About Susan Stevens
Susan Stevens Mullen took a straightforward path to law from a liberal arts background. She earned a B.A. in English from Duke University in 1985 and completed her J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988. Those years shaped the way she reads complex materials and frames arguments. Her academic record shows a steady focus on analysis and clear writing.
She began her legal career after graduating from law school and went on to qualify to practice in both Virginia and Georgia. Over the years she has worked in roles that required advising on multi-jurisdictional matters and handling issues that cross state lines. Her admission in two states has allowed her to represent clients in forums with differing local rules and procedures.
Mullen served as Special Counsel at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. In that capacity she worked alongside practice groups and client teams on discrete matters demanding experienced counsel. The title of Special Counsel reflects a role often reserved for lawyers who bring institutional knowledge and practical judgment to complex files. At Cooley she was part of a larger legal operation while also carrying individual responsibilities for client advice and project management.
Colleagues describe her as a methodical lawyer who relies on careful analysis and clear drafting. She places a priority on understanding the factual record and the governing law before offering counsel. Her background in English literature has left her attentive to nuance in language. That attention serves her in negotiations, document drafting and legal memoranda. It also shapes how she communicates with clients and other lawyers—plain speech, precise points, and an eye for what matters to a judge or opposing counsel.
Now based in private practice, Mullen continues to draw on decades of experience in work tied to both Virginia and Georgia jurisdictions. She advises clients and lawyers on matters that require knowledge of each state’s procedures and substantive law. She currently practices as Special Counsel at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, concentrating on matters that span Virginia and Georgia.
