Overview
Michelle Kallen, the former Solicitor General of Virginia, co-chairs Steptoe's Appeals and Advocacy practice. Building on her deep administrative law knowledge and her experience in both state and federal government, Michelle helps clients navigate complex matters before federal and state appellate courts. Leading companies in the technology, aerospace and defense, and transportation industries benefit from Michelle's unique insight into multistate and constitutional litigation matters, and award-winning appellate work.
Michelle regularly litigates matters in the US Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Virginia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Eastern District of Virginia, and other state and federal courts. Michelle also served as lead counsel in the Commonwealth's election matters and in litigation to certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution.
Michelle's past public service includes serving as Special Litigation Counsel in the US House of Representatives, where she successfully defended the House, House committees, and individual members in high-profile matters involving separation of powers and the scope of Congressional subpoenas.
Clients benefit from Michelle’s deep understanding of regulatory proceedings, knowledge of the inner workings of government and administrative agencies, and experience both defending and challenging regulatory actions. She uses this skillset to assist clients in strategically navigating litigation crises and controversial challenges at the intersection of law, law enforcement, and government regulation.
Michelle speaks regularly on a wide variety of topics including constitutional law, state and federal regulations, appellate cases, crypto currency, and equal rights. She maintains an active pro bono practice and is committed to serving her community. Michelle serves as a mentor for The Appellate Project and has litigated pro bono cases on behalf of the Center for Reproductive Rights. She is also a founding member of the Ad Idem Corporate Counsel Network, the Washington Area Women Trial Attorneys, and the Women Lawyers on Guard.
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- California
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- US District Court, Western District of Virginia
- US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- Hon. Jane Stranch, US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2010-2011
- J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School, 2010
- B.A., Stanford University, 2007
Representative Matters
*Includes representative matters handled before joining Steptoe.
- Representing Amazon in a successful Petition for Appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court in a dispute over whether Amazon Flex drivers are employees or independent contractors.
- Represented Custodia Bank in its lawsuit against the Federal Reserve for denial of a master account.
- Lead counsel in Virginia’s litigation to certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
- Represented multistate coalition supporting access to reproductive rights.
- Defended Virginia against challenges to COVID-19 related orders.
- Lead counsel defending Virginia in election matters.
Speaking Engagements
- Federal Bar Association, The End of the Chevron Doctrine, November 21, 2024
- Women’s White Collar Defense Association, The Ever-Shrinking Scope of Federal Fraud Statutes: Supreme Court Developments and the Road Ahead, October 2024
- Navigating a Post-Chevron World, The Ad Idem Network, August 13, 2024
- Unchained Podcast, August 13, 2024
- Decrypting Bank Charters in Crypto, Women in Crypto Podcast, July 16, 2024
- How I Lawyer Podcast, December 15, 2023
- Five Things All Trial Attorneys Should Know About Appeals to the Court of Appeals CLE, Fairfax Bar Association, November 30, 2023
- West Virginia v. EPA: EPA's Evaporating Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Implications for Federal and Virginia Environmental Programs, Virginia Bar Association Annual Meeting, January 19, 2023
- Crypto 101: Learning the Basics of Blockchain Technology and What It Means for Your Practice, The Ad
- Idem Network, October 13, 2022
- Advisory Opinions Podcast, “Is the ERA Part of the Constitution?" December 16, 2021
News & Publications
Client Alerts
The Trump Administration's AI Action Plan: Deregulation and Global Dominance
July 24, 2025
By: Christian M. Auty, Evan T. Abrams, Michelle Castaline, Tyler Evans, Elizabeth Goodwin, Michelle Kallen, William M. Keyser, Michele Nellenbach, Michel Paradis, Marlon Paz, Claire Rajan, Alexandra C. Scheibe, Christopher Suarez, Jack R. Hayes, Peyton Thomas, Ross Weingarten
Client Alerts
Supreme Court Limits Use of Universal Injunctions
June 27, 2025
By: Michelle Kallen, Shannen W. Coffin, Elyse D. Echtman, Karima Maloney, Tyler Evans, Mahogane Reed, Evelyn Hudson
Publications
Ore. Coinbase Case Charts New Path For State Crypto Suits
Law360
June 16, 2025
By: Michelle Kallen, Neel K. Chopra, Coy Garrison, Christopher R. Conte, Vito Arethusa
Client Alerts
March 18, 2025
By: Dwight J. Draughon, Jr., Michelle Kallen, Patrick F. Linehan, Karima Maloney, Ryan P. Poscablo, Alex Wolf, Brittney Denley, Lillian Stevens, Mahogane Reed
Client Alerts
January 24, 2025
By: Karima Maloney, Patrick F. Linehan, Lee Berger, Paul R. Hurst, Tyler Evans, Michelle Kallen, Joaquin Diaz
Blockchain Blog
Crypto Wine and Ill-Fitting Regulatory Bottles:
January 16, 2025
By: Michelle Kallen, Coy Garrison, Nathaniel Sans
Resources
Events
Webinars
Quarterly Investigations & Enforcement Update
April 24, 2025
Speakers: Jason Abel, Akita Adkins, Iris E. Bennett, Christopher R. Conte, Ryan Hayden, Michelle Kallen, Patrick F. Linehan, Michael Campion Miller, Zoe Osborne, Wendy Wysong
Webinars
DEI Doomsday? President Trump's DEI Executive Order
February 7, 2025
Speakers: Lee Berger, Tyler Evans, Michelle Kallen, Patrick F. Linehan, Karima Maloney
Webinars
Consumer Protection Regulation in 2025
December 11, 2024
Speakers: Akita Adkins, Daniel Blynn, Lee Berger, Eric Berman, Michelle Kallen, Benjamin M. Saul
Noteworthy
- Bloomberg Law, They’ve Got Next: State Attorneys General Practice, (2023)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Leaders in the Law, (2022)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Go to Lawyers - Appellate Law, (2023)
- The National Law Journal, DC Rising Star, (2022)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Leader of the Year, (2022)
- Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, (2022)
- National Association of Attorneys General, Best Brief Award, (2019, 2020)
- American Bar Association, On the Rise Award, (2019)
- Legal Aid Pro Bono Award, (2018)
Prior News & Publications:
- "A Look at 5 States’ News Data Privacy Laws," Law360, October 7, 2024
- "Despite Murthy Loss, State AGs Will Advance Theories of Standing," Bloomberg Law, July 8, 2024
- "Abortion Pill Case Spotlights How State AGs Can Play Pivotal Role," Bloomberg Law, April 18, 2024
- "The Equal Rights Amendment: Making our Union More Perfect," Harvard Law & Policy Review, March 30, 2023
- "In Toto" and "For Ever": Why States Cannot Rescind Ratification of Constitutional Amendments, UVA Journal of Law & Politics, 2023
- "Big Businesses Caught in the Crosshairs: Navigating the Rise in State AG Scrutiny," October 11, 2022
- "The Gender Gap Amongst Advocates in Virginia's Appellate Courts," Virginia Lawyer, 2022
- "Remembering the Ladies: Taking a Look at Some of Virginia’s Most Notable Female Leaders as Virginia Fights for Recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment," 24 Rich. Pub. Int. L. Rev. 119, 2021
- "The New Etiquette for Remote Hearings," Bloomberg Law, 2020
Professional Affiliations
- The American Law Institute
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- The Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court
- ERA Coalition Advisory Council, (2022–Present)
- John Marshall Inn of Court, (2019-2021)
- Co-Founder, Ad Idem Network, (2021-Present)
- Director, Women Lawyers on Guard, (2017-Present)
- Co-Founder, Washington Area Women Trial Attorneys, (2019-Present)
- Women's Bar Association, Board Member, (2017-2019); Co-Chair of the Amicus Committee, 2017; Co-Chair of the Career Development Committee, (2017)
- DC Bar Law Practice Management Community, Chair of the Leadership and Professional Development Committee, (2017-2019)