Kate is a dedicated member of the firm’s Litigation, Real Estate, Hospitality and Liquor Law groups, in addition to being a licensed title agent. She brings extensive knowledge to her clients’ most complex legal challenges and takes the time to understand their needs, fostering strong, effective relationships.

Committed to achieving the best possible outcomes, Kate communicates clearly and works collaboratively, navigating the legal landscape with efficiency and integrity. A strong advocate for practical solutions, she ensures that her clients are well-informed about potential outcomes and resolution strategies from the outset. Kate regularly collaborates with a diverse group of clients, including restaurants, hotels, commercial retailers, brokers, property management companies, and non-profit organizations.

Litigation
Kate focuses her practice primarily on litigation matters, specifically in the areas of commercial litigation, fiduciary litigation, real estate litigation, appellate litigation and construction litigation. She approaches every case with a personable, reasonable and strategic mindset. View a sampling of her representative cases below:

Commercial 
– Kate and team represented a railroad company in obtaining emergency injunctive relief against a landowner blocking the railroad company’s tracks. The railroad company had a right of way dating back to the 1800s when the railroad was first built. The landowner asserted multiple defenses including claims of abandonment and misuse. Ultimately, the York County Court of Common Pleas agreed that the railroad company had met the high burden of a preliminary injunction hearing and granted an order protecting the railroad’s continued use of the tracks.

– Kate successfully defended a multifamily housing developer in a bench trial in York County against a breach of contract and unjust enrichment claim brought by an architect who alleged our client failed to fulfill its contractual obligations. The architect’s claim could have exposed our client to over $150,000, including potential attorneys’ fees. Katelyn’s defense effectively dismissed all claims, securing a favorable verdict for her client and shielding them from both the alleged amount owed under the contract and the risk of attorney fee liability.

– Kate was successful in York County on a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings wherein the client purchased a property which was subject to a reservation in a deed for the prior owner to continue receiving income from a Billboard Lease until the term ended. The prior owner tried to pull one over on the client by amending the Billboard Lease to allow for additional terms the year before the lease was set to end and the rights would be given back to our client. Ultimately, the Court agreed with our argument that the term in the lease was definite and the attempted new amended lease for an extended term was void. We were able to negotiate a lease with the prior renter for our client who will benefit over $150,000 from the lease.

Fiduciary
– Kate and her team successfully represented the beneficiary of a trust in a complex dispute before the Mifflin County Orphans’ Court. The case involved multiple challenges, including a $250,000 claim based on an alleged common law marriage, which the court rejected after trial. Kate also secured favorable rulings on several intricate trust interpretation issues, yielding the beneficiary $2.6 million. The outcome was affirmed on appeal by both the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts.

Real Estate 
– Kate and team represented a shopping center owner in Dauphin County that was subject to a complete condemnation by PennDOT. After receiving a low offer for the eminent domain of property, the Barley team worked with an appraiser and were able to obtain a $4.55 million payment for the shopping center owner.

– Kate and team represented a non-profit health system in a tax assessment appeal in the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas relative to a large medical complex. Despite the health system acquiring the medical complex for $45 million, the Barley team negotiated with the taxing authorities for a settlement at a $31 million fair market value. This settlement resulted in over $160,000 per year in tax savings for the health system.

Real Estate
In her real estate practice, Kate covers a range of services, including commercial transactions, tax assessment appeals and exemptions, and commercial leasing. Her title agent license enhances her real estate work, offering a well-rounded perspective on each matter. 

Liquor Law
In the hospitality sector, Kate works closely with clients regarding their liquor law needs, assisting with licensing, renewals and enforcement matters. She thoroughly enjoys this niche area of her practice, guiding her clients through the complexities of liquor law.  

Outside of the office, Kate is highly active in her community, serving on various boards of local nonprofit organizations. The West York native enjoys hitting the gym, spending time with her family, and indulging in her passion for baking.