Throughout her 28-year career as a lawyer, Kathleen B. Havener has focused on complex commercial matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts, mediation, arbitration (including international arbitration), and administrative proceedings across the country. At The Cullen Law Firm, Ms. Havener continues her focus on complex commercial litigation.

Ms. Havener served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable John M. Ferren on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.  She was formerly with Latham & Watkins and Miller & Chevalier in D.C. before relocating to Ohio in 1997. Ms. Havener was a partner in the law firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP in Cleveland before founding a small firm. Kathleen returned to the District of Columbia and joined The Cullen Law Firm in 2018.

Ms. Havener’s achievements have included:

• Judgments and settlements of more than $40 million.
• Successful challenge of $4 billion tax assessment by the State of Alaska on the severance of oil and gas from the North Slope of the Brooks Range, reducing the assessment to $257 million.
• Successful defense of commercial bank in securities fraud matter lasting ten years.
• Dismissal on summary judgment of former officers in action by their company for theft of trade secrets.
• Venue Legal Counsel to the World Cup USA 1994, Inc. in the DC venue.
• Favorable resolution of fraud claims by Purchaser against Sellers’ accountants and attorneys following the acquisition of a business.
• Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation.
• Founder, Woman to Woman Lawyer Referral Network, a free on-line database of women attorneys in 49 states and 11 countries.
• 2013 recipient of the Nettie Cronise Lutes Award conferred by the Ohio State Bar Association. The award recognizes women lawyers who have improved the legal profession through their high level of professionalism and who have opened doors for other women and girls.

Publications:

• “Four Steps to Inclusion of Persons With Disabilities,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (July/August 2019)
• “Integrating Self-Care Practices Into Daily Life: Walking in Nature,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (May/June 2019)
• Book Review: The Shield of Silence: How Power Perpetuates a Culture of Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace, ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo E-Report (May 2019)
• “Persuasion Through Body Language in (and out) of the Courtroom,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (September/October 2018)
• “Bumps in the Road: How to Share Setbacks with Your Client and Why You Must,” ABA Section of Litigation, Ethics & Professionalism Committee Web Article (October 18, 2018)
• “Cyber Insurance and Information Security,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (May-June 2017)
• “How to Deliver Bad News to Your Client,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (January/February 2016)
• “A Litigator’s Reluctant Endorsement of Mediation,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (January/February 2015)
• “Discovery Lessons Your Mother Should Have Taught You,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (July/August 2014)
• “Unlearning Exclusion: How I Became a Part of the Solution,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (March/April 2014)
• “Destination Disasters: Who’s at Fault?,” ABA Solo|Small Firm Division GP|Solo Magazine (June/July 2013)
• “Landing the Big Fish: Small Firms Representing Big Companies,” ABA GP|Solo (May/June 2012)
• “Making Magic With Courtroom Technology,” ABA GP|Solo (March/April 2012)
• Contributing Author, Smart Soloing, ABA Books (2011)
• Contributing Author, Road to Independence, ABA Books (2011)
• “Geronimo! Or How I Became a Sole Practitioner,” Litigation Journal (Winter 2010)
• “A Lifetime of Learning: Why I am a Generalist,” Woman Advocate News (Fall 2007)
• “Better Lawyers,” Perspectives—Journal of the National Association of Women Lawyers (December 2005)
• “Method Acting for Lawyers,” Litigation (Summer 2005)
• “Litigation (Rev. 2.0),” The American Lawyer (February 2005) (co-author)
• “Lawyering on the Front Lines: On-Site Legal Counsel for Major Sporting Events,” 6 Marquette Sports Law Journal 29 (1995) (co-author)