Katherine L. Wawrzyniak

Katie Wawrzyniak is a partner in Goodwin’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution group. She joined the firm in 2023. Katie has been described as a “valuable resource,” respected for her intelligence, thoughtfulness, competence and diligence. She helps clients with their thorniest problems, including high-stakes trials and sensitive corporate investigations. She specializes in representing clients in the technology, healthcare, and life sciences industries.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Katie was Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. In this role, she oversaw the entire criminal division. She has expertise investigating and litigating claims arising under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and the federal fraud and money laundering statutes. She has tried four cases to jury verdict.

US Attorney’s Office, N.D. Cal:

• Trial counsel for high-profile hacking case involving the theft of user data from three Bay Area tech companies. Delivered closing argument at conclusion of two-week trial interrupted by Covid-19 pandemic and obtained guilty verdict on all counts.*
• Lead attorney on high-profile theft of trade secrets case involving autonomous vehicle technology. Obtained guilty plea and custodial sentence within 12 months of indictment.*
• Investigated and charged multiple fraud schemes orchestrated by Bay area executive, spanning from 2013 to 2020.*
• Secured guilty pleas on eve of trial in union corruption and honest services fraud case.*

Private Practice:

• Defended pharmaceutical company in civil enforcement actions in California and Illinois alleging deceptive marketing of prescription opioid painkillers.*
• Defended large tech company in antitrust class action alleging agreements between several leading Silicon Valley tech companies not to recruit each other’s employees.*
• Defended managed care provider in qui tam action alleging violations of the federal False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute under the Medicare Advantage program.*
• Represented the special litigation committee of a public company in connection with a multi-million dollar derivative action.*
• Served as an independent compliance monitor for company that had pled guilty to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.*

* Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Katie served as Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. She previously served as Co-Chief of the General Crimes Section, and as a line AUSA in the Corporate Fraud Strike Force and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Prior to serving at the US Attorney’s Office, Katie was counsel at O’Melveny & Myers in San Francisco.

In 2020, Katie was named a Top Trade Secret lawyer by the Daily Journal.