Building on her experience at two AmLaw 100 law firms and at a boutique law firm in Philadelphia, Kate Legge started Legge Law, LLC in the spring of 2015. She conducts confidential, highly sensitive, independent investigations on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, privately held companies, and large non-profits, including universities, in a wide range of matters related to claims of workplace violations, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, compliance, and Title IX. Kate was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of the "40 Under 40" – the city's most talented up-and-coming leaders.

 

Kate is also an experienced advisor to numerous Fortune 500 companies and privately held companies on a broad spectrum of employment issues. Throughout her years of practice, she has guided companies on hiring and termination procedures, workplace trainings, drafting and revising employee handbooks, drafting independent contractor/consulting/work for hire agreements, and evaluating potential liability from improper employment practices. Because of Kate’s extensive experience representing clients in the pharmaceutical, financial services, retail and higher education industries, she brings a depth of knowledge and expertise to each representation and is able to understand her clients' unique concerns and business practices. For example, Kate has represented several universities, advising high-level administrators on thorny issues including employment practices, faculty and staff training and Title IX. Kate has also represented several pharmaceutical companies in discrimination litigation and understands the unique discovery issues involved. Kate is a trusted member of her clients’ teams, providing them with succinct applicable counsel that balances legal concerns with business needs. 

 

Kate has experience representing clients in complex issues, achieving positive outcomes, including, when necessary, trying a case to conclusion. As first chair in employment litigation cases, she has defended numerous pharmaceutical, financial services and retail companies, as well as universities, against claims of discrimination and wage/hour violations. Kate has also enforced non-compete agreements and protected trade secrets for clients in the financial services, retail, and biotechnology industries by successfully attaining temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, including confirmation by the Third Circuit.

 

Kate has been recognized for her professional accomplishments and civic engagement which include 40 Under 40, Super Lawyers Rising Star, Best Lawyers, Lawyers on the Fast Track and as an Emerging Leader of the Year by the Main Line Chamber of Commerce. She is also a highly sought-after speaker and published author on legal and business topics. Kate sits on the board of Federation Early Learning Services, where she is a key member of the marketing committee.

 

Kate graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College, and magna cum laude from American University, Washington College of Law, where she was named to the Order of the Coif and served as Senior Articles editor for the American University International Law Review. Kate also worked for the United States Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

 

Education

• American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif; The American University International Law Review, Senior Article Editor

• Bowdoin College, A.B., cum laude, Government and Legal Studies/Environmental Studies

 

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

 

Awards

• 40 Under 40, 2015 – The Philadelphia Business Journal’s annual list of the most talented up-and-coming leaders

• Best Lawyers, 2014-2020 – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

• The Legal Intelligencer, Lawyer on the Fast Track, 2014 – Included in the annual listing of young Pennsylvania lawyers based upon demonstrated quality of legal work

• Emerging Leader of the Year, 2014 – Main Line Chamber of Commerce

• Super Lawyers, Rising Stars 2010-18 – Honor bestowed on no more than 2.5% of Pennsylvania lawyers

• Super Lawyers 2019-2020 - Honor bestowed on no more than 5% of Pennsylvania Laywers

 

Community Leadership

• Federation Early Learning Services – Board of Directors, 2013-2019

• National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms – New Member Subcommittee Co-Chair, 2013-2015

 

Training and Publications

• “A View of U.S. Export Compliance in the Cloud” – The Legal Intelligencer, December 2014

• “It’s A New World: How Technology Has Changed Our Ethical Duties” – Co-Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Business Lawyers’ Institute - Philadelphia, November 2014

• “Startup Savvy: Knowing When to Ask for an NDA” – The Legal Intelligencer Blog, August 2014

• “Shareholder Agreements: Where Financial Analysis and Drafting Skills Unite” – Speaker (Webcast), The American Law Institute – Philadelphia, May 2014

• “Green Tweets: The Promise and Peril of Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility Through Social Media” – Speaker, Villanova University’s Environmental Law Journal Symposium – Philadelphia, March 2014

• “Challenges and Opportunities in the Online Space” – Speaker, SEI Private Wealth Management – Philadelphia, October 2013

• “The Top 5 legal Considerations for your Social Media Marketing Strategy” – Speaker, GSMI Social Media Strategies Summit, New York, June 2013

• “On Her Own…Why Women Are Leaving BigLaw to Start Their Own Firms” – Speaker, Ark Group’s Women Legal 2013, New York, June 2013

• “Cloud Computing” – Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Internet Law Update – Philadelphia, April 2013

• “Ethical Uses of Social Media in Litigation” – Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Business Lawyers Institute – Philadelphia, November 2012

• “Changing the Culture of Copyright: What Pinterest Means to Content Owners” – The Legal Intelligencer, May 2012

• “Ethical Use of Social Media and Technology in Litigation” – Speaker, Sunoco Legal Department, April 2012

• “Safe in the Cloud? Top 10 Legal Updates About Cloud Computing Privacy and Security” – Speaker, Sunoco Legal Department, April 2012

• “Shareholder Disputes in Closely Held Corporations, Partnerships & LLCs” – Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute – Philadelphia, March 2012

• “Top Legal Updates Your Company Needs to Know about Social Media” – Speaker, LaSalle University’s Graduate Program in Instructional Technology Management (webinar), March 2012

• “Did They Really Post That On The Internet?  Getting Your Company Ready For Social Media And Employees Who Blog, Tweet, And Facebook” – Speaker, Commercial Real Estate Women (“CREW”) Philadelphia – The Hub Philadelphia, December, 2011

• “What You Need to Know about Trademarks to Avoid Malpractice” – Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Business Lawyers’ Institute – Philadelphia, November 2011

• “21st Century Marketing Intersecting with 20th Century Law: Where are we headed?” – Presenter, 2011 Social Media Legal Risks and Strategies Summit – Boston,  May 2011.

• “Dining Out:  Legal Issues for Restaurants and Their Customers” – Co-Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute – Philadelphia, April 2011

• “The Law at Work: Employment Law for Managers – Enforceability of Non-Competes and Protecting Trade Secrets” – Guest Lecturer, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania  – April 2011

• “Deal Documents in Litigation” – Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, February 2011

• “Did They Really Post That On The Internet? Getting Your Company Ready For Social Media And Employees Who Blog, Tweet, And Facebook” Business Lawyers’ Institute – Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, November 2010

• “Starting & Maintaining a Private Practice: Finding Cases, Taking Risks, and Building Relationships” – Speaker, The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University – Philadelphia,April 2010

• “Ethics Potpourri: Top Five Mistakes to Avoid” – Writer, 8th Annual Hospitality Law Conference – Houston, February 2010

• “Tweet Legal: Marketing for the 21st Century” – Speaker, Royal Bank of America – Philadelphia, December 2009

• “The Cat is Out of the Bag – The Top Five Pre-Litigation Mistakes Business Attorneys Make with Regard to Discoverable Documents” Business Lawyers’ Institute – Writer/Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute – Philadelphia, November 2009

• “Preserve Early and Often: A Case Study in the Benefits of Documents Retention and Litigation Response Planning in the Face of Electronic Document Discovery” – Writer/Speaker, Lorman Education Services – Philadelphia, March 2009

• Building Strategic Relationships – Professional Development for Future Lawyers –Speaker, University of Pennsylvania Law School – Philadelphia, February 2009

• “Antitrust Traps in the Hospitality Industry & Related Ethical Questions” – Writer, 6th Annual Hospitality Law Conference – Houston, February 2008