Kate Kimpel (she/her)
“Too often, investigations become missed opportunities, where both leadership and staff are left frustrated, disconnected, and distrustful of one another and where the underlying causes of the original conflict are not sufficiently addressed. We believe there is a better way.” - Kate Kimpel
More about Kate
Kate has investigated working conditions and claims of mistreatment, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the full range of workplaces – from small, local nonprofits and educational institutions to large, multinational corporations. While much of Kate’s work has been conducted in confidential and privileged settings, Kate’s publicly-reported work includes that involving Garda World, the Humane Society of the United States, KPMG, Novartis, NYU, Sierra Club, Sunlight Foundation, the Elizabeth Warren Presidential Campaign. Because she has helped launch and grow both legal and non-legal businesses; recruited, trained, and managed employees in a range of contexts; and served on the boards of mission-driven organizations, Kate’s advice and approach is carefully calibrated to reflect the realities and challenges that leaders face.
Training & Education
J.D., Yale Law School
B.A., Vassar College
Case Investigator, D.C. Public Defender
Bar Admissions
DC Bar
U.S. Supreme Court
Contact
kate@ramonastrategies.com
(202) 768-9662
Background
Whether leading investigations, advising Executive Teams and Boards of Directors, or crafting organizational reconciliation and restorative processes, Katherine Kimpel draws on a depth of experience that includes having previously served as a Named and Managing Partner at a plaintiffs' litigation boutique, where she helped grow it into one of the preeminent employment discrimination law firms in the country. While there, Kate was Lead Counsel in a range of nationwide discrimination class actions. Her victories included winning the largest gender discrimination class action ever tried, where Kate and her team obtained an over $250 Million verdict for the more than 5,000 women in the pharmaceutical industry; and securing class treatment in a $400 Million class action on behalf of thousands of women in the consulting industry. Kate also successfully secured hundreds of millions of dollars for employees in race discrimination, overtime, and individual sexual assault, rape and harassment matters. Kate's experience shattering ceilings for women and breaking down walls for marginalized communities extends into the highest courts. Kate has authored several Supreme Court petitions and amicus briefs, including the amicus brief on behalf of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Dukes v. Wal-Mart and the amicus brief on behalf of health care practitioners in Young v. U.P.S.. Kate is often asked to write for national news outlets, legal publications, and for women’s organizations, and Kate has served as an expert on gender and pregnancy discrimination for national news and radio. Kate presents to the EEOC, the American Bar Association, and various law and business schools -- providing trainings on gender, race and LGBTQ discrimination; wage and hour and fair-pay laws; and other employer-based anti-discrimination efforts. Kate has regularly taught a course on the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws at Yale Law School. Throughout her career, Kate has garnered significant recognition from the legal community. The National Law Journal named the office under her leadership "Washington DC’s Employment Litigation Department of the Year" in 2013 and named Kimpel one of the 75 most accomplished female attorneys working in the legal professions today and one of DC’s 40 under 40. She was selected for DC’s Super Lawyers list; and was identified as a “female powerbroker” and one of five employment lawyers who are Rising Stars in the field by Law360. Ms. JD awarded Kimpel its “Woman of Inspiration” recognition, and Mashable named Kate one of the “eleven incredible women in law promoting social justice for all.” Kate previously served as Special Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Rights. Before becoming a lawyer, Kate was a fourth-grade teacher for the DC Public Schools. Kate is a proud wife, mother, godmother, aunt (of three indomitable nieces and two heartbreakingly-adorable nephews), and caretaker of an anxious beagle and a cat who fails to respect others’ personal space.