Catherine Rayder

Catherine uses her legal, professional, and educational services to help clients determine the best course of action and then succeed by meeting their professional and legal goals. Catherine enjoys helping small businesses in the role of a general counsel. She also thoughtfully designs individuals and family’s tax and estate planning needs. She likes helping people have confidence in their future by making the best plans now regarding their estate and loved ones. She is currently working with small businesses on trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

Catherine began her career as an Associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Winston and Strawn. She worked as a Tax and Energy Associate. She has since then held jobs in both small and mid-size firms and had her own law practice in Reston, Virginia. She focuses on estate planning and small business challenges. She was an Adjunct Professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University for ten years teaching in their first- and second-year legal writing program as well as a business communication course at George Mason University’s School of Business. She also taught through Patbar, a professional education program preparing students to succeed in law school. 

Prior to law school, Catherine worked for the United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, National Association of Manufactures in Washington, D.C. and the Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia. 

Catherine graduated summa cum laude from The Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C and in May of 2023 graduated magna cum laude with an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law. 

Catherine enjoys doing pro bono work and is a volunteer at the Denver Indian Law Clinic and obtained a law license in North Dakota to help with American Indian Probate Reform Act (AIPRA) wills to support the Three Affiliated Tribes or Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. Catherine enjoys spending time hiking, walking her dogs, and at church with her husband and children. 

EDUCATION

• University of Alabama School of Law, LL. M
  • Magna Cum Laude, 3.8753 G.P.A.
  • Passed all six of the Comprehensive Exams

• Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America, J.D.
  • Summa Cum Laude, second in Class
  • Dean Scholarship; Miriam T. Rooney Scholarship

• George Mason University, Bachelor of Science in Marketing
  • Dean’s Admission Program; Dr. Tongren Marketing Scholarship; Media Fellowship Grant 

ADMISSIONS

• Colorado State Bar
• North Dakota State Bar
• Washington, D.C. Bar
• Virginia Bar (currently inactive status)

COMMUNITY

• Metro Lawyers, Denver Indian Law Center
• Vacation Bible School volunteer