Ms. Ludmerer is counsel in Davis Polk & Wardwell’s Litigation Department. Since joining Davis Polk in 1982, she has had extensive experience in securities fraud, contract disputes, RICO, legal malpractice and other commercial litigation in both the federal and New York State courts, has conducted internal investigations, and has represented individuals and entities in both SEC and federal grand jury investigations.

Her recent representations include defending a major telecommunications company in class action litigation; defending a large Midwestern utility in a securities fraud class action; and defending a major Italian bank in a securities fraud class action and related litigation.

In her pro bono practice, she has been co-counsel in a landmark lawsuit brought on behalf of prisoners with mental illness throughout the New York State prison system (for which work the firm was awarded the Legal Aid Society’s 2007 Pro Bono Publico Award), and has represented WE CAN, a non-profit homeless advocacy organization; FAMILIES FIRST, a non-profit child care center; and individual  pro bono clients in immigration, divorce and other proceedings. She has for years been a mentor in firm-sponsored alliances with New York City public high schools and also serves twice a month as arbitrator in small claims court in Kings County.

In 2008, Ms. Ludmerer was appointed to the Disciplinary Committee of the New York State Supreme Court, First Department (covering Manhattan and Bronx counties). The Disciplinary Committee sits as a first-level trial court to hear complaints brought against members of the Bar by the Office of Chief Counsel and, where appropriate, recommends disciplinary action to the Appellate Division. The Committee also may act as a first-tier appellate court to review disciplinary recommendations.

Ms. Ludmerer graduated, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973, received an M.A. from the University of Rochester in 1977, was a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow in the General Counsel’s Office in 1979, and in 1980 received her J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, where she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Law. She is admitted to the bars of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

She is the author of articles on legal topics in The American Lawyer, The Journal of Medical Ethics (London), and Vogue Magazine, and of fiction in The Kenyon Review, Cimarron Review and numerous other literary journals. Ms. Ludmerer is a trustee of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism (Synagogue).