Katherine “Kate” Williams is a member of Barran Liebman’s employment law team. She brings extensive litigation experience having served as a Deputy District Attorney in multiple Oregon counties, along with her experience as a judicial clerk. Kate’s experience evaluating evidence, conducting legal analysis, and managing complex matters enables her to approach challenging legal issues with diligence and a practical understanding of the litigation process.

Katherine’s experience includes leading complex investigations and first-chairing hundreds of trials. She has managed high-volume caseloads, guiding cases from inception through trial. Earlier in her career, Katherine served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Eric J. Bergstrom, where she gained valuable experience in legal research and judicial decision-making.

Katherine earned her J.D. from Willamette University College of Law in 2013, where she received a Certificate of International and Comparative Law, served as a member of the Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution, and received the Human Rights Advocacy Award. She also served as a research assistant to Associate Dean Jeffrey Standen. Katherine earned her B.A. in Art History from Willamette University in 2008.

Representative Presentations

• Courtroom Processes and Testimony, Presenter, Oregon Association of Property & Evidence Officers Conference (2024, 2026)

• The Icons: Cases to Know by Name, Presenter, Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office (2026)

• Electronic Search Warrants, Presenter, Clackamas County Interagency Task Force Training (2024)