Women’s History Month Spotlight Series: Susana Gutiérrez

As part of our Women’s History Month celebration, we’ve asked our colleagues to reflect on the significance of this month.

Cleary Gottlieb associate Susana Gutiérrez shares some of her thoughts below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Cleary.

I am a second-year associate in the Latin America group. My practice focuses on cross-border corporate and financial transactions, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Although the first female law student in the United States matriculated in the late nineteenth century, most elite universities and law schools only began offering admission to women in the 1960s and 1970s.

Despite having only 50 to 60 years of meaningful access to higher education and full participation in the economy, women in the United States have soared. Women now make up nearly 60% of enrolled law students and an increasing number of attorneys in elite spaces, including law firm partnership and senior government roles. Women’s collective tenacity in the face of persistent sexism and the unique responsibilities of motherhood and caretaking has inspired me beyond words.

I am the first woman in my lineage who had the opportunity to obtain a professional degree, to practice as an attorney, to live and work in New York City. I am also among the 2-3% of attorneys in the United States who is a Latina woman.

Cleary has given me a unique opportunity to practice with a high degree of intellectual rigor and substantive responsibility and to connect with clients across borders. Our Firm’s excellent pro bono practice has enabled me to spend hundreds of hours working with women and girls who are survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. I am indebted to the excellent women lawyers at the firm and beyond who have mentored and supervised me, as well as to those who came before me.

Women’s History Month asks: what are we capable of accomplishing when barriers are removed? Women responded: anything!

Are there any women leaders, activists, writers/artists, professionals, or family members who have inspired you?

I am especially grateful to my mother, who raised me and set an example as an exceptionally hardworking career woman all my life, and to my grandmothers, who took care of me as a young child to enable my parents’ careers. I am thankful to Chantal Kordula, with whom I worked closely last year and who has made a great effort to mentor and uplift rising female lawyers in the industry. 

The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of their employer/firm. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.