Kate joins Defenders as a Senior Attorney in the Biodiversity Law Center with 24 years of litigation experience in the United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Tribal Resources and Environmental Enforcement Sections. 

During her time in the Tribal Resources Section, Kate focused on defending tribal nation sovereignty and treaty rights and securing tribal water rights -- particularly in western states. She worked with tribal governments and federal agencies to create policy and litigation strategies supporting climate adaptation to protect tribal land and water resources, as well as culturally important species habitat. Before joining the Tribal Resources Section, Kate was a senior attorney in the Environmental Enforcement Section, specializing in civil enforcement litigation to address pollution in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Superfund.

Kate began her career in the United States Army Judge Advocate’s Corps as a criminal defense trial attorney and government appellate attorney. Kate graduated with a J.D. from Vermont Law School and a B.A. in history from the College of the Holy Cross.