Mary Sameera Van Houten Harper
she / her / hers
Mary is a Partner in Hausfeld’s Washington, DC office. Her focus lays in complex litigation, with an emphasis in the human rights, immigration, consumer protection, and antitrust fields. She has litigated numerous class action matters in state and federal courts across the nation, from claim development to settlement, and is committed to representing plaintiffs in groundbreaking challenges in pursuit of social good.
Before joining Hausfeld, Mary represented clients in trial and appeal in defense of immigrants’ rights. For example, Mary helped settle a class action against unlawful immigration raids; led a novel multi-claimant challenge to an unlawful asylum ban; and successfully enjoined harmful immigration regulations. While serving as an immigration public defender at Brooklyn Defender Services, Mary also litigated dozens of habeas corpus petitions, securing noncitizens’ release from detention due to civil or constitutional violations.
Mary first gained experience at a global law firm in Washington, D.C., where she served as counsel in a large-scale data breach class action and a variety of international trade and commercial litigation matters. She also clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she was a Senior Editor for the Stanford Law Review.
Working towards a diverse, equitable, and inclusive world is paramount to Mary who is an active member of our Social Inclusion working group.
Clients
Mary represents a range of individuals, consumers, and state attorneys general in cases challenging corporate wrongdoing.
Stanford Law School, J.D., 2014
University of Michigan, BBA, 2010
District of Columbia
New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States Court of International Trade
American Bar Association - Antitrust Section, Member
American Bar Association – Section of Civil Rights & Social Justice, Member
Best Lawyers
"The Post-Boumediene Paradox: Habeas Corpus or Due Process?," 67 Stan. L. Rev. Online 9, June 25, 2014 (cited in Thuraissigiam v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 917 F.3d 1097, 1111 (9th Cir. 2019)).
"Why the Laws of War? A Separation-of-Powers Argument for Striking the Military Commissions Act," 17 Gonzaga Int’l L. J. 1, Feb. 9, 2014.
Among others, Mary represents a state attorney general’s office in a cutting-edge challenge against harmful levels of toxic metals in baby foods.