Profile
Kate Benveniste is a versatile litigator known for providing practical guidance and skilled representation. Kate regularly handles complex business disputes and related claims, such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, and fraud. In this regard, Kate has represented clients in a variety of industries and sectors, including franchising, hospitality, technology, life sciences, and financial services.
A significant portion of Kate’s practice is devoted specifically to real estate litigation, where she has led matters through both mediation and trial. Kate holds an Arizona Real Estate License (inactive), and has represented proptech companies, landlords, tenants, developers, buyers, sellers, brokers, investors, lenders, and borrowers in a broad array of disputes. Kate’s real estate litigation experience includes matters involving leases, purchase and sale agreements, construction defects, ownership disputes, and loan defaults, among other issues.
Kate routinely appears in state and federal courts, and in arbitral forums. In particular, her dual bar license in Arizona and California allows her to seamlessly manage matters that span these adjoining states.
Prior to practicing law, Kate was the Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at USC Law School.
Capabilities
Experience
- Won seven-figure judgment after first chairing trial in commercial sublease dispute between tenant and subtenant.°
- Defeated receivership action brought by lender against major hotel brand following loan default.°
- Defeated eviction action on behalf of post-secondary school faced with ouster from downtown flagship campus.°
- Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of commercial landlord against former national restaurant tenant and affiliated entity in action involving claims for breach of lease and fraudulent transfer.°
- Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of luxury residential property developer in action brought by buyer alleging violation of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act and Colorado Consumer Protection Act.°
- Negotiated complex temporary lease assignments on behalf of franchisor after obtaining temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against franchisee.°
- Obtained vexatious litigant order on behalf mortgage lender in response to serial actions brought by borrower asserting claims for quiet title and wrongful foreclosure.°
- Obtained permanent injunction and six-figure fee award on behalf of franchisor against franchisee in federal court action arising from franchisee’s breach of the parties’ franchise agreement.°
- Defended franchisor in multiple actions nationwide alleging violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.°
- Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of franchisor in arbitration brought by former employee alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.°
- Negotiated favorable individual settlement on behalf of retailer in putative class action alleging claims under Florida’s Telephone Solicitation Act.°
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice and fee award on behalf of dietary supplement retailer in Lanham Act case brought by patent troll.°
- Represented medical device manufacturer in connection with civil investigative demand brought pursuant to the False Claims Act, resulting in no action.°
- Defended a pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple actions brought in state and federal courts asserting nuisance, RICO, and consumer fraud claims.°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Benveniste prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Southwest Rising Star, 2013
- Member, International Franchise Association
- Member, The Sedona Conference, 2019-Present
- Board Member, Phoenix Women’s Sports Association, 2013-2015
Credentials
- J.D., Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- B.A., University of Washington
- Arizona
- California