Katherine Byrns is a partner in the New York office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the General Liability, Construction, and Healthcare Practices.

Upon graduation from law school, Katherine Byrns was the recipient of the New York City Police Department’s Law Graduate Fellowship. As a Law Graduate fellow, Ms. Byrns spent one year in the NYPD’s Legal Bureau where she advised members of the service on emerging legal issues within the criminal justice system. As a fellow, she transitioned to the New York City Law Department’s Special Federal Litigation Unit where she handled dozens of civil rights actions brought pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983 against the City of New York and members of the New York City Police Department and New York City Department of Correction from inception through trial. After several years at the New York City Law Department, Ms. Byrns returned to the Legal Bureau of the New York City Police Department where she provided counsel to NYPD officials on matters including the interpretation of statutory and constitutional law and the implementation of legislative developments affecting the operation of the NYPD.

Most recently, Ms. Byrns was an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney’s Office. There, she prosecuted hundreds of cases from inception for criminal offenses ranging from vehicular crimes, violent crimes, financial crimes, and sex crimes. In her time as an Assistant District Attorney, Ms. Byrns tried ten cases to verdict. Most recently, Ms. Byrns was a member of the Sex Crimes Unit of the New York County District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted sexual offenders and advocated for survivors of sexual assault.

As an associate in the General Liability Practice, Ms. Byrns uses her prior experience to manage all aspects of civil litigation including early investigation, motion practice, settlement negotiation, and trial preparation. 

Publications

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • New York
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Awards & Honors

Recipient of the Recognition of Excellence District Attorney Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and STOP DWI New York (2019)

Education

Colgate University

Bachelors Degree, magna cum laude

Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University

Juris Doctor, cum laude