Joy Liu, Partner, Ropes & Gray, 37
Job: I help drug and medical device companies navigate and comply with FDA laws and regulations.
Community involvement: Board of Directors of the Food and Drug Law Institute; pro bono work for Reprieve, a human rights organization that focuses on the rights of prisoners from death row to Guantanamo Bay
Career highlight: Playing a role in convincing FDA to change a policy position it had maintained for almost 30 years.
Why this career: Because my dad told me I had to be a doctor, lawyer or banker, I believed him, and couldn’t stand the sight of blood or stay awake in Economics 101. Thankfully it all worked out!
Where you grew up: Cheshire, CT
Why DC: It’s where FDA lawyers tend to congregate.
First job: Burger King (and I’ll still eat there).
Family: Married 10 years, two sons (5 and 3).
Free time: Read novels, tiger-mom the kids (yes, I used that as a verb).
10 years from now: Hopefully enjoying more free time.
Favorite vacation spot(s): Anywhere in the Caribbean.
Bucket list: Hang gliding, writing and illustrating a children’s book, race motorcycles.
Daily habit: Eating candy.
Startling fact: I can’t whistle, but I can move my ears.
