About Me

I’m a junior at Northwestern University double-majoring in Slavic Languages & Literature and International Studies, with a Legal Studies minor. I grew up between Moscow and London — eight and a half years in Russia, seven in the UK — which shapes everything from how I read geopolitics to how I approach legal research.

I currently work as a law clerk at Saper Law, a Chicago IP and entertainment law firm, where I assist with motions, case research, and federal court proceedings. My academic and professional focus centers on Russia/Eurasia, sanctions policy, and the intersection of international law and global strategy. You can see some of my essays here.

Outside of academics, I love taking aerial photography (have a look at my gallery), playing the saxophone and bike riding.

You can reach me at claytonmichaels1@gmail.com