Preeti Krishnan and Brantley Austin Hawkins met in May 2014 when Mr. Hawkins was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell, and Ms. Krishnan was a summer associate there.

Ms. Krishnan, who began working at the firm that same month — Mr. Hawkins had already been there a year — noticed Mr. Hawkins “holding court,” as she put, at a welcoming cocktail reception for new employees.

“I thought he was super cute,” she said. “I also remember thinking to myself, how can someone who is doing so well at a prestigious law firm look that kind and be so easygoing and casual around people — I was very intrigued by his persona.”

Mr. Hawkins was equally intrigued. “I noticed her moving in between different groups at the reception, she was this beam of light,” he said. “I could also hear her talking, she had a very distinctive voice, and a very distinctive laugh.”