Handling high-stakes antitrust defense and commercial disputes, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell president Katie Reilly approaches the demands of the courtroom with a perspective shaped by collaborative competition.
“Litigation combines three of my passions: problem-solving, learning and team sports,” she said. “I appreciate that the more you invest in this career, the more joy and meaning it offers. And most of all, I enjoy and am inspired daily by my incredible colleagues and clients.”
“Managing a diverse portfolio of corporate defense cases requires looking beyond standard courtroom maneuvers,” she said. Litigation is “just one of many levers to use in reaching the business solution that’s best for the client.”
When advising corporations through volatile or high-exposure litigation, she believes clients should “expect your litigation counsel, at any and every point in the case, to be able to tell you: what are your chances of winning; what are the key factors that could increase or decrease those odds; and how much will it cost to get to resolution,” she said. “This type of thinking and advice empowers the client to make smart decisions on settlement, budget and messaging while best positioning the case for trial.”
Reilly’s professional outlook is closely tied to her integration into the local bar. After relocating from the East Coast two decades ago, she said the “pay it forward” ethos of the state’s legal profession accelerated her integration as a junior lawyer.
She highlighted the importance of maintaining the Colorado bar’s professional standards, even when facing aggressive opposition in high-value corporate fights. Noting that some of her closest mentors and friends include opposing counsel from rival firms, Reilly said that practitioners across the market share a collective obligation to work hard to preserve that collegial culture.