Kristin Graham Koehler ’94

Kristen Graham Kohler, a native of Saratoga County, New York, is the youngest of six children. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 1991 with a degree in political science and a minor in legal studies, initially intending to pursue a career in politics. She chose the University at Buffalo School of Law for its affordability and proximity. Her involvement in student government soon revealed her preference for practicing law over political maneuvering.

While at UB law, Kohler met her husband, Dave, and developed lasting friendships with her classmates. She honed foundational skills in advanced legal research and writing through specialized classes and her intensive work on the Buffalo Law Review, where she served as an executive editor alongside her future husband. She also competed on the school's trial team and gained valuable experience as a law admissions office employee.

In law school, Kohler interned for Judge Vincent Doyle and worked as a summer associate at Phillips Lytle. After graduation, Kohler clerked for Hon. David G. Larimer, Chief Judge, Western District of New York, for three years. This clerkship exposed her to a high-profile commercial docket, providing her with firsthand insight into judicial decision-making.

Her career path shifted unexpectedly when her husband's law firm asked him to relocate to Washington, D.C., with just 12 hours' notice. Kohler navigated the competitive D.C. legal market through relentless networking, aided by introductions from Judge Larimer, leading her to a job at Sidley Austin in 1999.

Although the transition to a large, elite firm was daunting, Kohler quickly found that her UB law training had prepared her well. She experimented with appellate, civil, and criminal litigation before gravitating to white-collar criminal defense. Her skills in criminal law and the trial team proved invaluable.

Kohler rose steadily at Sidley Austin, serving on the firm's executive committee for a decade. In 2019, she became the first woman managing partner of Sidley's Washington, D.C., office and joined the firm's global management committee in 2024.