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Katherine H. Karl

Retired Attorney

About Kate

Kate is an active presence in both the preservation and development of our local community. As chair of our Commercial Lending Practice Group, her legal expertise extends to commercial real estate, development and finance. She works with commercial lenders to structure mortgage and asset-based loan transactions, and to handle environmental issues in a practical manner. She has broad experience representing commercial owners, developers and a national retailer in all aspects of acquisitions, sales, construction, development and lease negotiations.

Tackling zoning and land use issues and environmental concerns are a part of Kate’s everyday practice. She also represents institutional lenders in connection with a broad variety of loans, including real estate secured financing, transactions with industrial development agencies and with Small Business Administration involvement, term loans and lines of credit.

A former law clerk to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, Kate has practiced law in Rochester since 1988.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Monroe County Bar Association, member
  • Family Promise of Greater Rochester, Board member
  • The Landmark Society of Western New York, Board member
  • Providence Housing Development Corporation, former Board member
  • Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, former Board member
  • Third Presbyterian Church, former Board member

Awards & Recognitions

  • 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Banking & Finance Law, Rochester, NY
  • 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Real Estate Law, Rochester, NY
  • 2013-2026 editions of Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law, Banking & Finance, Commercial Finance Law, and Commercial Transactions/UCC Law
  • 2023 The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal Legal Excellence Award for Leaders in Law
  • 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Banking & Finance Law and Real Estate Law
  • 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Real Estate Law, Rochester, NY
  • 2014 Daily Record’s “Top Women in Law” Recipient
  • 2007-2013 and 2017-2026 Upstate New York Super Lawyers Honoree

Education

  • Union University at Albany Law School, J.D. (cum laude)
  • Bucknell University, B.A. (magna cum laude)

Admissions

  • New York State
  • Massachusetts
  • US District Courts – Western District of NY
  • US Bankruptcy Court – Western District of NY
“Kate Karl was wonderful! She helped me through a challenging house buying process. There were some issues that came up and she handled it with ease. Her executive assistant, Deborah, was extremely responsive, knowledgeable and kind. Can’t recommend them enough!”
K.E., Real Estate & Finance client

News & Insights

Kate's Recent Articles