Q&A: Dolgora Dorzhieva

POMERANTZ MONITOR | JULY AUGUST 2021

By The Editors

The Monitor recently spoke with Dolgora Dorzhieva, an associate in the firm’s securities litigation practice group.

Monitor: Could you tell us about your early years?

Dolgora Dorzhieva: I grew up in the city of Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, an ethnic republic in Eastern Siberia, Russia, near the border of Mongolia. Ulan-Ude is adjacent to Lake Baikal, the largest (by volume) and deepest lake in the world. I spent summers on my grandmother’s farm, in the remote village of Tashir. It had dirt roads, no internet, and often no electricity. At the age of 11, I herded sheep with German shepherd dogs, protecting the flock from wolves. I feel fortunate to have experienced what is now a disappearing lifestyle. My grandmother Vera taught school in the village. She and her sisters were orphaned during World War II. Vera managed to put herself and her two little sisters through school, starting when she was 11 and they were 5 and just under one year old. My Babula Vera was my academic inspiration and one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.

M: When did you decide to be a lawyer?

DD: I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was a little girl. In Russia, you cannot apply to law school by emailing documents remotely. You have to actually travel to each school, be interviewed, and take their exams. After graduating from high school with the gold medal (as class valedictorian), I convinced my mother to buy me a plane ticket to Moscow. I’d never been there, but somehow I got her to agree. All the law schools wanted money “under the table,” which I didn’t have, so I wasn’t accepted at any. I didn’t want to disappoint my family by coming back empty-handed. Having written articles for local newspapers, I opted for journalism.

M: Did you get a degree in journalism?

DD: No, following my fourth year (five being required for a degree), I came to New York as an exchange student on a J1 visa. Finding the freedom and opportunities in America irresistible, I stayed and eventually applied for political asylum. My four years of journalism have helped me as a lawyer. This job is as much about telling a story as journalism is.

M: What path led you to a career in securities fraud litigation?

DD: I took a “Complex Civil Litigation” class with Elizabeth Cabraser at Berkeley and she inspired me to pursue a career challenging the imbalance of power between average people, like you and me, and corporations.

M: What is the most intriguing issue that you have litigated so far?

DD: We have a case pending against Deutsche Bank, alleging that it violated its own Know Your Customer procedures when it onboarded and serviced Jeffrey Epstein. Unconscionably, Deutsche Bank knew that Epstein was using his accounts to further his crimes but failed to close them because he was so profitable for the bank.

M: What aspects of your work do you find most rewarding?

DD: As a plaintiffs’ securities litigator, it is rewarding to speak truth to power. I enjoy working with investigators and hearing the stories of confidential witnesses, which can be fascinating. The most rewarding aspect is the ability to solve someone’s problem and deliver a tangible result. I defeated a professional objector in a consumer fraud case and secured a favorable settlement in an individual employment case early in my career. I still have the text messages from the client in the employment case, who thanked me profusely. Those text messages remind me of why I became a lawyer. I also find it rewarding to pay it forward: I advise students from Berkeley on judicial clerkships.

M: A generation ago, women in law faced many challenges specific to their gender. As a member of a younger generation, how far do you think we have come, and how far do we still have to go?

DD: At Berkeley, I was fortunate to meet several women trailblazers who paved the way for my generation: Professor Eleanor Swift, Justice Maria P. Rivera of California’s Court of Appeal, Elizabeth Cabraser, and Professor Herma Hill Kay. In comparison with their struggles —and, thanks to them—young female lawyers now have a far easier path. We still have a long way to go, but I want to applaud my generation for being more assertive and open-minded about the role of women in law.

M: Have you faced special challenges in the United States as an Asian immigrant?

DD: Fortunately, I have not personally experienced direct racism here. In contrast, I was at university in Moscow during the war with Chechnya. There were skinhead gangs harassing and assaulting people like myself, on the streets and in the subway, who did not look Slavic like them. I had some frightening experiences. When I arrived in New York, it was a breath of fresh air. I love America and everything this country has bestowed on me. I came here alone, 21 years old, with limited English and a thousand dollars in my pocket. Hard work and perseverance helped me get this far; I don’t think that any other country in the world would allow an immigrant to do that. Two of my most exciting memories: the day I was accepted to Berkeley Law and the day I took the oath of allegiance as an American citizen.

M: What is your perspective on the American legal system?

DD: I think it’s one of the finest and certainly most sophisticated legal systems in the world. However, it has serious flaws, especially within the criminal justice system. Of course, the Russian legal system is notoriously corrupt. Not that the American legal system is perfect; however, many corrupt individuals do get caught and punished. The jury institution within the American legal system is the backbone of our democracy and our collective power as the People. American law is constantly evolving, allowing for a lifetime of learning.

M: What advice would you give to young women considering a career in law?

DD: The same advice I would give to young men: if you are not willing to work hard and make sacrifices in your personal life, this profession might not be for you. You should cultivate your organizational skills and attention to detail. To quote Hillary Clinton: “RTDD!” (Read the Damn Documents!) In other words, there are no shortcuts. Always remember: “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and that preparation is crucial.

M: What do you hope to achieve over the next decades?

DD: I want to learn the ins and outs of trials and become an excellent trial attorney. One day, I hope to look back on an exciting career in which I have helped others.

M: Outside of the office, what are your interests or hobbies?

DD: I love nature and spend what time I can hiking in New Jersey or relaxing on the beach, at Sandy Hook. I haven’t gone to the movies since the pandemic; I miss that. A professor at City College of New York showed us “12 Angry Men;” that led me to Turner Classic Movies. I only recently saw “The Wizard of Oz;” I loved it! Music has been a huge passion since I was a kid, from the Beatles to Billie Eilish, and I really enjoy the great American art form: jazz. Miles Davis’s “Sketches of Spain” was instrumental in me passing the bar.