Kathleen O’Brien

Of Counsel

Kathleen O'Brien serves as of counsel in Montgomery McCracken’s Business Department. Katie’s practice includes general corporate, finance and banking, mergers and acquisitions, and closely-held businesses. She counsels financial institutions on commercial lending transactions and individuals and business owners on a wide range of corporate matters including entity formation, shareholder and partner issues, governance, and acquisition and divestiture.

In 1976, Katie received her J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. During her law school career, she served as the director of the Government Policy Research Unit, which provided consulting services in law and policy development to nonprofit organizations and government agencies. She also completed an internship at the Center for Law and Social Policy in Washington, D.C.

Katie received her B.S. degree, with honors, in Psychology and Education from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1969, where she was a member of the General Honors Program. She was elected to the Mortar Board Honor Society and recognized as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. She earned an M.Ed. degree in Counseling and School Psychology from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts in 1972.

RELATED Practices

Family Office

Montgomery McCracken’s Family Office Practice provides strategic legal advice to single and multi-family offices as well as high net worth individuals and families. We know that managers of family offices […]

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Corporate and Securities

We focus on understanding our clients’ business objectives and goals in order to offer cost-effective legal solutions as trusted advisors to our clients. At Montgomery McCracken, we center our attention […]

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Business Succession Planning

Your business is your legacy. It is more than just a financial engine and employer for your family—it is an ongoing source of pride and opportunity for you, your family […]

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Business

Montgomery McCracken’s Business Department works proactively and collaboratively with our clients to advise on the full array of corporate and business issues, ranging from finance and regulatory matters to mergers […]

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Financial Services

Montgomery McCracken’s Financial Services Industry Group counsels a variety of financial services clients nationwide, including investment advisers, broker-dealers, family offices, registered open-end investment companies (mutual funds), closed-end funds, hedge funds […]

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Higher Education

Montgomery McCracken’s Higher Education Industry Group has earned a reputation for broad experience in representing institutions of higher learning. Our group includes attorneys from many different practice areas who have […]

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Credentials

Selected Speaking Engagements
  • Speaker, “Selling Your Business – Develop the 5-Year Plan,” First Niagara Bank’s Executive Forum, October 2011
  • Lecturer, “Counseling Small Businesses”, Small Business Association Conference for Women Business Owners
  • Lecturer, American Law Institute’s Televised Seminar Programs
Selected Publications
  • Mentioned, “Women of Distinction Awards Alumni Collections,” The Philadelphia Business Journal, November 2021
  • Author, Business Law Volume, West Publishing Pennsylvania Practice Series
  • As a lecturer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on setting up business corporations, Katie has co-authored a book on the subject
Honors & Awards
  • Recipient, Philadelphia Bar Association’s Dennis H. Replansky Memorial Award
  • Recipient, Advocate for Women’s Business Award from the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce in recognition of her work with women business owners
  • Recipient, National Association of Women Business Owners’ Women to Watch and Public Policy Advocate Awards
  • Recipient, Philadelphia Business Journal‘s Women of Distinction Award
  • Named one of the Fifty Best Women in Business in Pennsylvania
  • Named SBA Champion of the Year for Women in Business by both the Philadelphia District and Region III of the Small Business Administration Award

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Professional Activities
  • Member, Philadelphia Bar Association
Community Involvement
  • Former President and Member of the Board of Directors, The Forum of Executive Women
  • Former Chair of the Board, Child Care Matters
  • Former Member, Philadelphia Mayor’s Task Force on Tax Reform and Economic Competitiveness
Education

Law School

  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Undergraduate School

  • University of Pennsylvania