Kate is a partner in the firm's Maryland office. Her practice focuses on the areas of Consumer Financial Services and Small Business Financing. Kate represents banks, finance companies, private equity and investment bank investors, merchant cash advance companies, and small business lenders establishing new programs and products, and conducts due diligence and compliance reviews of consumer lending and business financing portfolios. Kate is a founding member of the Alternative Finance Bar Association, an organization of attorneys who represent merchant cash advance companies and lenders providing financing to small businesses.
Kate's practice also includes assisting clients with compliance with state and federal consumer protection and related laws as they develop and maintain mortgage lending, automobile finance and other credit programs.
Kate has testified before the United States House of Representatives Small Business Subcommittee regarding improving small business capital access and recently appeared several times before the California legislature and New Jersey Senate Committee on Commerce regarding proposed disclosures for business finance transactions.
Kate graduated first in her class from the University of Oregon Law School in 2005 and is a member of the Order of the Coif. Kate is the Vice Chair of the Maryland Bar Association's Consumer Credit and Financial Institutions Committee and was elected to serve on the Oregon Bar Association's Business Section Executive Committee.
Prior to joining Hudson Cook, Kate was a Real Estate and Business Transactions Associate with Thomas J. Mulrenin & Associates, LLC in Annapolis, MD. Kate handled complex real estate transactions with a focus on commercial leasing for national and regional landlords. She also advised clients on financing issues, and mergers and acquisitions.
Kate was a Business Organizations and Transactions Associate with Hershner Hunter LLP, Eugene, OR from 2005 to 2010, where she advised regional banks and small to medium-sized businesses regarding financing and real property issues and helped business clients navigate issues such as choice of entity, limitation of liability and buy-sell agreements. She also negotiated and drafted contracts including work-out agreements, commercial leases, real estate purchase and sale agreements, merger agreements and purchase and sale agreements for asset sales and stock sales.
Kate was a Litigation Associate with Hershner Hunter LLP from 2005 to 2007. She assisted in all aspects of civil litigation including drafting pleadings and motions, jury instructions, and appellate briefs. Kate also assisted with depositions, trial preparation, jury selection and arguments.
Kate has held various law clerk positions and was also a Research Assistant for The Boston Foundation. She has also held multiple positions as a Reporter, Copy Editor and Correspondent for The Bulletin and The Oregonian newspapers.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Montana.
Hanover, Maryland 21076
