Resume - Kathryn Karcher

Areas of Practice


Ms. Karcher has handled over 150 appeals and writ proceedings as lead counsel and regularly assists trial counsel with appellate issues in pre- and post-judgment proceedings. She has handled appeals in many areas of civil law including business disputes, employment, tax, product defect and other torts, probate, election and initiative law, class action securities fraud, First Amendment, Internet, intellectual property, bankruptcy, legal ethics, civil procedure, anti-SLAPP, insurance, land use, and real estate. Ms. Karcher has done substantial pro bono work, including serving as lead counsel and as the principal author of an amicus curiae brief, respectively, in appeals resulting in published decisions.

 

Professional Experience


  • Principal of Karcher Harmes LLP (2010-Present)
  • Private practice (2008 – 2010)
  • Chair, Appellate Practice Group, DLA Piper (2005 – 2007)
  • Partner, DLA Piper and its predecessor Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich
    (1995 – 2007)
  • Associate, Gray Cary Ames & Frye and Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek
    (1986 – 1994)

 

Professional Memberships and Honors


  • California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (2006 – Present)
    Chair, Southern California Membership Committee (2011)
  • Certified Appellate Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization (2000 – Present)

  • Street Fighter of the Year Award (2011)
  • San Diego Super Lawyers® (2007 – 2012)
  • Super Lawyers® Top 25 Women Lawyers in San Diego County (2008, 2010 – 2012)
  • Washington Super Lawyers® (2012)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2006 – 2012)
  • U.S. News and World Report's "Best Law Firms" in Appellate Practice (2011 – 2012)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rated (1997 - Present)
  • YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry Award (2003)
  • Award for Exemplary Service, San Diego County Bar Association (2001)

  • Committee on Appellate Courts, State Bar of California (1998 – 2002)
    Chair and Vice-Chair (2001 – 2002)
  • Appellate Law Advisory Commission to the California Board of Legal Specialization (2002 – 2005)
  • California Supreme Court Historical Society Board of Directors (2003 – 2006)
  • Gerald Brown Appellate Inn of Court, founding member (2002 – 2006)

  • San Diego County Bar Association (1986 – Present)
  • Appellate Court Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association (1995 – Present)
    Chair and Vice-Chair (2000 – 2001)
    Chair, Civil Rules and Programs Subcommittees (1998 – 1999)

  • Lawyers Club of San Diego (1987 – 2005, 2008 – Present)
    Board of Directors (1990)
    Lawyers Club Magazine Editor (1989)
  • California Appellate Practice Handbook Chapter Editor (6th and 7th eds.)

  • King County Bar Association (2007 – Present)
  • Appellate Practice Section of the King County Bar Association (2007 – Present)
  • Kitsap County Bar Association (2010 – Present)

 

Admissions


  • State Bar of California (1986 – Present)
  • State Bar of Washington (2007 – Present)
  • Washington D.C. Bar (2007 – 2009)
  • U.S. Supreme Court (2001 – Present)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2000 – Present)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2002 – Present)
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (1987 – Present)

 

Education


  • 1986, Juris Doctor, University of California at Los Angeles, School of Law
  • 1981, Bachelor of Arts, University of California at San Diego

 

Pro Bono


  • Gregory v. State Board of Control (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th 1341, lead counsel
  • Lammers v. Superior Court (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th 1309, principal author of amicus curiae brief
  • San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinic (1987-1989)

 

Community Service


  • Special Education Program Council, Bainbridge Island School District (2008 – Present)
  • Peninsula Family YMCA
    Chair, Board of Directors (2002)
    Board of Directors (1998 – 2004)