In 2022, she was named an In-House Leader in the Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
NEWTON, MA, July 17, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Karen Petrulakis has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Petrulakis is an experienced and tenured attorney who has been the general counsel at Wellesley College since 2017. In this esteemed role, she is the principal legal officer responsible for leading and shaping the institution's legal strategy with remarkable vision and leadership. Ms. Petrulakis truly embraces the unique experience of serving on the small liberal arts campus of a leading women's college, advising on many issues that often relate to current events.
During her tenure as general counsel at Wellesley, Ms. Petrulakis worked with other campus leaders to proactively improve student health services on campus. This included transitioning on-campus student health services to be provided under the Mass General Brigham and Newton-Wellesley brand, a transaction that was finalized just before the COVID-19 pandemic in January, 2020. This strategic move ensured that the campus was well-prepared to manage health care challenges during this critical time. Additionally, Ms. Petrulakis is an active member of Wellesley College's senior leadership team and works closely with the board of trustees, including staffing the governance and audit committees.
Ms. Petrulakis's expertise in complex litigation, labor and employment, and higher education law is widely recognized. Before her tenure at Wellesley College, she held several significant roles at the University of California. From 2013 to 2017, she was the chief deputy general counsel, following her role as the deputy general counsel for litigation, employment, and governance between 2012 and 2013 and deputy general counsel for litigation, labor, and employment from 2011 to 2012. Ms. Petrulakis's legal career also included positions as a partner at Crowell & Moring LLP and Folger, Levin & Kahn LLP, where she progressed from associate to partner.
In preparation for her career in law, Ms. Petrulakis received a Bachelor of Arts in history with high honors, Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Stanford Law School, where she also served as a notes editor for the Stanford Law Review and received the Hilmer Oehlman Award in Legal Writing.
Adding to her expertise, Ms. Petrulakis is a member of several industry-related organizations, including the State Bar of California and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar. Ms. Petrulakis is a past member of the Board of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, has co-chaired the College and University Law Section of the Boston Bar Association, and served on the Executive Committee of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of California.
Ms. Petrulakis's dedication to her profession has been recognized through numerous awards. In 2022, she was named an In-House Leader in the Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. In 2016, her University of California Regents team received the Legal Department of the Year Award for litigation from The Recorder. Additionally, Ms. Petrulakis was a finalist for Best Labor & Employment Lawyer at the Best Bay Area Corporate Counsel Awards in 2013. Inspired by her father's remarkable career as a lawyer in which he practiced law for 72 years, well into his 90's, Ms. Petrulakis aims to continue serving her clients and contributing to the success of their mission and goals for as long as possible. She envisions herself continuing to work in her field while setting a positive example for her two daughters.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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