Kathryn Thornton is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s IP Litigation practice.

Kathryn represents clients in complex intellectual property and commercial disputes involving copyrights, trademarks, false advertising, patents, trade secrets, and breach of contract claims, counseling them on risk assessment and dispute strategy at every stage. She manages day-to-day litigation in federal district courts, working closely with clients to develop case themes, overseeing fact and expert discovery, drafting dispositive motions, preparing for trial, and driving matters toward resolution.

In addition to her trial-level work, Kathryn has represented parties and amici before the Second, Fourth, Ninth, and Federal Circuits, including arguing on behalf of amici in De Fontbrune v. Wofsy, No. 19-16913 (9th Cir.). She also represents brand and certification mark owners in registration and opposition proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

At the start of her legal practice, Kathryn clerked for the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, she served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where she gained first-chair experience prosecuting misdemeanors. Kathryn also completed an in-house secondment with a global life sciences company, advising on advertising and engagements with physicians and patients for rare disease products.

Kathryn has devoted significant time to pro bono matters focused on access to justice and veterans’ rights. She represented veterans in discharge upgrade proceedings and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and advocated for families separated under the federal “Zero Tolerance” policy in asylum proceedings and in claims brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Kathryn is an active contributor to thought leadership on intellectual property and appellate issues. She has co-authored articles and commentary published in outlets including Bloomberg Law, Law360, IPWatchdog, Kluwer Patent Blog, and IP Litigator, addressing topics such as patent takings, Federal Circuit jurisprudence, false advertising under Section 337, trademark remedies, and the constitutional and administrative dimensions of IP policy. She has also contributed to industry podcast discussions on trade and intellectual property issues, offering practical insights into emerging developments and litigation trends.

Kathryn earned her J.D., with High Honors and membership in the Order of the Coif, from The George Washington University Law School, where she served on The George Washington Law Review. She received her B.A., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.