Since graduating in 2012, Sarah Primrose has already cultivated an exciting career with two federal clerkships and a unique practice at one of the nation’s oldest and largest law firms. Based in Atlanta, Primrose is an associate with King & Spalding’s Financial Restructuring group. 

Primrose represents debtors, lenders, and creditors in large Chapter 11 reorganizations cases throughout the country as well as borrowers and lenders in debt restructurings, forbearance arrangements, and other workouts. Her choice of practice can be traced back to her time as a student at MSU College of Law, when she built upon a pre-existing interest in business and corporate law.

“As a law student, I took a number of courses that proved relevant to my current career such as Business Enterprises, Secured Transactions, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and Complex Civil Litigation,” Primrose explained. “I also selected a number of writing intensive courses and seminars which have proven to be very valuable.”

Primrose’s passions for reading, writing, and research were influential in her pursuit of a legal career, and she’s found diverse opportunities to exercise her talent in those areas as an attorney. 

During her time in law school, a summer associate position first introduced Primrose to bankruptcy law, and she found that she enjoyed the variety of the work. “Attorneys may need to address corporate, finance, regulatory, employment, real estate, securities, tax, supply chain, and litigation issues in a bankruptcy case,” she said.

After graduating from MSU Law, she decided to continue to expand on her experience with bankruptcy by clerking for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. “I was fortunate to clerk for a great person and mentor, Chief Judge Hyman, in a district with an exciting docket.” 

She later went on to clerk for another excellent mentor and gifted jurist, Judge Graves, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit where she worked on civil and criminal appeals. “At the Fifth Circuit, I confirmed that I still really enjoyed working on civil litigation cases—especially ones with a bankruptcy element,” she explained.

Primrose entered private practice in 2016—joining King & Spalding. Her practice allows her to work on cases in numerous industries—including energy, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, retail, real estate, restaurant, and hospitality—alongside talented colleagues.

To upcoming Spartan lawyers entering the field and looking to make an impact, Primrose advises: “Work hard, be curious, and have a sense of humor.”