Kathy litigates on behalf of individual companies, groups of companies and trade associations in federal and state courts across the country. She also provides alternative dispute resolution (ADR), compliance, strategic planning, and commercial services focused on the regulatory aspects of her clients’ businesses. Kathy’s practice focuses on clients who manufacture, sell, and use products regulated by EPA, USDA, FDA, DOI, DOC, and analogous state agencies under the environmental, health, and safety laws that these agencies implement.
In particular, Kathy works with clients in the agricultural sector (including pesticides and seeds businesses), and food, chemicals, and consumer products industries. This includes traditional products and products produced through biotechnology or nanotechnology. Examples of her work include:
- Bringing or defending litigation where necessary to protect clients’ products, projects, or practices.
- Advising clients on strategies for obtaining federal approvals for new products or substances, defending products once they are on the market, and phasing out products for regulatory or commercial reasons.
- Advising clients who manufacture, sell, license, or use these regulated products on government requirements and commercial transactions.
- Defending companies against enforcement actions.
- Proposing and commenting on regulatory and legislative initiatives.
- Supporting acquisition or sale of particular products or businesses.
- Advising on stewardship and sustainability practices.
Kathy has litigated in federal courts across the country, including the United States Supreme Court, and has represented clients in every EPA region and many states. She has advocated for clients in ADR proceedings, including ADR mandated by statute, mini-trials, and other ADR designed by parties to resolve disputes privately without court intervention, and mediation.
Kathy is Beveridge & Diamond’s Firmwide Chair. Before assuming this role, she served as Firmwide Managing Principal, and, for many years, on B&D's Management Committee and as the Chair or Co-Chair of the firm’s pesticides and biotechnology practices. Kathy served for six years on the Board of Directors of a privately held company that discovers, manufactures, and sells proprietary chemicals. Before her legal career, Kathy served in federal and Michigan state government.
