Professional Biography
Image of Kathleen O'Sullivan

Kathleen (Katie) M. O'Sullivan Partner

  • Seattle

    D +1.206.359.6375

    F +1.206.359.9000

    Seattle

    1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900

    Seattle, WA 98101-3099

    +1.206.359.6375

    KOSullivan@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

Katie O’Sullivan’s practice focuses on the representation of business clients facing high-stakes litigation. In more than 25 years of practice, she has worked on a wide range of trial court cases and appeals. With a deep focus on representing Fortune 100 and other leading companies across industries in consumer class actions or other related cases or investigations pending across the country, Katie sees her role as serving as a trusted advisor to achieve her client’s objectives. Katie has also worked on appeals across a broad spectrum of legal issues, including antitrust, contracts and business torts, ERISA, product labeling, privacy, and product liability. In all of her cases, as well as her leadership within the litigation practice, Katie has deeply invested in improving the quality of the firm’s written and oral advocacy.

As the immediate-past chair, Katie led the 16-member Executive Committee in its strategic, policy-making, and oversight functions, while working closely with the firm’s Management Committee and Senior Leadership Team. Katie also led the development of the firm’s 2023 strategic plan. Prior to becoming chair of the firmwide Executive Committee, Katie served for three years as firmwide chair of Perkins Coie’s Litigation practice, leading a team of more than 250 lawyers in 17 U.S. offices.

While working on big cases for great companies, Katie has devoted thousands of hours to pro bono matters. She has volunteered her time to try to improve the legal profession as a whole, having served on the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors and chaired the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Katie currently serves on the American Law Institute Council and the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society board. Katie is a former chair of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

Chambers 2023-bl2024 Lawyer of the Year

Ranked by Chambers & Best Lawyers

Named “Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America, 2024
Ranked by Chambers USA Six Years in a Row

Professional Recognition

  • Listed in Chambers USA as "America’s Leading Litigation Lawyer" 2018 – 2023
  • Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Appellate Practice, 2016, 2024
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation, 2009 – 2024
  • Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, “Washington's Super Lawyers," 2007 – 2023
  • Co-Recipient of awards for IOLTA Supreme Court litigation (American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, Perkins Coie)

Professional Leadership

  • Elected to governing Council of American Law Institute (2015); member of American Law Institute since 2006
  • Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society, Board Member, 2017 – present
  • Washington Commission on Judicial Conduct, Lawyer Member, 2007 – 2015; Chair, 2012 – 2014
  • Ninth Circuit Appellate Lawyer Representative, 2010 – 2013
  • Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington, Chair of Appellate Practice Committee, 2007 and 2008
  • Washington State Bar Association, Board of Governors, 2003 – 2006

Community Involvement

Related Employment

  • Miller Cassidy Larroca & Lewin, Washington, DC, Summer Associate, 1996
  • Perkins Coie, Seattle, WA, Summer Associate, 1995
  • DNA – People’s Legal Services, Window Rock, Navajo Nation, AZ, Law Clerk, 1994

Clerkships

  • Hon. Harold H. Greene, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 1996 - 1997
  • Hon. M. Margaret McKeown, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1998 - 1999

Experience

News

Insights

RELATED INFORMATION

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, Senior Notes Editor, Georgetown Law Journal
  • Yale University, B.A., History, cum laude