Overview
Katharine (Kate) O’Connor focuses her practice on complex antitrust litigation, antitrust investigations brought by the US antitrust regulators and state attorneys general, and counseling clients on antitrust compliance questions. She also regularly represents clients before the antitrust regulators related to mergers and acquisitions. Kate has experience representing clients in a wide array of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, food and finance.
As one client has noted, Kate’s “ability to synthesize complex information and prepare a concise synopsis demonstrates mastery of the subject matter.” Clients appreciate that Kate is “methodical, analytical, concise” and “solution-driven,” and one client has asserted, “she is the most efficient attorney I have ever worked with.”
Kate is a member of the firm’s antitrust and competition practice, which Global Competition Review has designated a “Global Elite” and “Illinois Elite” practice. She has been recognized by Global Competition Review, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA and Legal 500 US as excelling in the field of antitrust.
Kate has tried cases before juries, judges and arbitration panels, presented evidentiary hearings in federal and administrative courts and argued before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, federal district courts and state courts. One client has admired that Kate “has an excellent command of the courthouse [and] is really well-versed before judges.” She is a member of the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar.
While in law school, Kate was the managing articles editor of the University of Illinois Law Review and a legal extern to Magistrate Judge David G. Bernthal of the US District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
Results
- Obtained highly favorable settlement on behalf of large physician practice organization in multiple disputes arising out of payor agreements
- Obtained summary judgment defeating claims of monopolization, tying and exclusive dealing brought by an ambulatory surgery center against Southern Illinois Healthcare, a health system headquartered in Carbondale, Illinois
- Counseled several healthcare providers and other healthcare industry participants on antitrust issues arising out of affiliations, joint ventures, competitor collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions across the country, as well as questions surrounding provider and payor contracting
- Representing executive in putative class action claiming violations of the antitrust laws arising out of alleged agreement not to solicit employees
- Representing clients in the healthcare and manufacturing industries in investigations being conducted by State Attorneys General
- Representing healthcare technology company in putative class action alleging “vertical price fixing” arising out of alleged exclusive contracting
- Representing multiple healthcare providers in cases alleging claims of monopolization and illegal acquisitions under federal and state antitrust laws
- Achieved dismissal on behalf of a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) in a case alleging a vertical conspiracy under the antitrust laws between medical device manufacturer, distributors, and GPOs
- Defeated certification on impact and damages of proposed direct purchaser class in In re Steel Antitrust Litigation, which was the largest class action in the country when it was filed, and in which plaintiffs claimed damages in excess of a $17 billion for alleged price fixing and coordinated capacity restrictions
- Achieved dismissal with prejudice on behalf of joint defense group, which was affirmed by the Seventh Circuit, of all indirect purchaser claims in In re Steel Antitrust Litigation
- Negotiated highly favorable settlement, after the trial court dismissed the case all counts, for Silver Cross Hospital in a putative class action lawsuit alleging unfair competition and consumer fraud
- Obtained early and favorable settlement for hospital system in a lawsuit brought by a physician alleging monopolization, attempted monopolization, and exclusive dealing claims
- Represented several third-parties in litigation brought by the Federal Trade Commission to block the merger of two competing health systems in northern Illinois
- Secured antitrust clearance and avoided second request for on behalf of a large private label food manufacturer in multiple transactions
- Served as a member of a trial team that secured a complete defense verdict for Celanese, a leading producer of chemicals, fibers and engineered plastics, in case seeking approximately $4 billion in damages
- Served as a member of a trial team that obtained a favorable settlement for a leading alcohol beverage supply company
- Second-chaired a trial in a federal district court, representing a construction and manufacturing equipment distributor
- Argued before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a pro bono case, obtaining a reversal and remand for a client for violations of the client’s Miranda and Sixth Amendment rights (United States v. Wysinger, 683 F.3d 784 (7th Cir. 2012))
Recognitions
- Crain’s Chicago Business, Women in Law, 2024
- Chambers USA, Antitrust, 2022-2024
- The Legal 500 US, Next Generation Partner, Antitrust: Civil Litigation, 2020-2024
- Global Competition Review, Recommended Lawyer, 2022
- Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under Hot List, 2019-2020, Future Star 2021-2022
- Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Illinois: Antitrust Litigation, 2018-2019
Community
- American Health Lawyers Association
Credentials
Education
University of Illinois College of Law, JD, summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2010
University of Chicago, BA, with honors, 2001
Admissions
Illinois
Courts/Agencies
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Western District of Michigan
US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Languages
English
Spanish
