M. Kate Strauss
Contact: kstrauss@galvanize.law | 303.704.4585
Kate Strauss is an experienced counselor and advocate, with a practice equally dedicated to advising clients on corporate and transaction matters, and litigation on behalf of her clients. Kate’s litigation cases address issues such as construction defect, mechanic’s lien foreclosures, delays and scheduling impact claims, and other contract entitlement questions. Her clients include general contractors, design professionals, subcontractors and specialty trades, and material suppliers.
She is a 2019-2023 Colorado Super Lawyer and was recognized as a Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star in from 2015-2017. Kate is a professional member of the American Subcontractors Association of Colorado, for which she co-chairs the Women in Construction Committee. She is also active in the Colorado Bar Association and serves on the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee.
Education
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, cum laude, 2006
Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer Honors College, 2001
Professional Recognition
Colorado Bar Foundation - Fellow
5280 Magazine, Top Lawyer for Construction Defect Litigation, 2024
Colorado Super Lawyers, 2019-2024
Colorado Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2015-2017
Admissions
Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Work Experience
Cotney Construction Law, Denver, CO—January 2020 to July 2020, Partner
Overturf McGath & Hull, P.C., Denver, CO—October 2007 to December 2019, Partner
Presentations
“2024 Colorado Legislative Update” El Paso County Roofing Association, March 2024
“Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Concepts, Clauses, and Compliance” Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, September 2023
“The Do’s and Don’ts of Contract Review” CRS Insurance Education, May 2023
“31st Ethics Seminar and Professionalism Award Presentation” Larimer County Bar Association, April 2023
“New Year Tune-Up Checklist: Creating Success in 2023” Tradecraft Industries, March 2023
The Ethics Review: Starring the Law Club” Colorado Bar Association CLE, November 2022
“Acquiring, Valuing, and Selling Businesses Part 2” Trade Craft Industries Lunch and Learn, September 2022
“The Highs and Lows of Anti-Freeze and Common Fire Protection Litigation Issues” Colorado Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, April 2022
“Get Me Off This Escalator: Managing Pandemic Cost Escalations and Delays” SUBStrong, American Subcontractors Association of Colorado, April 2022
“Choose Foresight Not Hindsight: What Every Contractor Needs to Know in 2022” Tradecraft Industries, February 2022
“The Ethics Review: Starring the Law Club” Colorado Bar Association CLE, November 2021
“Best Ways to Recover Your Money” Tradecraft Industries Lunch and Learn, October 2021
“The Mill: Katerrible” Rocky Mountain Forest Products Podcast, August 2021
“When the S#it Hits the Fan: How to Navigate Contract Disputes,” Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, July 2021
“Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste: A Discussion on Ethics in Law Firm Culture, Responsibility, and Technology after a Remarkable Year” Colorado Bar Association 2021 Real Estate Symposium, June 2021
“Ethics Update” Colorado Bar Association 2021 Real Estate Symposium, June 2021
Master of Ceremonies, "Awards in the Park” American Subcontractors Association of Colorado, June 2021
"The 5 Critical Concepts of Construction Contracts," Fundamentals of Construction Contracts Series, Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute Certification Seminar, April 2021
"Key Contract Clauses that Will Make or Break You," Fundamentals of Construction Contracts Series, Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute Certification Seminar, April 2021
"Contract Implementation and Compliance," Fundamentals of Construction Contracts Series, Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute Certification Seminar, April 2021
“Risk Mitigation: Best Practices for Documentation” Newforma Webinar, March 2021
“Understanding Risk Allocation in Contracts and Contracting to Protect your Status as a Project Creditor” American Subcontractors Association of Colorado, SUBStrong Conference, February 2021
“The Mill: Did a Tech Company Revolutionize the Construction Industry? Part 2” Rocky Mountain Forest Products Podcast, February 2021
“The Mill: Galvanize Law with Kate Strauss” Rocky Mountain Forest Products Podcast, October 2020
“Points on Pot: Considerations for Construction Professionals Building in Colorado”, American Subcontractors Association Colorado, 2019
“Proper Use of Inference, Extrapolation, and Allocation in Property Claims”, Claims Litigation Management (CLM) National Conference, 2019
“A Growing Dilemma: A Lawyer’s Ethical Obligations in the World of Weed”, Victor O. Schinnerer Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys (AMIA), 2019
“Hurdles & High jumps: Hot Topics in Construction Defect Claims & Litigation”, Envista Forensics North American Webinar Series, 2019
“Basics of Mechanic’s Liens for Construction Professionals”, Tradecraft Industries, 2019
“Closing the Gap with the Inexperienced & Unqualified Workforce”, CLM Construction Conference, 2018
“Joint Representation 2.0: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You”, Colorado Bar Association Ethics 7.0 Course, 2018
“Negotiation Skills: A Values Based Approach to Communication”, DIRTT Partner Camp, 2018
“Impacts of Qualified Workforce Issues on Risk Management in Your Business”, American Subcontractors Association Colorado, Legal Summit, 2018
“Contract Risk Management”, American Subcontractors Association Colorado, 2018
“The Ethics Revue Starring the Law Club”, Panelist for Colorado Bar Association Course, 2017-2019
“DORA and Board Reporting for Architects”, Client Presentation, 2017
“Ethical Considerations for Associate Lawyers”, Colorado Bar Association Ethics 7.0 Course, 2017
“Demonstrative Exhibits: Simplifying Complex Evidence”, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association Annual Conference, 2015
“Independent Contractor or Employee? Municipal Contracting and the Fair Labor Standards Act”, Colorado Municipal League, 2010
Professional and Civic Activities
Chair, Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee
Colorado Bar Association
Denver Bar Association
American Bar Association
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
Chair, Women of Construction Committee, American Subcontractors Association of Colorado
Colorado Contractors Association
Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute
Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Former Board Member