of Dechert LLP, where I am currently a partner.
How did Carolina Law prepare you for your career?
Through education and problem solving skills that I received in law school, I became empowered in a way I never imagined possible. By seeing various professors and alums, I also realized that being a lawyer is not a one-size-fits-all career. I also think that Carolina Law also made me a well-rounded person and instilled an awareness for public service in everything we do.
You have been a leadership donor for a long time and serve on the Law Foundation Board. Why is it important for you to be involved with the board and financially give back to the school?
It has been important to me to give back to uphold the reputation of our degree and law school. I also believe we bear the responsibility to lead by example, break ceilings for others, and promote access to and innovation at the university.
When you think about the future of Carolina Law, how do you plan your philanthropic support? Do you set goals and if so, what is your blueprint for meeting those goals?
I’ve supported the Law School since graduating. I made goals to increase my giving in increments throughout the years. Now, each year, my husband and I discuss and set our priorities for giving in advance of the year with a focus on access to education. Giving to the law school continues to dovetail nicely into that greater vision.
