Biography
Kate is an experienced commercial litigation attorney who frequently serves her clients as national coordinating counsel. In this role, she advises businesses in various industries, including technology, transportation, energy, medical, and construction, on how best to protect their business interests, mitigate risk, and efficiently manage litigation cost. She also leads issues of first impression across the country involving enforcement of electronic consumer agreements, including by compelling arbitration.
Kate has experience representing a broad range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, in state and federal courts and in arbitration, and has litigated a variety of complex contractual, product liability, shareholder, catastrophic loss, insurance defense, and coverage disputes. Kate has also represented medical professionals in disciplinary investigations conducted by licensing boards in Pennsylvania.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Kate is an active member of the Duquesne University alumni community. She served on the Duquesne University Alumni Association Board of Governors from 2020-2022, and the Duquesne University School of Law Alumni Association Board of Governors from 2014-2023, including as its president for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Kate serves as the Fox Rothschild representative on the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership Executive Board. She also coordinates the firm’s participation in the signature Protection From Abuse Project, which assists victims of domestic abuse at their final PFA hearings.
Before Fox Rothschild
Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Kate worked at law firms in New York and Pittsburgh, including an international law firm. She also worked as a law clerk in the United States Attorneys’ Office for the Western District of New York.
While in law school, Kate served as the founding Vice President of the Appellate Moot Court Board. She also competed in three national advocacy competitions and earned numerous graduation awards, including the Distinguished Student Award.
Kate was an Academic All American and captain on the University of Rochester volleyball team. She also was a member of her high school’s Class B Winter State Championship women’s volleyball team in 2004-2005.
Representative Matters
- Implemented state-wide litigation and mediation program for client’s personal injury portfolio, resulting in decreased case volume and indemnity cost, and improved success in motions practice.
- Represented Fortune 500 company in nine-figure commercial dispute involving complex contract and Uniform Commercial Code claims stemming from a significant toxic chemical release.
- Obtained favorable verdict on behalf of energy corporation in bench trial involving competing contract claims in the context of adjacent natural gas drilling and mining operations.
- Assisted in obtaining a defense verdict in a federal jury trial on behalf of a natural gas company involving intricate contractual claims for unpaid wages, rent and manufacturing of a drilling rig totaling over $20 million.
- Successfully defended local physician in a state court jury trial concerning allegations of medical malpractice related to a pelvic surgery.
- Defended an international anesthesiology organization in multimillion-dollar litigation related to claims of corporate negligence and misconduct.
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Duquesne University School of Law (J.D., 2012)
- Founding Vice President, Appellate Moot Court Board
- Executive Editor, Duquesne Criminal Law Journal
- University of Rochester (B.A., 2009)
- Captain, Varsity Volleyball
- Academic All-American
Memberships
Allegheny County Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
St. Thomas Moore Society, Pittsburgh Chapter
Duquesne University School of Law Alumni Association
Board of Directors
- Duquesne University School of Law Alumni Association Board of Governors, President, 2022-2023
- Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership, Firm’s Representative on Executive Board
Accomplishments
- Member, 2020 Cohort, Women’s Institute for Leadership in the Law, Allegheny County Bar Association
- Recipient, Certificate for Deposition Skills and Tactics, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, November 2019
- Firm Project Manager of Protection from Abuse Project, Signature Project with the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership
Honors & Awards
- Recipient of the "Outstanding Achievement Award" by the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University (2025)
- Selected to the "Super Lawyers" list for Business Litigation in Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2023)
- Selected to the "Rising Stars" list for Business Litigation in Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2020-2022)
