Katya Jestin Discusses Relationship Building and Her Path to Law in ABA Journal

In a recent "My Path to Law" profile, Partner Katya Jestin shares the experiences that shaped her career, from prosecuting the Mafia as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, to running a busy white collar defense practice, to representing Guantánamo Bay high-value detainee Majid Khan in a pro bono matter.

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Before joining Jenner & Block in 2007, Katya spent more than six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, where she tried complex organized crime cases including convicting Peter Gotti and 16 co-defendants for racketeering and other violations. Shortly after joining the firm, she took on the pro bono representation of Khan, who, in 2023, was the first and only high-value detainee to be transferred out of GTMO.

Growing up watching her attorney mother fight to preserve a historic Dallas neighborhood, and later spending decades as a criminal lawyer on both sides of the “v,”  Katya carries a philosophy that continues to guide her work.

"Kindness and humility - really trying to create connections - is an important part of practice. And none of that is incompatible with being tough and unrelenting when a case demands it."

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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Katya Jestin Discusses Relationship Building and Her Path to Law in ABA Journal

In a recent "My Path to Law" profile, Partner Katya Jestin shares the experiences that shaped her career, from prosecuting the Mafia as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, to running a busy white collar defense practice, to representing Guantánamo Bay high-value detainee Majid Khan in a pro bono matter.

Read More

Before joining Jenner & Block in 2007, Katya spent more than six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, where she tried complex organized crime cases including convicting Peter Gotti and 16 co-defendants for racketeering and other violations. Shortly after joining the firm, she took on the pro bono representation of Khan, who, in 2023, was the first and only high-value detainee to be transferred out of GTMO.

Growing up watching her attorney mother fight to preserve a historic Dallas neighborhood, and later spending decades as a criminal lawyer on both sides of the “v,”  Katya carries a philosophy that continues to guide her work.

"Kindness and humility - really trying to create connections - is an important part of practice. And none of that is incompatible with being tough and unrelenting when a case demands it."

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

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