Cathy Hinger is the Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office and co-leader of the firm's Complex Litigation team. A veteran trial lawyer, she represents companies and organizations in high-stakes business disputes, government investigations, and white collar matters, guiding clients through some of their most consequential legal and business challenges.
Cathy's practice spans complex commercial litigation, corporate governance disputes, constitutional and fiduciary duty claims, class actions, consumer protection matters, and sensitive employee relations issues. She also counsels clients facing regulatory scrutiny and criminal investigations, including matters involving the False Claims Act, RICO, fraud, money laundering, and whistleblower allegations. Her experience includes jury and bench trials, arbitrations, mediations, appellate advocacy, emergency injunctive proceedings, and complex e-discovery.
Known for her strengths-based leadership style, Cathy builds collaborative teams focused on delivering practical, definitive solutions for clients. Her work has earned recognition from Lawdragon, which named her among the "500 Leading Litigators in America" for Business Litigation, Investigations, and White-Collar matters.
Beyond her client work, Cathy previously led the firm's Women of Womble (WOW) program, supporting the advancement and development of women attorneys across the organization.
Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Successfully defended government contractor in Department of Defense Office of Inspector General investigation.
- Represented corporate executive in False Claims Act investigation prompted by whistleblower.
- Represented U.S. professional services firm executive in New York Department of Financial Services investigation of foreign bank.
- Defended high net worth individuals in civil protective order actions.
- Represented professional athletes in administrative investigations and defense of criminal charges.
- Represented federal agents involved in firearm discharge incidences.
- Successfully defended a national homebuilder against a $28 million damages claim arising out of delayed completion of a real estate development project, achieving dismissal of all damages claims on summary judgment.
- Served as lead trial counsel for global manufacturer of appliance products in breach of contract, breach of warranty, and Uniform Commercial Code violation action against a supplier that wrongfully terminated a requirements agreement, resulting in a $1.5 million jury verdict in favor of the client.
- Successfully defended an international airport retail and concession developer against breach of lease, discrimination, and fraud claims brought by a food service franchise tenant whose business failed. Following dismissal of all but one claim on motions to dismiss and for summary judgment, Cathy first chaired the jury trial on a remaining fraud claim, achieving a full defense verdict in favor of the client.
- Defended software developer and its executives charged with gambling, money laundering and RICO related offenses arising out of gaming software licensing agreements. Achieved disqualification of prosecutor, conducted Franks hearing, litigated complex constitutional motions, litigated concurrent civil litigation for injunctive relief and negotiated a favorable resolution involving expungable misdemeanor pleas for the individual clients.
- Defended same software developer in civil forfeiture action brought by the Massachusetts Attorney General based on the same conduct, achieving AG’s voluntary dismissal of claims and return of all funds seized.
- Represented overseas employees of European auto manufacturer in global emissions fraud investigation.
Publications and Presentations
Publications
- Co-author, The Upswing Is in Lawsuits, Legal Times, Volume 30, No. 10, March 5, 2007
- Parent-Child Immunity and Motor Vehicle Torts: Defending the Minority View, Maryland Law Review, Volume 57, No. 3, 1998
Presentations
- Panelist, Creating a Culture of Inclusion, Washington, D.C. Women in Law & Leadership Virtual Summit, April 21, 2021
- Co-Presenter with G. David Carter, Litigation Funding in the COVID-19 Era, April 29, 2020
Professional Activities
- District of Columbia Bar
- Virginia State Bar Association
Honors and Awards
- Lawdragon's 500 Leading Litigators in America in Business Litigation, Investigations, White Collar, 2026-Present
- Selected to the Washington, D.C. Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Business Litigation, Employment Litigation, Real Estate, 2013
