Kate Ross is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation Department. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, unfair competition, and intellectual property matters with international reach. She also has experience in government and regulatory investigations and employment law. She was selected as a SuperLawyers New York Metro Rising Star for 2020.

Ms. Ross also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on civil rights and gender equality. In 2025, she was honored by the New York Legal Assistance Group with its 2025 Champion of Justice Award.

From 2020 to 2022, Ms. Ross served as a law clerk to Hon. Judith C. McCarthy in the Southern District of New York. Prior to clerking, Ms. Ross worked as an associate in the New York office of an international law firm.

Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Advise international law firm in connection with allegations of malpractice arising out of advice with respect to purchase and financing of foreign energy facility.
  • Represented international law firm in connection with allegations of malpractice arising out of advice with respect to Section 5 of the FTC Act; secured favorable settlement after mounting an aggressive defense.
  • Represented commercial real estate investment trust in a putative class action alleging breach of contract and various tort claims; secured favorable settlement after mounting an aggressive defense.
  • Represented foreign hotel chain in connection with wrongful death suit involving complex issues of foreign law and jurisdiction. 
  • Represented Delaware entity in declaratory judgment, fraud, and anticipatory breach of contract actions concerning alleged breach of asset purchase agreement.*
  • Represented former managers and owners of holding company in connection with fraudulent conveyance action.*

Unfair Competition and Intellectual Property

  • Represent generic pharmaceutical manufacturer in connection with putative class action alleging Sherman Act violations based on unlawful reverse payment scheme. 
  • Represented not-for-profit scholarly organization in copyright and trademark dispute against individuals and entities located abroad that reproduced the client’s work on the Internet without authorization.  Obtained an injunction and award of statutory damages on behalf of client.
  • Represented Japanese distributor of medical products in an ICC arbitration, including an evidentiary hearing, regarding breach of contract, Lanham Act, and deceptive trade practices claims.*
  • Represented fashion designer in Lanham Act and breach of contract action against licensee.*
  • Represented automobile battery manufacturer in JAMS arbitration against former employee who used manufacturer’s trade secrets in patent applications without manufacturer’s consent; secured favorable settlement after mounting an aggressive defense.*

White Collar and Government Investigations

  • Represented tax-exempt organization in connection with political corruption and fraud trial concerning propriety of charitable donations. 
  • Represented financial institutions, financial advisors, and other securities professionals subject to investigations by the SEC and FINRA regarding alleged misappropriation of assets, churning, and unsuitability claims.*
  • Represented supervisor at financial institution in connection with investigation by SEC regarding alleged securities fraud and MSRB rule violations, resulting in favorable outcome for client.*
  • Represented foreign bank in connection with money laundering investigation by Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, resulting in favorable outcome for client.*

Employment

  • Assist employers in drafting effective workplace policies that comply with state and federal regulatory requirements and meet individual workplace needs.
  • Advise not-for-profit employers on a range of employment issues, including those related to anti-harassment and discrimination policies, workplace policies, leave and vacation policies, and worker classification.

Pro bono

  • Representing criminal defendant in appeal of conviction before New Jersey Supreme Court under Sixth Amendment based on propriety of jury instructions.
  • Successfully represented incarcerated client in administrative appeal of parole denial and subsequent Article 78 proceeding.
  • Assisted Civilian Representative of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Handschu Committee with respect to NYPD’s compliance with the terms of a consent decree that regulates NYPD’s policies and practices regarding investigations of political activity.
  • Prepared and filed amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Advocates for Children of New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and New York Legal Assistance Group in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, regarding exhaustion requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • Prepared and filed amicus brief in Florida Supreme Court on behalf of National Council of Jewish Women and other faith-based organizations in Planned Parenthood v. Florida, regarding impact of fifteen-week abortion ban on rights to privacy and religious freedom under Florida Constitution.
  • Represented asylum applicants fleeing Ecuador and Ghana due to gender violence, gang activity, and disability discrimination.*

Representations denoted with an asterisk were completed prior to joining Patterson Belknap.

  • New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Southern District Court of New York
  • Eastern District Court of New York

  • French

  • Associate Leadership Institute, New York City Bar Association (2020)

  • Co-Author, "There Are Limits to Congress’s Investigatory Powers," Business Crimes Bulletin (December 17, 2025)
  • Co-Author, “Takeaways from DOJ, FTC End to Collaboration Guidelines,” Law360 (January 9, 2025)
  • Co-Author, "Do the ‘Shoes’ Really Fit?: Navigating the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy,” New York Law Journal (June 7, 2019)

  • Fordham University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2017)
    • Paul Fuller Scholar
    • Symposium Editor, Fordham Urban Law Journal
    • Executive Board, Brendan Moore Trial Advocates
  • Haverford College (B.A., magna cum laude, 2012)