A seasoned trial lawyer and adept communicator, Helen Kathryn Downs has advised major corporations for more than two decades, mitigating risk and identifying compelling legal defenses.
Prior to Maynard, Helen Kathryn founded a forward-looking law firm – Law in Motion: Downs, LLC. This woman-owned firm embraced the latest neuroscience to enhance persuasion and client results. The firm also offered advisory and litigation services for cutting-edge technologies, such as the Internet of Things, machine learning, artificial intelligence, drones, and robotics, as well as more traditional practice areas, primarily products liability, mass torts, and banking litigation.
Recognitions of Helen Kathryn’s skills include Courtroom Viewing Network's “Top 10 Defense Verdicts” (2015), Mid-South Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence, Who's Who Legal: Life Sciences, and her 15th anniversary with an AVPreeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
She is a lifelong student of effective communication, creative thinking, and legal innovation. Clients and colleagues describe Helen Kathryn as a candid strategist – pragmatic, perceptive, and fiercely curious. Based on client feedback, she adroitly translates complex information into plain terms, swiftly building credibility with judges, jurors, and other lawyers. Her personal warmth, authenticity, and incisive analysis bolster her skillset. Helen Kathryn obtained a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill and J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. At UVA, she and her partner, Jason Brener, won the Lile Moot Court Competition, and she received the Stephen P. Traynor Award for Oral Advocacy.
“HK's uniquely engaging style, combined with her legal savvy, technical knowledge, and invaluable perspective, wowed our team. We've gained vital new insights into managing the risks and benefits of connected products.”
“Helen Kathryn is a smart trial lawyer and shrewd negotiator; she consistently delivers results with her brains and charm.”
“I can’t think of a better litigator to work with when it comes to multiparty cases involving complex issues and multiple personalities. As Defense Liaison Counsel for asbestos litigation in Alabama for the last eleven years, I have witnessed Helen Kathryn eloquently argue issues that favorably impacted outcomes not only for her own clients but for co-defendants as well. I had the pleasure of watching Helen Kathryn utilize her inherent skills, calm persuasiveness, credibility, and uncompromising professionalism to shut down an unruly opposing counsel and leave him speechless – a first in the history of Alabama asbestos litigation. She is number one in my book.”
“While the litigation could be highly contentious at times, Helen Kathryn always adhered to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. She never allowed the intensity of pretrial and trial proceedings, hostile questioning from the bench, or unfair attacks and duplicitous arguments from opposing counsel to adversely impact her conduct and demeanor toward the judge, attorneys, or witnesses involved.”
“She was able to deal firmly but compassionately with adverse witnesses in a way that resonated with the jury, without compromising our core themes for trial. She has outstanding instincts and knows when to stand firm on an issue and when compromise is in the best interest of the client. If I had a bet-the-company, nuclear-event type of case and needed an attorney who could organize a trial team, act as lead counsel, and guide that team through one of the most challenging courtroom environments a company can face, Helen Kathryn would be at the top of my list.”
“Helen Kathryn’s masterful control over adverse witnesses on cross-examination combines equal parts zeal and genteelness: The witness knows that he or she will face a swift and embarrassing correction upon straying from the wealth of facts HK has at the ready, but the jury sees simply a polite—if direct—exchange that emphasizes the key themes HK seeks to reinforce through the witness.”
“She’s the hardest working attorney I have ever been around . . . and I’ve been around.”
“HK’s approach to creating key trial graphics reminds me of an artisan who’s passionate about crafting small-batch bourbon. Thought, time, and effort are invested in distilling complex elements into a product that has balance and clarity, with visual and sensory appeal. The result is promptly digested by most everyone.”
“In meetings with high-level executives, Helen Kathryn got to the crux of the matter using effective graphics that reduced extremely complex litigation to a concise set of‘home-base’defense themes (as she calls them). She then ferreted out each executive’s strengths and weaknesses and tailored her witness preparation to those personal traits. She somehow managed to motivate senior investment bankers at JP Morgan Securities to want to perform well for her.”
“Helen Kathryn and I interviewed about 15 employees over two days. I actively participated but had Helen Kathryn take the laboring oar when talking with these witnesses. With her strong interpersonal skills, she quickly developed a rapport with the potential witnesses and put them at ease, even those who were visibly uncomfortable meeting with lawyers. Her strong interviewing skills elicited key information and generated candid exchanges. Based on the compelling narratives that Helen Kathryn developed, the Company was able to resolve a putative nationwide class action early in the process.”
“When it comes to communicating at trial, Helen Kathryn has that rare ‘gift’ – the ability to put the jury at ease with her endearing style while establishing trust from the outset of the case. Even after late nights of preparing in the trenches, I have seen her not miss a beat when presenting her client’s story. Simply put, Helen Kathryn has a way of making the fruits of her tireless effort appear effortless. I can say with conviction that any corporation or individual receiving counsel from Helen Kathryn is definitely in good (and persuasive) hands! ”
“In 45 years of practicing law, I’ve rarely seen anyone better than HK at getting people to open up and talk, even those who started out against us.”