Katharine H. Adams, Counsel at our Orange County law office
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Katharine H. Adams

Counsel
Biography

Katie Adams focuses her practice in product liability litigation, defending domestic and foreign motor vehicle and consumer product manufacturers and suppliers. She has litigated matters before federal and state courts, including Multidistrict Litigation and Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP).

Katie represents automotive manufacturers and distributors in a wide array of claims including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, design negligence and warnings, design defects, asbestos-related personal injury, breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and property damage. Additional types of motor vehicle manufacturer representations include motorcycles, off-road vehicles, personal watercraft, boats, and golf carts. She also litigates allegations of design defects, commercial disputes, and property damage claims in a variety of manufacturer industries including heavy machinery, water filtration systems, in-home tubs, and construction equipment.

In addition to her product liability practice, Katie also handles consumer warranty and consumer fraud-related litigation for manufacturers.

Katie is an active member of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Network as well as the Community Involvement and Hiring Committees.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • California


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of California
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, Central District of California
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of California
  • United States District Court, Northern District of California
  • United States District Court, Southern District of California


Education

  • Chapman University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
    • Senior Notes and Comments Editor, Chapman Law Review
    • Mock Trial Executive Vice President
    • CALI Awards for Excellence in California Law and Motion, California Evidence, Corporations, Wills and Trusts, Advanced Criminal Procedure, and Select Topics in American Law
    • Teaching Assistant for Civil Procedure and Evidence
  • University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., Political Science, cum laude)
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Dean’s Honors list
    • Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Philanthropy Chair
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation (2023-2025), Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2024-2025)

Representative Experience

  • Sat second-chair on a multiweek trial representing a multinational motorcycle manufacturer and distributor involving claims related to a defective throttle
  • Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer against catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims related to rollover accidents, crashworthiness, airbag performance, seatbelts, seatback performance, inadvertent vehicle movement, and occupant protection systems
  • Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer in fire cases involving allegations of personal injury, wrongful death, and significant property damage
  • Defended domestic and foreign motorcycle and off-road vehicle manufacturers in actions involving claims related to handling and stability, crashworthiness, and brake system performance
  • Defended domestic and foreign personal watercraft manufacturer against claims of product liability and negligent design and warnings
  • Defended a domestic and foreign golf cart manufacturer in actions involving claims related to products liability and negligent design and warnings
  • Defended an American manufacturer of in-home tubs against personal injury claims related to allegations of design defects
  • Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer in state and federal court, including Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP) and Multidistrict Litigation (MDL), against allegations of breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and Song-Beverly Act (California’s Lemon Law) violations
  • Defended automotive manufacturers and boat manufacturers against allegations of breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and Song-Beverly Act (California’s Lemon Law) violations
  • Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer in asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death litigation
  • Defended an American multinational manufacturer in litigation involving engine components equipped in large commercial construction equipment
  • Defended an international manufacturer of water filtration systems in commercial dispute and significant property damage claim
  • Defended an international manufacturer of heavy machinery in a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute and breach of contract claim

Previous Professional Experience

  • Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard Smith, Litigation Associate
  • Chapman University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
  • JSerra Catholic High School, Legal Writing Professor
  • Wood Smith Henning & Berman, LLP, Senior Associate, Summer Associate
  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Judicial Extern to the Hon. Meredith Jury

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Orange County Women Lawyers Association (2019-Present)
  • Orange County Bar Association (2014-Present)

Community Involvement

  • Chapman University School of Law
    • Adjunct Professor (2017-Present)
  • Snell & Wilmer Community Involvement Committee (2019-Present)
    • Second Harvest Foodbank of Orange County Campaign, Chair (2018-2022)
  • JSerra Catholic High School
    • Mock Trial Attorney Coach (2014-2019)
  • JSerra Catholic High School
    • Legal Writing Professor (2014-2018)
  • Public Law Center
    • Pro Bono Volunteer