December 17, 2024

Noelle Natoli ’99: Leading with Purpose and Building Connections

As a Partner at Kahana & Feld LLP and the current President of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA), Noelle Natoli ’99 has built a career grounded in advocacy, mentorship, and community. From her days as a Southwestern Law student helping to move the library into the Bullocks Wilshire building to her leadership in fostering inclusive spaces within the legal profession, Noelle’s story highlights the power of relationships and resilience.

In this interview, she shares her most memorable law school experience, advice for future and new attorneys, and what she hopes to accomplish next—both in her career and in her kitchen.

What was your most memorable experience as a law student?

"When I was a 1L in 1996, the school had completed sufficient construction of the newly acquired Bullocks Wilshire building in order to move the current law library across the street into the new building. Essentially, all of the students were 'volunteered' to move the books over Thanksgiving weekend. I was one of the few students who showed up.

"Everyone—students, staff, and deans—were working hard, loading heavy books onto rolling carts, pushing the loaded carts across the street, maneuvering through the aisles of shelves, and then emptying each shelf. I was working steadily along when I realized the man I was working alongside, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, was Dean Leigh Taylor. His wife was working alongside us as well.

"During the course of our shift, we started talking about my experience as a 1L and some of the challenges I was facing as a first-generation professional with little to no connections to lawyers or judges. He kindly offered not only his advice but also his mentorship. I found myself occasionally knocking on his door, asking for advice. I have not seen him since graduation day, but I hope he is well and honored that the law school law library was appropriately named after him."

What advice would you give to current law students?

"My best advice to law students is directed in particular to first-generation lawyers: start networking from day one. Your ability to advocate on behalf of your clients will be directly correlated to your relationships with your future boss and coworkers, opposing counsel, and judges.

"Your fellow law students will be your future colleagues. They will be your go-to friends and allies. Join as many organizations that interest you and then stay in the ones that value your contributions. Join a law fraternity like Phi Alpha Delta. Go to as many joint law school events as possible to meet people. Also, most local bar events are free for students—go to them. Obviously, as the current President, I hope to see you at a future WLALA event, but there are so many other worthwhile bar events where you can meet other students, lawyers, and judges who you can call on for advice as your career progresses."

What advice do you have for attorneys just starting out in their careers?

"Talk less, listen more. You are at a critical point in your career where your coworkers are willing to be overly generous with their time to help teach you what you need to know to excel through your first few years of practicing law. Make sure to listen to yourself, too. If you are unsure of what to do and need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it."

Tell us about your career and what led you to focus on your current practice area.

"I am a Partner at Kahana & Feld, LLP’s Los Angeles office. I have been a defense civil litigator my entire career, practicing in the areas of medical malpractice, long-term care, trucking, and general liability. I enjoy the flexibility of handling a variety of different matters and representing a diverse group of clients."

What is something in your career you still hope to accomplish?

"I would like to continue to learn and provide educational opportunities for clients in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

"Last year, I had the opportunity to assist a partner of mine in consulting with a client to advise them as they expanded their company into a new geographic region of the country. In doing so, we connected with local leaders in the community to find out specific information about the community’s needs. It was our position, in our role as consultants, that the client would only be successful in this expansion if they partnered with the community to provide access to resources they were lacking.

"Although our first duty was to advise our client, big-picture wise our job was to advocate for the greater good. I would love to do more work in this area."

If you weren’t a lawyer, what career would you pursue?

"Everyone knows that I love to cook for my family and friends. When I retire from practicing law, I plan to already be enrolled in cooking school in Italy."

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

"Since free time is pretty limited, I spend every minute I have with my family and friends. My favorite vacations involve my entire family, all together in one house, playing board games and watching rom-coms."

You’ve been involved with WLALA since 2010. What drew you to the organization, and what do you hope to achieve as President?

"I joined WLALA in 2010 when Angela Haskins, also a Southwestern graduate, was President, and shortly thereafter applied to be on the board.

"During my time on the board, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside so many upstanding members of the legal community, so many wonderful individuals serving Los Angeles, and so many BOSS women and their allies. My primary goal as President this year is to make sure that everyone who comes to a WLALA event feels welcomed and included.

"My theme for the year is Lights! Camera! Action! and, to put it simply, I challenge each of us to be the light for others, speak up when you see something wrong, and take action whenever possible to advocate for others."

Finally, what’s your favorite restaurant in Los Angeles?

"Classic law school answer: 'It depends,' but for Italian, it has to be Rao’s, Dan Tana’s, or Factory Kitchen."