Katherine Bourk

Kate defends product manufacturers in complex product liability and mass tort litigation, with matters spanning the pharmaceutical, medical device, tobacco and consumer products industries in state and federal courts nationwide, including multidistrict and coordinated proceedings.

Kate has been an integral member of the defense team for a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in multidistrict litigation, and her practice extends across a broad range of clients and industries. She had primary drafting responsibility for an eye-care supplement manufacturer’s motions to dismiss Plaintiffs’ class action and individual complaints, resulting in dismissal of the class action in its entirety, and she works up talc-based body powder litigation on behalf of a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s consumer health brand, drafting dispositive and Daubert motions and assisting with trial preparation.  She has also supported case workup in Massachusetts tobacco litigation, serves as local counsel for a medical device manufacturer in device-preemption matters pending in Missouri and Kansas, and handles deposition and discovery work for clients including a global technology company and an aerospace and defense contractor.

In the courtroom, Kate has served on numerous trial teams—for clients including pharmaceutical and tobacco manufacturers—drafting cross-examination outlines and assisting with witness examination at trial. She regularly works on depositions of company witnesses, retained experts and plaintiffs, including the deposition of a bellwether plaintiff and her treating oncologist in a related chemotherapy-injury multidistrict litigation. 

Kate is an elected member and committee chair of Shook’s Junior Women’s Management Council and plays an active role in the firm’s attorney recruiting efforts, mentoring summer associates and first-year attorneys. She also maintains an active pro bono practice, representing transgender and non-binary clients in name-change and gender-marker proceedings through Project Affirmation and handling asylum matters for Afghan refugees.

Kate received her J.D. summa cum laude from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, where she served on the UMKC Law Review and completed judicial internships in the U.S. District Court and Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District.