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Karen Mawdsley

Associate | She/Her/Hers
Associate | She/Her/Hers
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Areas of Focus

Overview

Karen Mawdsley is an associate in Crowell & Moring’s San Francisco office, where she is a member of the Litigation and Health Care groups. Her practice primarily centers on healthcare litigation, representing managed care organizations and health insurers in disputes related to provider reimbursement, breach of contract, statutory and regulatory violations, and other complex healthcare matters.

Karen brings an unconventional depth to her legal practice, shaped by experience across journalism, nonprofit advocacy, government, and law. Before law school, she served as an AmeriCorps member and worked as an appellate paralegal at a global law firm in Washington, D.C.—experience that honed her research, analytical, and communication skills and gave her a practical understanding of how complex matters are built and argued at the highest levels.

Karen earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where she served as executive online editor of the Southern California Law Review and as a teaching assistant. She also worked as a judicial extern at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, gaining firsthand exposure to federal court practice.

Career & Education

    • The White House
      • Office of Records Management, Records Management Analyst, August 2016–April 2017
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California
      • Judicial Extern, May–July 2023
    • The White House
      • Office of Records Management, Records Management Analyst, August 2016–April 2017
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California
      • Judicial Extern, May–July 2023

    • AmeriCorps VISTA Development Consultant, Food Recovery Network, August 2015–August 2016
    • AmeriCorps VISTA Development Consultant, Food Recovery Network, August 2015–August 2016

    • University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, J.D., Executive Online Editor, Southern California Law Review, 2025
    • Georgetown University, Certificate in Paralegal Studies, 2016
    • University of Maryland, B.A., Journalism, minor in Spanish, 2015
    • University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, J.D., Executive Online Editor, Southern California Law Review, 2025
    • Georgetown University, Certificate in Paralegal Studies, 2016
    • University of Maryland, B.A., Journalism, minor in Spanish, 2015

    • California
    • California

Karen's Insights

Blog Post | 10.05.26

California Signs Nation-Leading AI Chatbot and Social Media Laws: What Businesses Need to Know

Key Takeaway #1 California’s new AI chatbot law — “Adam’s Law” (SB 1119) — requires companion chatbot operators to conduct mandatory independent child safety audits and annual risk assessments, implement crisis protocols for queries involving self-harm, and notify parents when children disable safety settings. Non-compliance exposes businesses to significant civil liability....

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Practices

Karen's Insights

Blog Post | 10.05.26

California Signs Nation-Leading AI Chatbot and Social Media Laws: What Businesses Need to Know

Key Takeaway #1 California’s new AI chatbot law — “Adam’s Law” (SB 1119) — requires companion chatbot operators to conduct mandatory independent child safety audits and annual risk assessments, implement crisis protocols for queries involving self-harm, and notify parents when children disable safety settings. Non-compliance exposes businesses to significant civil liability....

View All Insights