About
Decades of Legal Excellence
A legacy-forward firm profile emphasizing partner leadership, governance discipline, and confidentiality. Every engagement is designed to withstand scrutiny—regulatory, shareholder, and adversarial.
Firm Positioning
Authority
Board-ready counsel
Security
Confidential workflow
Execution
Decision discipline
History
Firm Timeline
Founded on Confidential Counsel
1996
The firm began as a transaction-focused practice built around disciplined disclosure, board-ready decision memos, and controlled workstreams.
Public Company Governance
2004
Expanded into securities and governance advisory as clients faced heightened scrutiny and litigation risk.
Complex Litigation Bench
2012
Established a trial-ready litigation group for disputes where the business outcome is the only acceptable metric.
Cybersecurity & Incident Counsel
2020
Integrated privilege-first incident response and regulator-ready documentation workflows.
Partners
Senior Leadership
Executive partner profiles with credentials and direct contact cards.
Catherine Hawthorne
Managing Partner
Corporate M&A, Governance
J.D., Columbia Law School • Former SEC Counsel
c.hawthorne@hawthornevale.test
Julian Vale
Partner
Complex Litigation
J.D., University of Chicago • Federal Clerkship
j.vale@hawthornevale.test
Amara Sinclair
Partner
Privacy & Cybersecurity
J.D., NYU • Former Incident Response Counsel
a.sinclair@hawthornevale.test
Daniel Mercer
Partner
Executive Employment
J.D., Georgetown • Mobility & Incentives
d.mercer@hawthornevale.test
Global Offices
New York
Confidential client meeting facilities and secure document handling.
Washington, D.C.
Confidential client meeting facilities and secure document handling.
London
Confidential client meeting facilities and secure document handling.