Katherine L. Oaks

Katherine has helped companies and individuals successfully respond to grand jury subpoenas and civil investigative demands from the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and from state Attorney General Offices and administrative agencies. In addition, she conducts internal investigations for clients, and advises corporate clients on developing regulatory compliance programs.

In her civil litigation practice, Katherine defends clients in complex litigation, including class actions. She has also represented corporate clients in environmental litigation and mediations with federal and state agencies for remediation of contaminated sites, in administrative proceedings including Clean Air Act permit appeals, and as common counsel in federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) contribution actions.

Katherine also maintains an active pro bono practice, representing clients in post-conviction habeas corpus proceedings in federal court, state criminal pardons applications, and adult name change petitions.

Prior to her role at Ballard Spahr, Katherine obtained her LL.M in Energy Law from Vermont Law School, where she also completed a fellowship at the Institute for Energy and the Environment. As the Global Energy Fellow, Katherine coordinated research on soil conservation legislation and water quality regulations, and conducted over 30 recorded interviews with legislators, regulators, and farmers. She also served as an extern in the Environmental Protection Division of the Office of the Vermont Attorney General, where she represented state agencies in administrative and civil matters, including environmental enforcement actions and product liability lawsuits related to PFAS contamination.