M. Katie Gates Calderon’s practice focuses on the defense of corporations in individual and complex tort, product liability and consumer protection matters, as well as counseling tobacco, food, beverage, dietary supplement and pet food companies on matters governed by the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, among other regulatory schemes.
As part of her litigation practice, Katie has litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout the country, including those involving asbestos products, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.
She has played an active role in discovery, motion practice and arbitration for complex class actions and, she has handled all stages of litigation ranging from fact investigation, deposition and expert witness preparation through pre-trial, trial and post-trial motions.
As part of her regulatory practice, Katie advises clients regarding FDA, USDA and FTC compliance. This includes counseling companies regarding FDA and USDA label reviews, policy issues, emerging legal developments and other risk-management considerations.
In this capacity, Katie has helped clients respond to FDA inspector requests, Form 483 findings and warning letters. Additionally, she advises clients on data security breach investigation and response as well as data privacy compliance with state and federal laws.
Her data breach response and compliance experience includes crafting incident response plans for multinational corporations and assisting in information security assessments.
Katie serves in leadership roles within and outside the firm. She is a member of Shook’s Executive Committee and is involved in influential roles in professional organizations. Katie is also dedicated to using her considerable skills in community outreach.
Pro bono work is important to Katie and her practice. She has taken on numerous pro bono cases representing both parents and children in family court, and she represented a Missouri inmate in a Section 1983 action that was tried in federal court in 2017.
Katie gained valuable courtroom experience in law school as a student intern for the University of Kansas School of Law Paul E. Wilson Defender project. In that capacity, Katie played a large role in overturning a second-degree murder verdict in a habeas case.
Katie received her B.A., magna cum laude in concentration, from Harvard University where she played for the Harvard Women’s Basketball Team. Katie was team captain and earned All-Ivy League Honors her senior year.
Education:
- J.D., University of Kansas, 2007
- Intern for The Hon. John W. Lungstrum, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
- Student Bar Association, Vice President
- Paul E. Wilson Defender Project
- Paul Wilson Advocacy Award
- Lloyd M. Kagey Leadership Award
- B.A., magna cum laude, Harvard University, 2002 (Certificate in Latin American Studies; Citation in Spanish)
- Women’s Basketball Team, Team Captain – All-Ivy League Honors
Bar Admissions:
- Florida
- Kansas
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
Memberships:
- Shook, Executive Committee Member
- American Bar Association
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
- International Cannabis Bar Association
Community Involvement:
- Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions
- Johnson County Bar Foundation, Board Member
Cost
Rate : $$$