Education

Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1992; Executive research editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law; Member, Moot Court Board

Emory University, B.A., 1989, Political Science, cum laude

Admissions

State Bar of Texas

State Bar of Georgia

Kate focuses her practice on complex civil litigation and appeals. She has successfully represented clients at all stages of litigation—from trial through appeals, in courts, in arbitrations and mediations, and before administrative tribunals. Drawing on her clerkship experience, which provided crucial insights into judicial proceedings from the other side of the bench, Kate plays a key role in preparing compelling arguments for court. Her contributions include drafting and arguing motions for summary judgment, preserving appellate error during trial, drafting jury charges and post-trial motions, and preparing appellate briefs for parties and amicus organizations.

Prior to joining Hicks Johnson, Kate worked as general counsel to the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a public interest constitutional law firm based in Atlanta. In this role, she directed litigation and filed appellate and amicus curiae briefs with several different courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. She also served as a law clerk to two federal judges: the Honorable Ewing Werlein Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and Chief Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn G. Brill of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. In addition, Kate was an associate at Vinson & Elkins, where she represented clients in large-scale commercial lawsuits and appeals.

Kate’s insights on developments in various substantive areas of the law have been published in legal periodicals nationwide.