In a career spanning over 18 years, Ms. Kathleen Carter has become a leading litigator in
Southern California as well as an expert in litigation management. Her reputation as a
tough, uncompromising trial attorney has allowed her to achieve great success not only
for her clients, but personally as well. Whether representing businesses or individuals
on either side of the aisle, Ms. Carter's wide expertise in handling matters ranging from
employment law and consumer actions to commercial disputes has allowed her to earn a
position of great respect amongst her peers.
Ms. Carter's ability to consistently deliver iron-clad arguments and winning trial strategies
has made her the litigator of choice for clients seeking only the best in legal representation.
She has effectively represented large national corporations in multi-million dollar lawsuits,
won seven figure damage awards for clients involved in personal injury cases, and successfully
defended an international firm in a high stakes class action matter.
In addition to her impressive trial record, she has also proven herself to be a highly
capable businesswoman. She has worked with several companies in establishing
transactional planning strategies resulting in marked growth for those firms. Her
ability to understand the complex needs of effective business management resulted
in an offer to manage one of the top 50 law firms in Orange County, California, as
ranked by the Orange County Business Journal. Under her direction, the firm was
recognized in 2002 as the fastest growing law group in the county.
Ms. Carter earned her Bachelors degree from Saint Anselm College in Manchester,
New Hampshire. She received her Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School in South
Royalton, Vermont and her MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
She has won the American Jurisprudence Award for her work in Property, Conflicts of
Law and Moot Court. She was given the Award of Excellency in Appellate Advocacy
at the Thomas M. Debevoise Invitational Moot Court Competition
Education: • Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA (Masters of Business Administration - 2007)
• Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT (Juris Doctor cum laude – 1991)
• Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH (Bachelor of Arts – 1988)
Bar Admissions:
• State Bar of California
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• United States Court of Federal Claims
• United States District Court for the Central District of California
• United States District Court for the Northern District of California
• United States District Court for the Southern District of California
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
• United States District Court for Southern District of Indiana
Professional Memberships:
• Orange County Bar Association
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• National Association of Professional and Executive Women
• BUZZ, An Executive Women’s Think Tank
Representative Cases:
• Won $17.5 million jury verdict in paraplegia case for 36 year old man injured in a construction site accident, representing the highest gross verdict for an individual plaintiff in the Rancho Cucamonga branch of the San Bernardino Superior Court.
• Obtained $10 million dollar settlement in commercial dispute involving copyright infringement on behalf of a leading national corporation against largest clothing retailer in the United States.
• Tried commercial dispute between multiple corporations and shareholders regarding stock disputes and ownership rights obtaining verdict for client corporation in excess of $1.5 million.
• Defended successfully class action litigation against large international corporation defeating certification of class claims under the Song Beverly Act and California Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
• Tried brain injury case against corporation to jury verdict resulting in settlement of approximately $1 million.
• Won defense jury verdict in failure to engage in interactive process and disability discrimination case on
behalf of employer involving effects of medication and transient disability.
• Successfully defended overtime, meal and rest period case by a part-time school teacher and administrative
assistant against a private school employer.
• Non-suited age discrimination claim by senior management employee against non-profit organization.
• Obtained jury award in collection claim while successfully defending cross-complaint alleging FDCPA
violations.
• Successfully defended multi-plaintiff lawsuit involving claims of improper condominium conversion in Los
Angeles County asserting violations of Los Angeles Municipal Code and California Government Code as
well as unfair competition claims.
Presentations:
• “998 Offer Post-Verdict Valuation - How It Really Works” - September, 2005