Cate Stetson

Practice Areas

Cate Stetson is the co-director of Hogan Lovells' nationally acclaimed Appellate practice group and has twice served as an elected member of the firm's Global Board.

Ranked Band 1 by Chambers for Appellate Litigation and hailed by clients as "immensely impressive," she has argued over 100 appeals and dozens of trial-court matters. Her respected practice sees her arguing a diverse range of high-stakes and complex cases, including multiple arguments before the Supreme Court, every federal circuit court of appeals, state appellate courts ranging from New York to California, and district courts spanning the country from Alaska to Vermont.

Clients and fellow appellate practitioners speak highly of her tremendous skills:

"She knows the law inside out and her substantive engagement with judges is just perfect. She argues intelligently using effective legal arguments, but her tone and demeanor enables her to get all her points across," (Chambers USA 2022).

"If I'm going to anyone in the country on an appeal of some importance, it's Cate Stetson," (Chambers USA 2021).

"She's highly respected by the judges, well-liked by opposing counsel and her legal skills are exceptional. I enjoy litigating against her, but I would rather not have her on the other side as she's excellent," (Chambers USA 2020).

"An impressive attorney who counters the opponents' points and questions with devastating succinctness," (The Legal 500 2019).

Cate's practice cuts across many industries and subject matters, including administrative law and procedure, antitrust law, the False Claims Act, class certification, civil procedure, and constitutional, contract, copyright, employment, energy, environmental, food and drug, health care, insurance, patent, telecommunications, transportation, and tort law. Cate also devotes a significant amount of time to pro bono practice, including innocence cases, death-penalty challenges, qualified-immunity issues, and womens' rights.

Cate is an elected member of the American Law Institute; a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers; and serves on the D.C. Circuit's Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct. She regularly is invited to speak on Supreme Court and appellate advocacy at judicial conferences, national bar association events, and law schools.