Katheleen A. Ehrhart

First and foremost, Katheleen A. Ehrhart is a trial lawyer and has tried cases and arbitrations in federal and state courts throughout the United States. As one client has described, “Kathy is a superb litigator . . . She is one of the best litigators I have worked with. She is very intuitive and knows how to get the most out of a witness.” Other clients have shared that she has “the ability to go toe-to-toe with expert witnesses on their own field of expertise . . . Her gift of persuasion is truly remarkable” and that “Kathy is one of those exceptional lawyers who has the ability to not only develop a strategy, but to turn it into compelling trial testimony in an effective way.” In this role, Kathy represents a variety of individuals, corporations, business and professional firms. She is well-versed in and enjoys representing both the Davids and Goliaths of the world.

Kathy has extensive experience working with executives, senior management, and in-house counsel of corporations in managing litigation as well as advising on litigation risks and strategy. Clients also rely on her for her talent in working with experts, in particular with damages modelling and bringing together the necessary links between mathematics and the law.

Her areas of focus include complex business litigation with particular emphasis on reinsurance and insurance arbitrations, business disputes, restrictive covenant cases, class actions, antitrust, accountant liability, employment and breach of contract claims.

Kathy leads Smith Gambrell & Russell’s Chicago Reinsurance team and previously co-led the Insurance Brokerage Team. Before joining Smith Gambrell & Russell, Kathy was a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP focusing on similar matters. When she is not litigating cases on behalf of her clients, Kathy enjoys travel, reading, and soaking up time with her family.

Kathy's Practice

Representative Matters

• Leads defense team representing chicken broiler producer in federal antitrust case brought against entire U.S. chicken broiler producer industry alleging supply reduction, market manipulation, and bid-rigging conspiracies in the broiler chicken market under both state and federal laws.
• Successfully defended reinsurer in almost $2 billion dispute involving long-term care reserving obligations. The award was confirmed by a federal court.
• Successfully represented party in breach of contract and fiduciary duty arbitration with $80 million in claimed damages brought by a major insurance carrier against its managing general underwriter for alleged underwriting guideline violations.
• Obtained temporary injunction in Florida state court for insurance intermediary, against multiple individuals and competing insurance intermediary in a lawsuit over violations of restrictive covenants of former employees hired by the competing firm resulting in a $20 million settlement.
• Complete defense victory obtained on behalf of managing general agent when carrier brought claims for underwriting violations related to a nonstandard auto insurance program.
• Successfully defended breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraudulent misrepresentation claims brought by insurance carrier for over $100 million in damages against its managing general agent related to specialty lines and surety bond programs.
• Obtained verdict for damages and attorneys’ fees in Kentucky state court for insurance intermediary Brown & Brown against former employee for violations of restrictive covenants.
• Represented a German reinsurer in an arbitration against a U.S. insurer where the client raised breach of contract claims as well as breaches of the duty of utmost good faith. In a unanimous decision, the panel found for our client, awarding it over $15 million in compensatory damages plus punitive damages. The award was confirmed by a federal court. (S.D.N.Y).
• Defense of putative nationwide class action alleging gender discrimination under Title VII and The Equal Pay Act. Successfully defeated two class certification motions and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(f). Successfully defended rulings on appeal in front of Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Defense of antitrust claims alleging price fixing and market Obtained summary judgment on all claims and successfully defended judgment on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Defense of nationwide class action alleging securities fraud against developer and marketer of satellite global phone system.