Katherine A. Preston
Partner
Katy focuses on complex commercial and bankruptcy litigation. She represents individual and corporate clients in a variety of commercial disputes, including complex litigation in both state and federal courts, and she frequently practices in bankruptcy court.
Although Katy focuses her practice on contractual disputes, she routinely works on a wide range of matters, including torts and valuation disputes. She also frequently defends clients against fraudulent transfer claims and other bankruptcy litigation matters, including both contested matters and adversary proceedings. Katy regularly advises clients in a variety of industries, including oil and gas, finance, and power.
Katy’s recent matters include representing an oilfield services company in a bench trial on a breach-of-contract claim, representing a business solutions firm in a real-estate dispute, and defending multiple clients in post-confirmation adversary proceedings.
Before joining Winston, Katy clerked in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans and was a supervising editor for the Harvard Law Review.
- Lawdragon—Recognized as one of “The Green 500: The 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law”
- Lawdragon—Recognized as one of the “500 Leading Energy Lawyers” for Oil & Gas Litigation (2024)
- Texas Legal Awards—Recognized as a “Rising Star” (2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America®—Recognized for Commercial Litigation (2025)
- The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®in America—Recognized for Commercial Litigation (2023)
- Legal 500 US—Recognized as a “Key Lawyer” for Energy Litigation: Oil and Gas (2023)
Capabilities
Credentials
Education
Katy received her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2012 from Harvard Law School, where she served as a supervising editor of the Harvard Law Review. She received a B.A., cum laude, in English from Rice University in 2007.
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Texas
Clerkships
- USDC - Eastern District of LA for the Honorable Eldon E. Fallon
Related Insights & News
- “8th Cir. Ruling May Provide Relief for Bakken Debtors,” Law360, Co-author, Aug. 21, 2020
- “INSIGHT: When Bankruptcy Courts Can’t Hear Bankruptcy Claims,” Bloomberg Law, Co-author, April 25, 2019
- “Blowing the Whistle on SEC Whistleblower Protection,” Law360, Co-author, May 4, 2015
- “3rd Circ. Ruling May Expand Crime-Fraud Exception,” Law360, March 10, 2015
Winston Attorneys Featured on the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers List
February 16, 2024
Winston Attorneys Featured on Lawdragon’s Green 500: The 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law List
February 2, 2024
November 7, 2023
September 19, 2023
April 19, 2023
August 18, 2022