Katherine McClung

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Member
Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC

Years in current role: 7

What is one legal issue or trend you’re keeping a close eye on this year?

I’m closely following the developments in federal discrimination law on gender identity and expression. The recent federal executive orders and guidance reflect a significant shift from the harassment guidance issued by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2024. These changes make it more challenging for employers to comply with both New York and federal law on this issue — including with respect to harassment training, bathroom usage and preferred pronouns and names for employees.

What skills do you think are most crucial for new attorneys entering the field today?

Analytical thinking and attention to detail are both critical skills for attorneys at all levels. The placement of a comma in a contract provision may significantly affect the meaning of the language. For new attorneys, I have found that the ones who are enthusiastic and proactive in their work are the likeliest to succeed in the legal field. Additionally, with the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence, new attorneys will likely be faced with unprecedented challenges throughout their careers. They may need to be flexible and willing to shift their practice over time as artificial intelligence supplements or replaces some of their work.

What’s your ideal way to spend a weekend in the Finger Lakes or Western New York?

My ideal weekend includes hiking with my dogs on the Crescent Trail or Turning Point Park Trail, shopping for great produce from the Rochester Public Market or the Brighton Farmers Market, picking up cupcakes from Resilience Bakery, kayaking on Canandaigua Lake, playing card games with my kids, and going out for dinner at Next Door with my husband.