In Memoriam: Michele M. Mulrooney (JD 1985), USC Gould Board of Councilors member

Michele M. Mulrooney (JD 1985), a member of the USC Gould School of Law Board of Councilors, respected attorney and founding member of Willkie Farr’s Los Angeles office, passed away on Sept. 1. She was 64.

“Michele was a remarkable member of the USC Gould community: deeply caring, generous with her time and insight, and unwavering in her commitment to our students and mission,” said Franita Tolson, USC Gould Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law. “Her loss is felt profoundly across the law school. She brought not only professional distinction but also a personal warmth that made her a trusted advisor and a cherished colleague. We are grateful for Michele’s guidance and friendship, and she will be dearly missed.”

A double Trojan, Mulrooney earned her BS magna cum laude from the USC Marshall School of Business in 1982 and her JD from USC Gould in 1985, graduating Order of the Coif. She joined the Board of Councilors in 2018 and served as co-chair of the Law School Building Committee.

“Michelle brought extraordinary energy, intelligence and dedication to everything she pursued,” said David Walsh, Chair of the Board of Councilors. “Her service to our university, especially her leadership of the Gould Building Committee, will long be remembered. Even more, she was a good and kind friend and colleague, whose support you could always count upon. We will miss her very much.”

Over the course of her four-decade legal career, Mulrooney became a leader in trusts and estates law. She held leadership roles in prominent law firms and earned a reputation for her technical proficiency and sound judgment in complex personal and financial matters.

In addition to her legal practice, Mulrooney served on the UCLA Health System Board and contributed her expertise to a range of philanthropic and institutional initiatives. She was known for her mentorship, particularly in advocating for flexible workplace policies to support women in the legal profession.

A tribute honoring the memory of Michele M. Mulrooney is available online.