Katherine Gillespie is senior federal policy counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, where she leads the development and implementation of strategies to ensure protection for reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare in the US, with a particular focus on administrative advocacy and oversight.

Prior to joining the Center, Katherine spent over seven years at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, holding several different roles, including most recently as a senior executive in the Division of Consumer Education and Engagement. Her work included overseeing the strategic direction and implementation of projects aimed at empowering the traditionally underserved, older Americans, servicemembers, and students. She also managed responses to requests from various oversight bodies, including the United States Congress, the Office of Inspector General, and the Government Accountability Office. Prior to that role, she served as Senior Counsel to the Deputy Director of the Bureau, advising senior agency executives on policy and oversight issues and preparing for testimony before the United States Congress.

Before joining the Bureau, Katherine was a civil rights attorney at Relman, Dane & Colfax LLP, litigating fair housing and other civil rights claims on behalf of plaintiffs. From 2002 to 2008, Katherine was counsel at WilmerHale, where she had a substantial pro bono practice, representing reproductive rights organizations, immigrants, and other individuals in cases alleging discrimination and other civil rights issues. She served as a fellow at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Katherine also clerked for the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Katherine has also taught on the United States Supreme Court and the United States Constitution as adjunct faculty in the Department of Government at American University. She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. (with Honors) in History and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.