Kathleen has worked in the areas of governmental and regulatory litigation, business disputes and constitutional law. She has handled cases involving constitutional challenges to state and local laws or orders, First Amendment claims, rate making and price discrimination, contract disputes, trademarks, professional ethics, public records, injunctions, and special writs in the Ohio Supreme Court.

In addition to representing parties in federal and state courts, Kathleen also has experience arbitrating disputes. She was selected by the Private Adjudication Center at Duke University to serve as an arbitrator in the Dalkon Shield products liability class action settlement and in the Smith Barney employment discrimination class action settlement.

Kathleen is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and served on the ACTL Board of Regents from 2013-2017. She is listed in Best Lawyers® and has been recognized as a “Leader in their Field” for Commercial Litigation in Ohio by Chambers USA every year since 2006. Kathleen was named Best Lawyers® 2021 Columbus, Ohio Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) “Lawyer of the Year.”

Education

• Capital University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1979)
• Kent State University (M.A., 1971)
• Nazareth College of Rochester (B.A., 1970)

Bar Admissions

• Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
• Supreme Court of the United States

Professional Associations

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow; Board of Regents, 2013-2017
• American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow, 2018-2019
• Columbus Bar Association, President 2008; Board of Governors, 2002-2009
• Columbus Bar Foundation, Trustee, 2014-2020; President, 2020-2021
• Equal Justice Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2003-2008
• Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2012-2021; President, 2014
• Ohio Constitution Modernization Commission, 2012-2017
• Franklin County Law Library Board, 2006-2021
• American Constitutional Society, Columbus Lawyer Chapter, Founding Member; Advisory Board Co-Chair, 2009-2010

Honors & Awards

• Ohio State Bar Association, Best Brief Award “Best Private Briefs,” April 2018
• Benchmark Litigation, “Local Litigation Star,” 2018
• Best Lawyers®, Columbus, Ohio Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), “Lawyer of the Year,” 2014, 2018, 2021
• Best Lawyers®, Columbus, Ohio Bet-the-Company Litigation, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers®
• Ohio Super Lawyers®, “Top 5 Columbus Super Lawyers”
• Ohio Super Lawyers®, “Top 25 Women Columbus Super Lawyers”
• Ohio Super Lawyers®, “Top 50 Women Ohio Super Lawyers”
• Ohio Super Lawyers®, “Top 50 Columbus Super Lawyers”
• Ohio Super Lawyers®, “Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers”
• Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, Ohio
• Benchmark Top 250 Women in Litigation, Top Female Litigators, 2012-2013
• Benchmark Litigation, Ohio’s Top Litigators, 2015
• Best Lawyers®, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• Columbus Bar Association, Bar Service Medal, 2016
• Ohio State Bar Association, Nettie Cronius Lutes Leadership Award, 2015
• American Constitutional Society, Columbus Lawyers Chapter, Distinguished Service Award, 2014