Biography
Kate Porter is a partner at Vela Wood where she represents sports leagues and organizations in internal investigations and disputes, including in arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Kate also routinely counsels sports organizations on the interpretation and application of league and international federation rules and regulations. Kate is a member of the Investigatory Body of the Aquatics Integrity Unit of World Aquatics, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Cup, one of the most prominent youth soccer tournaments in the United States.
In addition to sports-related disputes, Kate routinely represents corporations in commercial disputes before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), American Arbitration Association (AAA) and JAMS, and in state and federal court litigation.
Prior to joining Vela Wood, Kate spent nearly a dozen years as an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York where she represented clients in international arbitration and litigation proceedings, with a particular focus on sports-related disputes. During her time at Skadden, Kate served as clerk and ad hoc clerk to CAS arbitration panels, under both the ordinary and appeal arbitration procedures. Her work on CAS matters includes disputes relating to the international transfer of players, the interpretation and application of an international federation’s rules, and anti-doping matters.