Katherine A. Jones

Overview

Katie Jones concentrates her nationwide litigation practice on the defense of design professionals, the defense of transportation entities, and the representation of insurance companies with respect to coverage issues. Katie also represents insurance brokers, real estate professionals, and other professionals in actions alleging negligence and malpractice.

Katie has effectively resolved cases both in state and federal courts, as well in front of arbitration panels, in claims arising from breach of contract, project delay, property damage, personal injury, design defect, negligent misrepresentation, and mechanics’ liens. Katie works with a wide array of insureds and is sensitive to issues of confidentiality, the professional's ongoing practice, and the client’s participation in his or her own defense. She assists her clients with negotiating and drafting construction and design contracts, as well as advises them on risk management.

Katie also represents commercial drivers, motor carriers, and freight brokers in the transportation industry. She defends personal injury, wrongful death, and cargo claims.  Katie leads a team of attorneys that immediately investigates commercial vehicle accidents to protect clients from high-stakes liability.

Katie provides counsel to numerous national and international insurance companies with respect to coverage issues and in litigation involving coverage disputes.  She has provided advice and litigated many different lines of insurance products, including commercial general liability, professional liability, directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, occupational accident, cyber liability, technology errors and omissions, motor carrier auto liability, and freight broker liability.

Katie is an experienced trial attorney having tried and litigated cases throughout the United States, including serving as one of the trial attorneys for several London-based insurance companies in the case of Citgo Petroleum Corporation, et al. v. The Babcock & Wilcox Company. In that case, a jury awarded the plaintiffs $387.4M, the highest jury verdict ever in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.

Honors & Speeches

Honors

• Trial Lawyer Excellence Award, The Jury Verdict Reporter (JVR)
• Rising Stars Honoree, Transportation & Maritime, Construction Litigation, Illinois Super Lawyers, 2008 – 2010, 2012

Presentations & Speeches

• Speaker, "Behind the Curtain of Claim Expenses" Holmes Murphy Webinar, June 26, 2025
• Speaker, "The Coverage Dilemma - General Liability, Professional Liability, or Both?" Holmes Murphy Webinar, October 24, 2024
• Speaker, "Negotiating Favorable Contract Language from Client/Attorney & an Engineers Perspective,” 2024 ACEC Illinois Fall Conference, October 9, 2024
• Speaker, “Contract Negotiation Strategies (Cornerstones 2),” WTW A&E Webinar, June 10, 2024
• Speaker, “Economic & Social Inflation: And Engineer’s Response to Nuclear Verdict,” 2023 ISPE Annual Conference, July 12, 2023
• Speaker, “Standard of Care Issues for Engineers,” 2022 ISPE Annual Conference, July 25, 2022
• Speaker, “Standard of Care Issues for Engineers,” ACEC 2022 Annual Convention, May 24, 2022
• Speaker, "A New Paradigm for Building Enclosure Delivery, Performance, and Durability,” 2021 Seattle Building Enclosure Council, February 18, 2021
• Speaker, "2020 Vision - Spotlight on Current Issues and What’s Next for the Construction Industry,” 2020 DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar Seminar, July 15, 2020
• Speaker, “Cyber Coverage On Non-Cyber Policies: Developments, Wordings and Predictions,” 2019 CLM Annual Conference, March 15, 2019
• Speaker, “Design Professional Fiduciary Liability – A Hidden Risk for Licensed Design Professionals?” 2018 IRMI Construction Risk Conference, November 7, 2018
• Speaker, “Architects & Engineers Contractor’s Liability and Copyright Issues,” ExecuSummit Construction Defect, Claims and Litigation Strategies Conference, December 6, 2017
• Speaker, “Twilight of the Gods: Fiduciary Duties for the Licensed Design Professionals,” Construction SuperConference, December 3, 2017
• Speaker, “Wrap Ups: Are They Working?” ExecuSummit Construction Defect, Claims and Litigation Strategies Conference, December 6, 2016

News

Professional

• Member, Legal Counsel Forum, American Council of Engineering Companies
• Member, Risk Management Committee, American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois
• Member, A/E ProNet
• Member, Transportation Committee, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
• Member, Diversity and Inclusion, Webinar Chair, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Community

Katie serves on the Board of Directors for Oak Park Tennis Club.