Katherine is a member of the Franchise & Distribution and the Business & General Litigation practice groups.
Katherine represents franchisors in federal and state court cases pertaining to contract, employment law, trademark law, tax fraud, products liability, franchise standards disputes, and other types of civil litigation.
Katherine advises franchisors in international and domestic expansion programs. She drafts a variety of international and domestic franchise documents, including franchise agreements, master franchise agreements, and area development agreements. Katherine also assists international and domestic franchisors in the preparation and registration of franchise agreements and disclosure documents.
She has represented business clients on a range of issues in the energy regulatory and energy transactional fields, including proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Before entering private practice, Katherine was a law clerk for the Honorable Bruce E. Kasold at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Publications
- “The Proposed US Arbitration Fairness Act Would Abrogate UN Arbitration Treaty and Force US Franchisors to Enforce and Defend Claims Only in Foreign Courts,” International Franchising Newsletter, May 2010
- “California and Montana Courts Invalidate Common Franchise Arbitration Provisions,” coauthor, The International Distribution Institute Project, April 2010
- “Do-It-Yourself Franchise Documents: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You,” coauthor, AllBusiness.com, July 2010
- “New Jersey Expands Coverage of Its Franchise Practices Act,” coauthor, The International Distribution Institute Project, April 2010
- “Match Your Brand to the Best International Market,” Franchising World, March 2010
Presentations
- “What International Companies Need To Know About Franchise Law,” HIPMI—Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association, International Franchise Association, Washington, DC, December 1, 2010
- "Establishing an Effective 3-Party Franchise Program,” copresenter, Maryland State Bar Franchise Law Committee, November 18, 2010
- “The Basics of International Franchising,” copresenter, U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program, May 25, 2010
- “Do Disclaimers In FDDs and Franchise Agreements Still Preclude Franchisee Fraud Claims?” copresenter, Maryland State Bar Association Franchise Committee, April 15, 2010
- “The Basics of International Master Franchising,” copresenter, U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program, April 7, 2010
Education
- The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2004
The Catholic University Law Review, associate editor - University of Edinburgh, M.S. in European and international politics, 2000
- Bryn Mawr College, B.A., 1999
Bar Admissions
- California
- District of Columbia
Professional Activities
- International Franchise Association, 2007-present
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising, 2007-present