Debra S. Katz is a Founding Partner of Katz Banks Kumin LLP. Recognized as "Civil Rights Lawyer of the Year" for Washington, D.C. by The Best Lawyers© In America for 2018, as one of the “toughest” employment lawyers in Washington, D.C. by Washingtonian magazine, and as an expert in sexual harassment, employment, and whistleblower law by The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME magazine and others, she has been successfully litigating employment discrimination, civil rights, and whistleblower protection cases for over 35 years.
Ms. Katz practices employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, Sarbanes-Oxley, corporate, environmental and other whistleblower retaliation claims, SEC whistleblower tips, and contractual employment disputes. She has successfully represented hundreds of whistleblowers in the nuclear, financial, pharmaceutical and medical-device industries. Currently, she represents Dr. Rick Bright, former director of Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, who was removed from his position after raising concerns over the administration's inadequate preparation for the Coronavirus pandemic, and the subsequent interference into vaccine and treatment approval processes.
Ms. Katz has been profiled as one of Washington D.C.'s "Women Who Mean Business" by the Washington Business Journal in 2020, as a pioneering #MeToo attorney by the Washington Post in "The feared attorney of the #MeToo moment," and a "Leading #MeToo Lawyer" by Washingtonian Magazine. Additionally, in a 2021 profile piece, the Associated Press called Ms. Katz and partner Lisa Banks the "top #MeToo legal duo." For her extraordinary work representing victims of sexual harassment and assault, as well as advocating for legislative change, the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association recognized Ms. Katz with its 2019 Lawyers of the Year Award. And for her work as part of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's legal team, the Women's Bar Association recognized Ms. Katz with the "Dare to Make an Impact" award. Ms. Katz has been profiled as a pioneering whistleblower attorney in the 2009 Super Lawyer’s article, “Protecting the Insider.”
Ms. Katz is a contributing writer for Ms. Magazine, where she writes about legal issues of importance to women.
