Mary Cate is experienced in drafting pleadings, written discovery, and pre-trial motions, producing and managing large case portfolios, and synthesizing volumes of discovery to prepare for trial. Mary Cate is also accomplished in legal research to aid in pinpointing and implementing strategies for favorable dispute resolution.
Prior to joining the firm full-time, Mary Cate was a summer associate and law clerk with Barnes & Thornburg. Mary Cate also worked as an intern for Chief Justice Loretta Rush of the Indiana Supreme Court, where she wrote criminal transfer memoranda to determine whether to grant transfer. She also researched case law to ensure the Court of Appeals’ decisions aligned with precedent. Additionally, she interned for Magistrate Judge Mark Dinsmore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, where she drafted orders and researched procedural and substantive issues.
During law school, Mary Cate wrote a law review note urging modernization of Indiana’s DNA evidence procedures through statutory reform. Mary Cate advocated for uniform DNA evidence preservation and increased access to DNA testing in the post-conviction context by testifying before the Indiana House Corrections and Criminal Law committee. In part due to her findings, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Bill 263 (effective July 2022), which included the majority of the proposals Mary Cate recommended in her note. This experience reinforced the importance of grit and perseverance—values Mary Cate has carried with her in her legal career.
An Indianapolis native, in her free time Mary Cate enjoys traveling. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she studied international business at Corvinus University in Budapest, Hungary. This experience provided Mary Cate with a unique perspective of global business which enables her to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders and resolve convoluted issues.
Professional and Community Involvement
Executive committee member, Indianapolis Bar Association Insurance Coverage
Member, Indiana State Bar Association
Associate member, Indianapolis Inn of Court
Parishioner, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church
Alumna, Phi Mu Fraternity
Honors
CALI Excellence Awards, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, 2019, 2021