Kate M. Watkins

Counsel | She/Her/Hers

Overview

Kate M. Watkins is a counsel in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office and is a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition group. She counsels and represents clients in a wide range of transactional antitrust matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, competitor collaborations, and issues related to compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.  Kate also represents corporate clients in criminal antitrust investigations, most recently related to hiring practices and generic pharmaceuticals.  Her experience spans multiple industries, including aerospace, technology, transportation, health care, and consumer products.

Kate maintains an active and varied pro bono practice, including representing Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitioners, drafting comments on behalf of women’s rights organizations opposing regulatory restrictions of contraceptive coverage, and serving as a guardian ad litem or counsel in numerous child custody matters.

Kate is also an active member of the ABA Antitrust Section where she is serving as a 2020 Young Lawyer Representative. 

During law school, Kate served as executive articles editor for the American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal. She also interned at the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection. She was also recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Law Student by the National Association of Women Lawyers for her work in furthering the advancement of women in society and promoting the concerns of women in the legal profession. 

Career & Education

|
    • Department of Justice: Antitrust Division
      Legal Intern
    • Federal Trade Commission
      Legal Intern, Bureau of Consumer Protection
    • Department of Justice: Antitrust Division
      Legal Intern
    • Federal Trade Commission
      Legal Intern, Bureau of Consumer Protection
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with highest distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, 2012
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2016
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., with highest distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, 2012
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2016
    • District of Columbia
    • Texas (Inactive)
    • District of Columbia
    • Texas (Inactive)
  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Bar Association
      • Antitrust Section
      • Young Lawyers Division
    • National Association of Women Lawyers

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Bar Association
      • Antitrust Section
      • Young Lawyers Division
    • National Association of Women Lawyers

Kate's Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 01.24.24

FTC Announces Annual Update to HSR Thresholds

The Federal Trade Commission announced its annual updates to the thresholds and filing fees related to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) on Monday. These dollar thresholds are indexed annually based on changes in the U.S. gross national product and the Consumer Price Index....

Representative Matters

  • Counseling clients on potential antitrust liability associated with horizontal, vertical, and unilateral conduct while helping achieve business goals.
  • Counseling clients on compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
  • Providing a variety of antitrust compliance trainings to clients and trade associations across industries.
  • Representing a multinational corporation in a grand jury investigation into hiring practices (no-poach/non-solicitation).
  • Representing a major health care provider in a grand jury investigation alleging no-poaching agreements.
  • Representing United Technologies in connection with its pending merger with The Raytheon Company and its $30 billion acquisition of Rockwell Collins.
  • Representing Gwinnett Health System in its merger with Northside Hospital.
  • Representing AT&T in its proposed merger with Time Warner.
  • Providing a major online retailer with counseling and advocacy assistance associated with an FTC rulemaking.
  • Representing Humana Inc. in its proposed merger with Aetna Inc.
  • Counseling retail clients on necessary advertising disclosures and registrations for compliance with various state laws.

Kate's Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 01.24.24

FTC Announces Annual Update to HSR Thresholds

The Federal Trade Commission announced its annual updates to the thresholds and filing fees related to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) on Monday. These dollar thresholds are indexed annually based on changes in the U.S. gross national product and the Consumer Price Index....

Kate's Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 01.24.24

FTC Announces Annual Update to HSR Thresholds

The Federal Trade Commission announced its annual updates to the thresholds and filing fees related to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the HSR Act) on Monday. These dollar thresholds are indexed annually based on changes in the U.S. gross national product and the Consumer Price Index....