Meet Mercedes de la Rosa

An ongoing series from The Alumni Society spotlighting its impressive members

 Alma mater: Notre Dame | Location: Milwaukee, WI

Where are you from?

El Paso, Texas

What are you up to today?

I am a young associate at my first large law firm practicing at the intersection of data privacy and employment law. My firm, Ogletree Deakins, is a labor and employment law firm that represents employers in a variety of employment-related legal matters across 57 offices in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. I am excited to have joined this year and look forward to deepening my knowledge in this niche while helping to add to the already deep knowledge of our attorneys.

What is a career accomplishment you’re proud of?

I think the easiest answer is some of my wins at jury trial in my previous life as a criminal defense attorney or at hearing/trial as part of an excellent employment team. However, I think the accomplishment I am consistently quite proud of is being a part of a team that consistently helps clients avoid trial by negotiating simply favorable settlements that at first seemed undoable. Those are certainly what keep me going.

What benefits or values do you seek in networking platforms such as The Alumni Society?

I was raised to constantly be reaching back and to help those coming up behind me. I am a rare second-generation Hispanic Notre Dame grad that has been provided a wealth of opportunities that I am extremely thankful for and consistently wish would be equally extended to those who are perhaps more deserving but for one reason or another do not receive them. The benefit of a society like this is to be surrounded by similarly minded and traditionally guided individuals who can help me avoid plateauing. I want to continue being pushed to be better than I thought possible, so that those that follow have an easier time than I did. In short, mentorship in being a service leader.

What are you passionate about or what drives you?

Going to the universities I went to humbled me extremely, but I was able to retain my insatiable hunger for knowledge. I greatly enjoy talking to people, and have learned to enjoy acknowledging I am rarely the smartest in the room. I love learning about everything from what makes Giannis Antetokounmpo a great basketball player (Bucks in Six!) to when an employee is considered a consumer under the 19 state-level comprehensive consumer data privacy acts. I want to forever be a sponge and to provide quality and well-thought out work while being someone that’s enjoyable to talk to.

Connect with Mercedes de la Rosa.