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Katherine A. McBride

Partner

T: 612.347.9153
kmcbride@meagher.com
F: 612.877.3047

Main Biography

Kate focuses her practice on appellate law and complex motions – especially those involving litigation issues, professional liability, insurance coverage, and other areas in which the firm maintains a trial practice.  She has handled more than 100 state and federal appeals.

Appellate law allows me to practice in the many interesting areas served by Meagher & Geer – providing our clients with continuity of strategy from initial claim through final appeal.  I really enjoy crafting a well-reasoned and proficient legal argument that will be interesting, concise and persuasive to a busy court.

Minnesota Law & Politics magazine has recognized Kate as a Super Lawyer® in the area of appellate law and as one of the state’s Top 50 Women Lawyers.

Kate is one of the founding board members of the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society and the chair of that organization's Education Committee.  As chair, she oversaw the creation of three new lesson plans about the judiciary that are now being used in classrooms throughout the state.  She is currently directing the Society's first essay contest in which high school seniors will compete for scholarships by writing on a designated court-related topic.  "It's been quite a privilege promoting legal literacy among school-age children," says Kate. 

Kate has also served as chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s appellate practice section and has taught appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School.  In addition, she was a co-editor of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s on-line resource site for appellate practitioners.  She is a frequent public speaker.

Outside the office, Kate pursues her love of writing by being a contributing author for a local magazine and now serves on that publication's editorial advisory board.  She also enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, and traveling.  Before earning her law degree, Kate was radio news correspondent and anchor.

Professional Affiliations

  • Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society
    • Founding member
    • Board of Directors
    • Education Committee, Chair
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Past Governing Council Member and Chair, Appellate Practice Section
  • Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • American Bar Association
  • University of St. Thomas School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Appellate Advocacy, 2005-2008

Accolades

  • Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Super Lawyers list, (only five percent of lawyers in the state were selected), 2002–2011
  • Recognized in the list of Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, 2010-2011
  • Recognized in the list of Top 100 Women Super Lawyers, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2006–2009
  • Recognized as a Top 40 Appellate Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2003–2004
  • Awarded the highest possible Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, AV® Preeminent ™ (AV is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies)

Speaking Engagements and Published Articles

  • Frequent Speaker on Judicial Election Reform
  • “Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage” Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook (3rd Ed. 2003)
  • "Serving Two Masters: Defense Counsel's Dilemma" Minnesota Defense (Spring 1992)
  • Speaker, MSBA Annual Convention Presentation on Petitions for Review (2007)
  • Speaker, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Presentation on Minnesota Constitutional Amendment Process (February 2006)
  • Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Presentation on Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (2005)
  • Speaker, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Medical Malpractice Seminar Presentation on Molloy v. Meier (2003)
  • Speaker, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association Presentation on Premises Liability (January 2002)
  • Speaker, American Family Insurance Northwest Regional Legal Meeting Presentation on Recent Appellate Developments (September 2000)
  • Speaker, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Presentation on Minnesota No Fault Law (May 2000)
  • Speaker, Continuing Legal Education Presentation on Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage: Multiple Claims, Excess Coverage (May 1998)

Reported Opinions/Recent Cases

  • Pioneer Industries, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 639 F.3d 461 (8th Cir. 2011)
  • Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Universal Crop Protection Alliance, LLC, 620 F.3d 926 (8th Cir. 2010)
  • Kidwell v. Sybaritic, Inc., 784 N.W.2d 220 (Minn. 2010)
  • Pond Hollow Homeowners Ass'n v. The Ryland Group, Inc., 779 N.W.2d 920 (Minn. App. 2010)
  • Star Windshield Repair, Inc. v. Western Nat. Ins. Co., 768 N.W.2d 346 (Minn. 2009)
  • Abbotts v. Campbell, 551 F.3d 802 (8th Cir. 2008)
  • Kidwell v. Sybaritic, Inc., 749 N.W.2d 855 (Minn. App. 2008)
  • Montes v. Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, 540 F.3d 852 (8th Cir. 2008)
  • Guzhagin v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 566 F.Supp.2d 962 (D. Minn. 2008)
  • Green v. Franklin Nat. Bank of Minneapolis, 459 F.3d 903 (8th 2006)
  • Allianz Ins. Co. of Canada v. Sanftleben, 454 F.3d 853 (8th 2006)
  • Wu v. Sorenson, 440 F.Supp. 2d 1054 (D. Minn. 2006)
  • Molloy v. Meier, 679 N.W.2d 711 (Minn. 2004)
  • Pususta v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 632 N.W.2d 549 (Minn. 2001)
  • Lynch ex rel. Lynch v. Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co., 626 N.W.2d 182 (Minn. 2001)
  • Kent v. Block, 623 N.W.2d 906 (Minn. App. 2001)
  • Schons v. State Farm Ins. Cos., 621 N.W.2d 743 (Minn. 2001)
  • Lynch v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, 612 N.W.2d 887 (Minn. App. 2000)
  • Gilbertson v. Leininger, 599 N.W.2d 127 (Minn. 1999)
  • State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Neises, 598 N.W.2d 709 (Minn. App. 1999)
  • Vue v. State Farm Ins. Companies, 582 W.2d 264 (Minn. 1998)
  • Kroning v. State Farm Auto Insurance Company, 567 N.W.2d 42 (Minn. 1997)
  • Wong v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, 562 N.W.2d 813 (Minn. App. 1997)
  • Hallas v. Naegele Outdoor Advertising, Inc., 541 N.W. 2d 594 (Minn. App. 1995)
  • American Family Ins. v. National Cas. Co., 515 N.W.2d 741 (Minn. App. 1994)
  • Anderson v. American Cas. Co. of Reading, Pa., 504 N.W.2d 467 (Minn. 1993)
  • Anderson v. American Cas. Co. of Reading, Pa., 497 N.W.2d 302 (Minn. App. 1993)
  • National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. v. Republic Underwriters Ins. Co., 429 N.W.2d 695 Minn. App. 1988)
  • Lake City Apartments v. Lund-Martin Co., 428 N.W.2d 100 (Minn. App. 1988)
  • Forster v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 423 N.W. 2d 691 (Minn. App. 1988)
  • Lake City Apartments v. Lund-Martin Co., 417 N.W.2d 704 (Minn. App. 1988)
  • R.L.B. Enterprises, Inc. v. Liberty Nat. Fire Ins. Co., 413 N.W.2d 551 (Minn. App. 1987)

 Community Contributions

  • Plymouth Magazine Advisory Board, 2011-2012
  • Plymouth Magazine Contributing Author
  • YMCA Youth Government Mentor
  • Volunteer Citizenship Merit Badge Counselor for Boy Scout Troop
  • Volunteer Parent Educator for Wayzata School District
  • Assistant Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack, 2000-2002
  • Assistant Den Leader for Cub Scout Den, 1998-2002 
  • Member of Site Council Advisory Council at a Wayzata elementary school, 1999-2001

Practice Areas

Education

  • University of Illinois
    ,
    B.A.
    ,
    1981
  • University of Illinois College of Law
    ,
    J.D.
    ,
    1985

State Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1985

Federal Court Admissions

  • United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2000
  • United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 1987