Kisa Motiwala is an associate at Dowd Scheffel.  Ms. Motiwala works on and assists with all aspects of the Firm's legal practices.  She provides key support for legal research, managing discovery, drafting motions, and counseling clients.

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Ms. Motiwala earned her Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington University Law School, with a Concentration in Business & Finance Law.   Ms. Motiwala was the Managing Editor of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal, one of the nation's leading law journals on patent and other intellectual property issues.  Ms. Motiwala was also a Competition Chair for the Moot Court Board, the Vice President of the Mock Trial Board, a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and Vice President of the Anti-Corruption & Compliance Association.  

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Shortly after graduating from law school, Ms. Motiwala was an intern for the Office of White House Counsel, as part of The White House Internship Program.  As an intern, she conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on various issues for agencies’ and principals’ review, including Executive Branch Government Ethics and Gift rules, conflicts of law issues, the Presidential Records Act, religious liberty, the Establishment Clause, FOIA, and the scope of law enforcement power.  She also reviewed documents identified in response to FOIA requests for application of statutory exemptions, including attorney-client and attorney work product privilege.  She also conducted open-source background and case research to support review of clemency petitions. Additionally, Ms. Motiwala compiled summaries of daily news alerts relating to nominees and their confirmations in preparation for Senate hearings. 

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During law school, Ms. Motiwala was a student attorney at GW Law School's Criminal Appeals & Post-Conviction Services Clinic.  As part of that clinic, she drafted opening and reply briefs in criminal cases with issues ranging from the denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment to incorrect jury instructions related to flight.  She also analyzed appellate records, identified relevant facts and legal issues, and researched issues under Maryland state law.   Ms. Motiwala also argued before a three-judge panel of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals while a student attorney.

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Beyond that, Ms. Motiwala participated in the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s Student Honors Program and was a law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. She also interned at the State of Florida’s Office of the Attorney General.

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Prior to law school, Ms. Motiwala graduated from Florida Atlantic University and received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Criminal Justice, at the age of 17.

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*Ms. Motiwala has taken and passed the New York Bar Exam and is awaiting formal admission. Ms. Motiwala is not currently admitted to practice law.​