Neal Katyal’s office is likely the only place where a Sikh bracelet, a pair of well-worn socks, and a Supreme Court robe share shelf space. The 54-year-old lawyer, who recently stunned the legal world by jumping from Hogan Lovells to Milbank to lead its appellate practice, has built a career on defying expectations—one landmark case at a time.
Born in Chicago to Indian immigrant parents—a pediatrician mother and engineer father—Katyal initially seemed destined for medicine.