Profile
Katherine M. Clemente is an Appeals & Legal Issues associate in Greenberg Traurig’s New York office. Katie focuses her practice on appellate litigation and trial support, which includes preservation of error during trial, pre- and post-trial motion practice, preparation for appeal, appellate briefing, and oral argument. She has robust experience litigating appellate matters in both state and federal courts, and has been the lead drafter of briefs and petitions in numerous appeals. Katie’s practice covers a variety of substantive legal issues and litigation areas, and includes pro bono work. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and New York.
Concentrations
- Appellate practice
- Bankruptcy appeals
- Commercial litigation
- Trial support
Capabilities
Experience
- Lead appellate counsel for Fortune 50 company in a defamation case, which concerned immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, 47 U.S.C. § 230. After an interactive oral argument, the Florida First District Court of Appeal issued a thorough opinion adopting our arguments and affirming the judgment. Successfully defended grant of summary judgment on appeal.
- As lead appellate brief-writer, defended consumer products company on appeal from a three-week jury trial, in which a former executive alleged discrimination after she had been fired for improper conduct and violation of company policy. On appeal, the former executive raised numerous purported errors and legal issues, all of which were rejected by the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal in a detailed opinion that accepted the arguments set forth in our client’s brief. Obtained full affirmance of defense verdict.
- Member of appellate team that represented a United States territorial government, and obtained precedent-setting 118-page opinion from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which vacated key portions of the district court’s decision. This high-stakes appeal concerned complex legal issues relating to the government’s retirement system, in which the government had a judgment against it in the amount of $63 million and future potential liability of up to $1.6 billion. This was an enormous win for our client, and helped it to avoid near-certain financial ruin.
- Summer Associate, Greenberg Traurig, 2014
- Legal Intern, Human Rights Clinic, University of Miami School of Law, 2013-2014
- Judicial Intern, Hon. Jose E. Martinez, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2013
- Legal Assistant, ACLU Women’s Rights Project, 2010-2012
Recognition & Leadership
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Dade County Bar Association
- Member, The Florida Bar
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, National Association of Women Lawyers
Credentials
Education
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J.D., magna cum laude, University of Miami School of Law, 2015
- Senior Notes & Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review
- Miami Scholar
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B.S., magna cum laude, with honors, New York University, 2010
- Recipient, Letha Hurd Morgan Award
- Lewis Rudin City Scholarship
Admissions
- Florida
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth 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 Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit