Katherine M. Balatbat
Partner - Los Angeles

kbalatbat@vallemakoff.com
Phone: 310-476-0300
Fax:  310-476-0333

Katherine M. Balatbat started her legal career in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She worked in Skadden’s New York and Los Angeles offices, and in both the corporate and the litigation departments. She worked at Skadden from 1996 until 2003 before joining Valle Makoff.

Mrs. Balatbat’s practice focuses on complex commercial and business litigation matters. She also has litigation experience in matters involving antitrust, communications, entertainment and securities law as well as class actions. Over the years, Mrs. Balatbat has been involved in matters such as:

	Successfully defending MGM in antitrust claims brought by video retailers throughout the country;
	Obtaining summary judgment for Bear Stearns in a misappropriation of trade secrets case arising out of a hostile tender offer;
	Successfully representing a Phoenix television station owner in a commercial dispute with Paxson Communications Corporation; and
	Obtaining a complete plaintiff’s verdict after a two-week jury trial on behalf of Santa Maria Refining Company, a large asphalt refinery in a commercial dispute.

In addition to her litigation experience, Mrs. Balatbat has transactional experience. She has worked on a variety of corporate transactions, including private placements, public offerings, leveraged buyouts and mergers and acquisitions.

In 2000, Mrs. Balatbat received a Special Commendation from the Governor of California and a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature. Ms. Pratt has dedicated many hours to public service and pro bono legal work for individuals as well as non-profit organizations both at home and overseas.

Mrs. Balatbat earned her law degree in 1996 from Columbia University School of Law, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in political science from Northwestern University in 1991. Mrs. Balatbat is admitted to the State Bars of California and New York.