Katie Connolly
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Related services and key industries
Biography
Katie Connolly is a senior associate in the International Arbitration group in San Francisco. Her practice has focused on complex cross-border disputes, including international commercial and investor-state arbitration, enforcement of international awards and judgments, and complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. Having formerly resided in the firm's Washington, D.C. office, Katie maintains close ties to D.C. clients and colleagues. Katie has been recognized as a Rising Star by Legal 500 (2023, 2024), Super Lawyers (DC 2020 and Northern California 2021-2024), and CPR (2023). Katie's representation of corporate and individual clients has spanned a diverse range of business sectors, including energy, infrastructure, mining, aerospace, banking and finance, manufacturing, securities and technology. Her extensive experience in arbitration and litigation encompasses disputes arising from purchase and sale agreements, energy contracts, joint operating agreements, sales of goods, and investment agreements.
Katie serves as assistant editor for ITA in Review, which is the flagship publication of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), as well as serving as an ITA Advisory Board Member. She has taught as an adjunct professor of Global Lawyering Skills at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California. Katie actively contributes to the endeavors of California Arbitration through her dedicated service as co-chair of Young CalArb.
Katie is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia, as well as the Southern, Northern, Central and Eastern Districts of California, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Katie currently serves as Vice-Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright's US WiN (Women's) Network and WiN Council, which are dedicated to building and maintaining an accessible, dynamic and inspirational environment for women within the firm, providing opportunities to make meaningful contacts globally, and accessing role models, mentors and sponsors at all levels.
Professional experience
Collapse allJD, cum laude, Georgetown University Law Center, 2016
BA, Distinction in General Scholarship, Legal Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 2012
At Georgetown Law, Katie was a Senior Executive Editor of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal, a legal research and writing fellow, and student counsel in the Georgetown Appellate Litigation Clinic. She interned at the South African Human Rights Commission and at the Appellate Division for Environment and Natural Resources of the Department of Justice. Georgetown Law awarded Katie special recognition for her pro bono work.
At Berkeley, Katie graduated with departmental honors in Legal Studies after completing a thesis, "The Aliens Among Us: U.S. National Security and the 'Forever Foreigner'". She presented her thesis at the Fourth Annual Legal Studies Undergraduate Research Conference in April 2012.
- California State Bar
- District of Columbia Bar
- International Arbitration
Represented Swiss claimant and counter-defendant regarding equipment supply to a desalination plant in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings in London under Israeli law. The case resulted in an award granting client's full claim and two take-nothing awards on the counterclaims, with costs awarded in claimant's favor of nearly nine-times the initial claim.
Represented international energy company asserting over US$ 100 million in claims in NAFTA arbitration against the Government of Canada under ICSID Arbitration Rules. After the tribunal's post-hearing decision rejecting Canada's objections to jurisdiction and admissibility, the disputing parties reached a history-making settlement.
Represented foreign sovereign in multi-jurisdictional recognition and enforcement proceedings in the U.S. arising from an investor-state arbitration in which the amount at issue exceeds $500 million.
Represented major mining company in multi-jurisdictional, global recognition and enforcement proceedings of an arbitral award involving a foreign sovereign where amount at issue exceeds $750 million
Represented international conglomerate claimant in US$ 350 million commercial dispute in the financing sector in long-running LCIA arbitration in London which has resulted in multiple interim awards in claimant's favor. The arbitration is proceeding to a much-anticipated quantum phase.
Represented international maritime classification society in AAA arbitration seeking a no-liability declaration for over EUR 40 million in alleged damages claimed by major European EPC firm arising from failure of a certified offshore component. The case was settled for a fraction of the EPC firm's claimed damages.
Represented armored vehicle company in commercial dispute with US-based supplier in ICC proceedings in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Litigation and Commercial Disputes
Defended energy and chemical company in Louisiana state RICO lawsuit. After obtaining an early dismissal of the majority of plaintiff's claims, plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit.
Defended defense contractor in transnational litigation with US-based supplier. After two week jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of California, the jury returned a zero liability verdict.
Represented foreign bank plaintiff in fraudulent transfer litigation involving the recognition of foreign judgments in Virginia state court. After a multi-week jury and bench trial, a verdict was returned in the plaintiff's favor. The judgment was then enforced and ultimately a settlement was reached.
Defended federal construction client in Miller Act case. After two week bench trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, a verdict was returned for a fraction of plaintiff's claim.
Represented a construction company in arbitration award recognition proceedings in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. Obtained recognition and enforcement of the award.
Represented shareholder in multi-million dollar fraud dispute against co-shareholder and corporation involving proceeds from sale of commercial property in California state court.
Represented corporate plaintiff bringing claims against former ERISA counsel in California state court. The case was settled for majority of plaintiff's claimed damages.
Defended retail client against D.C. consumer protection claims resulting in dismissal prior to trial. Continued representation of retail client on appeal by plaintiff before the Court of Appeals.
Represented high net worth individual and family in multi-jurisdictional, global fraudulent transfer and RICO proceedings.
Represented commercial party in commercial lease dispute in California state court.
- Legal 500 US, Rising Star, International arbitration, The Legal 500, 2023-2024
- Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, International arbitration, The Legal 500, 2023-2024
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2022
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2021
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2020
Co-author, Venezuela: One country with two governments, International Arbitration Report, February 2024
Co-author, "2023 Year in Review: A Look at International Arbitration in California," Kluwer Arbitration Blog, January 2024
Co-author, "2023 Arbitration and ADR year-in-review," International Law Office, January 2024
Co-author, "US discovery in support of arbitration", International Arbitration Report, November 2022
Co-author, "Recent key U.S. decisions", International Arbitration Report, June 2021
Co-author, "Monster Energy distribution dispute: amicus briefs do not create evident partiality," International Law Office, April 2020
Co-author, "United States: International Arbitration," The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides, 2020
Co-author, "Recent developments in Section 1782 discovery," Financier Worldwide Magazine, January 2020
Co-author, "Disclosure in international arbitration: using US courts to obtain discovery for non-US proceedings," International Law Office, May 2019
Author, "California loosens restrictions on counsel in international arbitrations," International Law Office, August 2018
Co-author, "Enforcement regimes under New York and Washington Conventions - a tale of two cities," International Law Office, June 2018
Co-author, "Third Circuit finds non-debtor cannot assert DUFTA claim," International Law Office, April 2018
Co-Presenter, Discovery Trends for International Arbitration, Norton Rose Fulbright, California CLE Blitz, January 25, 2022
- Assistant Editor, "ITA in Review", Institute for Transnational Arbitration
- Advisory Board Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration
- Member, Young Practitioners Committee, California Arbitration
- Member, Law Firms and Corporations Committee, California Arbitration
- Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
- Member, California Bar Association
- Spanish