Lorraine McGowen facts for kids
Lorraine S. McGowen is an American lawyer. She is a top lawyer at the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in New York. She helps companies and groups of people who have loaned money to businesses that are having financial trouble. Her job is to help these businesses get back on track or help the lenders get their money back. She also works with people who want to buy companies that are struggling. McGowen is a special member of the American Bar Foundation.
Education
McGowen studied at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She earned a degree in foreign service. Later, she got her law degree from Columbia Law School.
Career
McGowen joined Orrick in May 1993. She became a partner in January 1996. Since then, she has helped banks and groups of lenders from around the world. She helps them get their money back or reduce their financial risks. She creates plans for solving problems, sometimes through talks and sometimes in court. She also helps companies create plans to reorganize their finances.
McGowen has worked on many big cases where companies needed financial help. Some of these include the Indiana Toll Road, Puerto Rico, South Bay Expressway, Lehman Brothers, and Tronox. She also helps lead Orrick's team that focuses on car technology. She is part of the group that helps manage the law firm.
She was the main lawyer helping Toyota and its related companies. This was during the worldwide financial reorganization of Takata Corporation, a company that makes car parts.
Helping Others in Law
Lorraine McGowen is part of several groups that help lawyers and the legal field.
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- American Bar Association
- New York City Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar
- Direct Women – This group works to have more women lawyers on company boards.
She also serves on the boards of different organizations. These include the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. She is also on the board for the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession. McGowen is on the Board of Legal Advisers for Legal Outreach. This is a program that helps students from New York City neighborhoods go to college. She also helps lead Orrick's efforts to support diversity and inclusion.
Awards and Honors
McGowen has received several awards for her work.
- She won the MCCA Rainmakers Award in 2019.
- She is a special member of the American Bar Foundation.
- Savoy magazine named her among the Most Influential Black Lawyers in 2015 and 2018.
- She received Legal Outreach's Pipeline to Diversity Champion Award in 2017.
- IFLR1000 Rankings listed her as a top lawyer in the United States for restructuring and insolvency.
Personal Life
McGowen lives in New Jersey with her husband, Gailon. They have four children.
