Franklin Alumni Feature

Courtney Lotfi ‘02


Courtney in Salzburg, Austria

“Without sounding too cheesy, I think Franklin probably prepared me more for my career in law than most any place else - well, maybe with the exception of law school itself!” said Courtney.

With a B.A. in International Relations and minors in History and Economics in hand, Courtney left Lugano in 2002 to pursue a J.D. at Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York. After a few years of many exams and a lot of hard work Courtney landed a job that many Franklinites would envy. She now resides in Vienna, Austria and is an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, LLP, one of the world’s premier international law firms.

Courtney’s law practice focuses on international commercial arbitration. She spends her days resolving disputes between large multi-national corporations.  “My practice has focused mostly around large-scale construction disputes and those in the energy (oil and gas) sector.” Courtney enjoys the “hands-on” aspects of her work such as meeting with clients and witnesses and seeing arbitrations through to resolution. “It is a fast-paced and demanding environment that definitely has its rewards.”

Courtney praises her educational experience at Franklin: “I think the overall education at Franklin was second to none and encompassed so much more than just classroom learning. We learned how to pay attention and think, stand up for what’s right and to have enough self-confidence to be able to say ‘no’ to what’s wrong – these are invaluable skills.”

Many of the professors at Franklin had a profound impact on Courtney’s life and career; to this day Courtney still speaks of the enthusiasm that professors Parsons and McCormick brought to their classes “the enthusiasm was contagious – even at 8:30 in the morning!”
 
Like many Franklinites Courtney loves to travel and relishes the fact that her work has enabled her to travel to Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece and France in the last two years alone. When Courtney is not globetrotting or visiting friends from Franklin she enjoys horseback riding, reading and spending time with her family.

When asked to comment on her hopes and dreams for Franklin’s future Courtney said:  “I hope that Franklin continues to educate young men and women in the stellar manner that it has in the past, and that each and every student who enters the College’s doors is able to benefit from its uniqueness.”

September 2011