Alumni Spotlight: Kate Pytlewski
Name: Kate Pytlewski
Title: VP, Deputy General Counsel — EPAM Systems, Inc.
Firm Background: Associate, 2005-10; Corporate, Philadelphia
What have you been doing since departing the firm?
I was a corporate associate at the firm from 2005 until spring of 2010, when I went in-house at a publicly traded financial services company. I spent four years there, when I left to join EPAM Systems, Inc., a global IT services company. EPAM had only been publicly traded for two years at the time, and I was the third lawyer (and the first dedicated corporate lawyer) on the team. I am now VP, Deputy General Counsel, leading the corporate legal function. In my time at EPAM, I built a corporate legal team in the U.S. and Europe, led 40 M&A deals to closing, collaborated closely with our executive team and board of directors, managed corporate governance issues and matured the company’s governance profile.
What is the most challenging and/or most rewarding part of your work?
In-house work is often challenging due to limited resources (both personnel and budget), as well as the fast pace with which we have to give advice in real time. The variety of work is both the most challenging and the most rewarding aspect of what I do. Every day is a trip around the world for my team. And the last several years have been riddled with the unexpected and various global challenges. For example, prior to 2022, EPAM’s global footprint included significant operations in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, as the company employed tens of thousands of software engineers in the region. While the company had managed very well through the disruptions of COVID, the invasion by Russia into Ukraine was incredibly challenging. Our corporate legal team worked on winding down and ultimately selling the Russia operations, navigated a web of sanctions, coordinated humanitarian aid efforts, advised on immigration matters and anything else that came up. A lot of that is not what we do day in and day out, but we are always ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
What is your fondest memory/best experience/what do you miss about Faegre Drinker?
I came to Faegre Drinker from another big law firm in New York, where partners never came to associates’ offices, and everything had a formality to it that I thought was how all large firms were. Not so at Faegre Drinker! It was so unexpected, and so important, to be at a place where doors were always open and partners and senior associates were ready both to help me learn and to push me out of my own comfort zone. The people I worked with in my five years at Faegre Drinker really impacted my life, both personally and professionally. There are even a couple of partners’ voices that still sit on my shoulder to this day when I am trying to work out complicated issues. My fondest memories are of the bonds my colleagues and I made through late nights, intense work sessions and through our personal lives also, through weddings and kids and even just Friday “beer club” (IYKYK). I also valued the time I got to spend mentoring junior associates; that really prepared me for managing a team later in my career. On my very last day at Faegre Drinker, a partner told me I would always be welcome “home” at the firm, and I still smile when I think about that.
What would you change about the legal industry if you could?
I would like to see more widespread adoption of technology like AI to drive efficiency and take out the lower-value work that takes time. Lawyers are (understandably) afraid that technology like this would reduce appreciation for value-added, but I actually believe it is the opposite. It does not take a lawyer’s brain to quote or summarize; the value is from the application of that information to the issue at hand. There needs to be better training and tailored resources to create strong use cases of this kind of technology for legal professionals.
What are you reading/watching/listening to right now?
I am currently reading “Frozen River” by Arien Lawhon, a historical novel about a midwife set in late-1700s New England, for my neighborhood book club. I am watching a few different things right now — the final “Handmaid’s Tale” season, “The Last of Us” on Max, “The Studio” on AppleTV, and “Top Chef” and “The Amazing Race” for fun.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Like most working parents, my “free” time mostly goes to my family. My husband and I have teenage daughters involved in different activities, so we are usually on the soccer or lacrosse field, at a track meet, a volleyball game or a dance competition. I love to travel, eat great food, sample local breweries, and do hot yoga and other fitness activities. Trying to find time to do everything I want is the challenge!
What’s next for you personally or professionally?
I am really fulfilled professionally at EPAM. I manage a fantastic team and enjoy strong relationships with colleagues around the world, including our leadership team. I get to work on complex transactions and issues that challenge me intellectually. For 2025, I have given myself the development assignment to become a better AI user, so I am working on more frequent and better use of generative AI and developing my prompt engineering skills. Personally, I am creating a five-year travel plan and enjoying the time with my family before my kids head off to college in the coming years.
