Katy is one the state's leading experts in Medicaid law. Prior to becoming Legal Director, Katy was the managing attorney for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership where she secured significant and sustained funding for the partnership for the first time in its 12-year history. Katy also played a lead role in developing a statewide medical-legal partnership network and assisted hundreds of clients with access to Medicaid eligibility and services through individual administrative advocacy.
Katy began her legal career in 2008 as an Equal Justice Works fellow. The fellowship resulted in several district courts of appeal wins and a successful federal constitutional challenge to Florida’s statutory scheme for the involuntary commitment of individuals with developmental disabilities. The latter case resulted in the amendment of Florida state law to guarantee an annual review of committed individuals.
More recently, Katy was responsible for the state's remedial actions to ensure continuous Medicaid enrollment for young people exiting foster care as well as individuals formerly receiving Medicaid through state adoption assistance agreements and Supplemental Security Income. Katy also has experiencing litigating individual and systemic matters related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Her legal work has been awarded First and Second Runner-Up places for the Florida Bar Foundation's Goldstein-Van Nortwick Award for Excellence in 2014, 2018, and 2020.
When not engaged in legal services work, Katy proudly serves on the Board of Directors for Disability Rights Florida, the designated Protection & Advocacy system for individuals with disabilities living in Florida. She is also a member of the National Health Law Program’s Board of Ambassadors.
Katy earned a B.S. from Florida State University (with a minor in Women’s Studies) and received her J.D. from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law with Honors.
She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her partner, Michael, her daughter, Ruth Anne, and her three cats: Toonces, Stevens, and Hazelnut.
Katy began her legal career in 2008 as an Equal Justice Works fellow. The fellowship resulted in several district courts of appeal wins and a successful federal constitutional challenge to Florida’s statutory scheme for the involuntary commitment of individuals with developmental disabilities. The latter case resulted in the amendment of Florida state law to guarantee an annual review of committed individuals.
More recently, Katy was responsible for the state's remedial actions to ensure continuous Medicaid enrollment for young people exiting foster care as well as individuals formerly receiving Medicaid through state adoption assistance agreements and Supplemental Security Income. Katy also has experiencing litigating individual and systemic matters related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Her legal work has been awarded First and Second Runner-Up places for the Florida Bar Foundation's Goldstein-Van Nortwick Award for Excellence in 2014, 2018, and 2020.
When not engaged in legal services work, Katy proudly serves on the Board of Directors for Disability Rights Florida, the designated Protection & Advocacy system for individuals with disabilities living in Florida. She is also a member of the National Health Law Program’s Board of Ambassadors.
Katy earned a B.S. from Florida State University (with a minor in Women’s Studies) and received her J.D. from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law with Honors.
She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her partner, Michael, her daughter, Ruth Anne, and her three cats: Toonces, Stevens, and Hazelnut.
