Neal Katyal is a renowned lawyer with a strong background in litigation and constitutional law. He has fought many significant cases before the Supreme Court, showcasing his excellent advocacy skills.
With his persuasive arguments and sharp intellect, he has influenced many key decisions in high-profile cases. In addition to his legal work, Katyal is also an active commentator and writer. If you are eager to learn more about him, we suggest you give this post a read.
Early Life
Neal Katyal was born on 12th March 1970, in Chicago, Illinois, to Indian immigrant parents. His father, Surendra was an engineer, while his mother, Pratibha, worked as a paediatrician. Katyal lost his father in 2005. He has a sister, Sonia, who is also a lawyer like him and teaches at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
As far as Katyal’s education is concerned, he attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, and completed his graduation in 1991 from Dartmouth College. During his time in the college, he was a part of Phi Beta Kappa, the Dartmouth Forensic Union, and the Sigma Nu fraternity.
After Dartmouth, Katyal went to Yale Law School, where he served as an editor for the Yale Law Journal. During his time at Yale Law School, he studied under professors Bruce Ackerman and Akhil Amar. He co-authored articles in political and law journals from 1995-1996.
After earning his J.D. in 1995, Katyal started working as a clerk for Judge Guido Calabresi in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Later he clerked at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Stephen Breyer.
Career
Neal Katyal’s professional career started when President Bill Clinton asked him to draft a report for more pro bono legal work. Following that, he created special counsel regulations that influenced the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Katyal also represented Vice President Al Gore in Bush v. Gore and the deans of major law schools in Grutter v. Bollinger.
During his time at the Justice Department, Katyal argued several key Supreme Court cases, including defending the Affordable Care Act, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was the only Solicitor General to argue before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. After his tenure, Katyal returned to Georgetown University Law Center and joined Hogan Lovells, where he focused on national and constitutional security law.
In 2015, he secured a cameo on “House of Cards” and was named Grand Prize Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer. In 2022, he argued before the Supreme Court in Moore v. Harper and supported the rejection of the independent state legislature theory.
Personal Life
Neal Katyal is a married man. His wife is Joanna Rosen, who works as a physician and his brother-in-law Jeffrey Rosen is the CEO and president of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Katyal’s sister, Sonia, is a prominent law professor and also the co-director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology at UC Berkeley.
In 2023, Katyal attended the Burning Man festival, where heavy rains led to severe flash flooding. To escape the festival, he had to hike several miles through the muddy terrain. He described the experience as extremely harrowing.
Net Worth
Neal Katyal has made a significant impact in both the legal and media fields. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be around $5 million, which reflects his financial success. As a well-known lawyer and former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, Katyal has built a massive wealth for himself. Not to forget, his smart investments and business ventures also contribute to his wealth.
