Catherine joined the CVT staff in September 2006. She holds a Masters Degree in Politics from the University of Edinburgh (U.K.) and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago. Catherine previously served as a Senior Government Affairs specialist at the international law firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary. In that capacity she developed and implemented legislative campaigns for domestic and international clients; provided insight and analysis on politics and policy developments in Congress and the Executive Branch; build and maintained contacts and relationships with Congressional staff, government officials and industry officials; tracked and analyzed legislative developments; and advocated on behalf of clients in both written and verbal communications. She performs these functions for CVT as Director of our Washington Office, and provides overall strategic direction for CVT’s advocacy efforts.
Catherine’s areas of expertise include developing and implementing CVT’s advocacy strategy regarding federal appropriations, the Torture Victims Relief Act, refugee and asylum issues, human rights, U.S. interrogation policy, and accountability for the use of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment on detainees held in U.S. custody.
In 2011, Washingtonian Magazine honored Catherine as one of the "40 under 40" young lobbyists with the most influence in Washington, D.C.