Overview
Mary Schnoor represents clients in government and regulatory litigation and appellate matters. With extensive experience developing legal strategy, briefing cases, and arguing appeals, Mary serves as both an advocate and a counselor to help her clients achieve their objectives in complex litigation and regulatory landscapes. She represents clients across a variety of industries in devising and executing challenges to agency actions under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and other laws governing judicial review of government action.
Mary has substantial experience with APA issues both as a practitioner and as a former government official. When advising clients on cases involving federal agency regulations and orders, she leverages her prior experience as deputy general counsel at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). There, Mary led significant rulemaking efforts and counseled on a range of matters involving US Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the US Coast Guard, and other agencies within DHS.
In addition, Mary’s practice includes advising and crafting arguments on other statutory interpretation and constitutional issues, including personal jurisdiction, standing, and preemption. She draws on her experience as a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the US Supreme Court and to the Honorable Richard Posner at the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to anticipate judges’ perspectives and deliver optimal results for her clients.
Mary maintains an active pro bono practice, representing both individuals and nonprofit organizations on a variety of matters, including immigration proceedings, direct and collateral criminal appeals, and judicial review of government action.
Results
- Obtained a writ of mandamus from the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on a question regarding the application of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in multidistrict litigation*
- Briefed and argued a US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit petition for review of removal order, winning remand to agency*
- Represented individuals and hospitals in APA litigation regarding donor organ allocation*
- Represented a national retailer on a matter involving False Claims Act issues in connection with the dispensing of prescription medications*
- Represented, pro bono, a refugee-serving organization in developing an APA challenge to a policy change*
- Won a grant of asylum under the Matter of A-B- standard for a pro bono client who fled domestic violence in Honduras*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Recognitions
- District of Columbia Courts, Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2023
Credentials
Education
Harvard Law School, JD, magna cum laude, 2016
Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, SM, 2013
Yale University, BS, magna cum laude, 2010
Admissions
District of Columbia
