Atty. Luke Yamulla has been a rising star since his time at MMI Prep. A diligent, curious student, Luke was known for his studying prowess, remarkable public speaking skills, and annual “Best of the Best” presentations. Academic dedication and successes aside, he was known even more for his empathetic, accepting, and welcoming nature. These innate characteristics served him well throughout his educational and professional journey, which ultimately led to his present position as a defense litigation associate at the world-renowned Dechert LLP in Philadelphia.

How did he get there? In addition to his natural inclination to work hard and stay motivated, Luke spent a brief spell at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania before graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where he minored in Psychology and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). Luke was admitted to Columbia Law School shortly thereafter, and in 2023, he finished his Juris Doctor (JD) as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Along the way, Luke worked at several places that broadened his understanding of the law and deepened his dedication to helping others. A summer internship as a legal intern at Mazzoni Center Legal Services in Philadelphia consisted of assisting with legal representation of low-income LGBTQ+ individuals in the city and performing research on federal and state civil rights, housing, family law matters, and employment. This was followed by a legal externship at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in New York, where he spent two semesters in the public defender’s office and devoted his time to diving into extensive research on criminal procedure issues and substantive criminal law. He also got a taste for the courtroom by arguing arraignments, participating in other pre-trial hearings before Manhattan Criminal Court judges, and handling misdemeanors.

In the spring of 2022, Luke worked as a summer associate at Dechert LLP, an expansive, global law firm that’s famed for offering pro bono assistance to those in need. There, he prepared memoranda that addressed procedural and substantive legal issues in complex commercial litigation, anti-trust, and other corporate matters, conducted research into SEC requirements, and received training in Westlaw and Lexis.

Now, the avid skier and theater enthusiast concentrates primarily on government investigations and enforcement, white-collar criminal defense cases, and discovery management (among other responsibilities) at Dechert LLP, who extended their offer after his summer associateship.