Hillary M. Nappi
Attorney
Based in New York, Hillary brings more than a decade of experience in complex civil litigation and survivor-centered advocacy. Before joining AWKO, she served as a partner at a New York City boutique firm, litigating hundreds of cases for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Her earlier career includes formative years at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, where she worked on high-stakes civil litigation and regulatory investigations.
In addition to representing survivors in court, Hillary has contributed substantial pro bono work to shaping national legal frameworks that affect victims’ rights. She has authored and co-authored amicus curiae briefs in some of the most closely watched cases involving sexual abuse, online exploitation, and constitutional challenges to revival statutes. Her work includes briefs submitted by CHILD USA and RAINN in Doe v. Twitter regarding Section 230 and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act; by CHILD USA and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection in Elden v. Nirvana, addressing statutes of limitations under Masha’s Law; by CHILD USA in Bernard v. Cosby, defending the constitutionality of New Jersey’s revival statute; and a brief supporting Blake Lively’s motion to dismiss a defamation countersuit brought under California Civil Code § 47.1, advocating for legal protections for individuals who speak out about sexual misconduct.
Hillary is deeply engaged in advancing children’s rights and survivor justice outside the courtroom. She serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of CHILD USA and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Justice Fund, roles in which she helps guide national efforts to prevent child abuse and expand pathways to justice through policy research and impact litigation. She is also a Director at Large of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and Treasurer of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County.
A frequent lecturer on trauma-informed lawyering, child protection, and civil-rights litigation, Ms. Nappi collaborates with advocacy groups, survivor-led organizations, and national coalitions working to hold powerful institutions accountable, from school districts to major corporations and tech platforms.
Ms. Nappi earned both her B.S. in Criminal Justice and her J.D. from Pace University (now the Elisabeth Haub School of Law), where she was active in moot court and served as Second Circuit Lieutenant Governor for the ABA Law Student Division. She is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and multiple federal courts. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2018–2023) and named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
