As part of the firm’s continued growth in California, Alston & Bird has added Katherine (Kate) E. Hertel, previously of Jones Day, as counsel to the firm’s Litigation & Trial Practice Group.
“As part of Alston & Bird’s long-term growth strategy, we continue to strengthen many of our existing practice areas with the addition of high caliber attorneys, such as Kate. Her experience in the areas of complex business litigation and white collar crime will further bolster our firm’s reputation for providing best-in-class litigation capabilities,” said Thomas Wingard, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Los Angeles office. “We are excited to have Kate join the firm.”
In the white collar crime arena, Hertel has represented clients in federal grand jury investigations and participated in pre-indictment negotiations in complex white collar matters; she has first-chaired several criminal trials and participated in many complex mediations. Hertel has prepared witnesses to testify in a variety of civil and criminal proceedings, including trials, judgment debtor examinations, depositions and before federal grand juries. She is currently co-lead counsel for a prominent Los Angeles law firm in four civil lawsuits that arose out of the criminal investigation and trial of Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano.
Hertel’s practice as a litigator has spanned the gamut, representing clients on matters involving RICO, patent, copyright and trademark infringement, fraud, bankruptcy, labor and employment, products liability, trust and estate litigation and entertainment. Hertel’s clients have included Fortune 500 companies, attorneys, law firms and entertainment executives. She has also authored a number of articles on international business transactions and patent litigation.
Hertel received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1999 and her B.A. from the University of California, San Diego in 1996.
In addition to Hertel, Alston & Bird’s Products Liability Practice Group added Jesus Torres, previously with Hurrell Cantrall LLP, as an associate. He received his J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2002 and his B.A. from the California State University, Northridge in 1996.