Women’s History Month–Meet the Women of Becker: Jennifer Karnes
In honor of Women’s History Month, Becker is celebrating the incredible women whose expertise, leadership, and dedication elevate both our firm and the clients we serve. This year, we’re proud to highlight the achievements of longstanding women team members across various departments, recognizing their impact and contributions over the years.
Jennifer Karnes is a shareholder in Becker’s New York office and a member of the firm’s Litigation and Condo, Co-Op & HOA practice groups. Ms. Karnes primarily focuses her practice on complex commercial, cooperative/condominium, and general real estate-related litigation, in both federal and state trial and appellate courts. She also provides strategic legal guidance to cooperative and condominium boards as General Counsel. A former Brooklyn felony prosecutor and experienced litigator, Ms. Karnes is a zealous advocate for her clients, adept at handling a variety of complex litigation matters.
Q: What advice would you give young women considering a legal career?
A: I encourage students to make sure they truly want to practice law: look into internships or volunteer opportunities that provide insight into different areas of practice and help you understand what the profession entails. As a college student, I spent a summer and several breaks doing clerical work at the New York State Supreme Court. There, I met attorneys and judges who became mentors and encouraged me to pursue law school. The experience also confirmed that I was drawn to courtroom practice rather than transactional work.
For those interested in trial work, I would consider starting your career in public service. My time as a Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney provided true “trial by fire” training that continues to inform my approach to civil litigation.
Q: If you could have coffee with any woman from history, who would it be and what would you ask her?
A: My paternal grandmother, who was a ballet dancer and Broadway performer in the 1930s. I would love to ask what it was like to dance under the direction of George Balanchine, and to live in Manhattan in that era.
Q: How do you define success—both professionally and personally?
A: Professional success, to me, is not defined by a scoreboard of wins and losses, but by achieving the best results for clients in a smart, strategic way, earning their trust, and maintaining integrity and collegial relationships with opposing counsel. It is also about being a “go-to” colleague that other attorneys can rely on to help solve problems.
Personally, success means prioritizing family and close friendships, finding ways to give back, and carving out time for my passions outside of the law, like ballet, which help me show up to work as a happier person and more effective advocate.
Q: I am currently reading:
A: Betty by Tiffany McDaniel (One of the many from my always growing “to be read” shelf)
Q: If your life were a movie, what actress would play you?
A: If someone makes a film or television show that accurately captures the less glamorous realities of a litigator’s day—i.e. research, discovery, motion deadlines, and the steady flow of emails—I’ll revisit this question!
