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Katherine Guarino Baker

Katherine Guarino Baker

Partner

One Financial Center
Suite 3500
Boston, MA 02111
T 617.217.4618
katherine.baker@nelsonmullins.com
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Katherine is the Chair of the Gaming Industry Group at the firm. She is a gaming regulatory attorney and litigator who assists casino gaming, igaming, sports betting, and fantasy sports operators, vendors, and entrepreneurs to navigate the state and federal, commercial and tribal gaming landscape, including leveraging fintech solutions. She advises gaming clients on regulatory compliance, licensing,...

Katherine is the Chair of the Gaming Industry Group at the firm. She is a gaming regulatory attorney and litigator who assists casino gaming, igaming, sports betting, and fantasy sports operators, vendors, and entrepreneurs to navigate the state and federal, commercial and tribal gaming landscape, including leveraging fintech solutions. She advises gaming clients on regulatory compliance, licensing, and legislative strategy, provides legal opinions in support of operations, and serves as gaming regulatory counsel for corporate transactions. Katherine also represents clients in complex litigation matters in state and federal court, primarily in gaming-related disputes.

In addition, Katherine is one of a small group of attorneys with expertise in all aspects of the Massachusetts initiative petition process from drafting to campaign finance compliance to constitutional challenges before the Supreme Judicial Court. Her regulatory experience extends to drafting legislation, representing clients before state agencies including the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and Office of Political and Campaign Finance, and interpreting statutes and regulations related to gaming, education, conflicts of interest, and campaign finance. 

In 2021, Katherine co-founded the Women in Fintech (WinFin) affinity group at the firm and focuses her thought leadership on the intersection between gaming regulation and fintech.

Katherine Guarino Baker

and legislative strategy, provides legal opinions in support of operations, and serves as gaming regulatory counsel for corporate transactions. Katherine also represents clients in complex litigation matters in state and federal court, primarily in gaming-related disputes.

In addition, Katherine is one of a small group of attorneys with expertise in all aspects of the Massachusetts initiative petition process from drafting to campaign finance compliance to constitutional challenges before the Supreme Judicial Court. Her regulatory experience extends to drafting legislation, representing clients before state agencies including the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and Office of Political and Campaign Finance, and interpreting statutes and regulations related to gaming, education, conflicts of interest, and campaign finance. 

In 2021, Katherine co-founded the Women in Fintech (WinFin) affinity group at the firm and focuses her thought leadership on the intersection between gaming regulation and fintech.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

Gaming

  • Served as principal outside gaming counsel to national casino-entertainment company for Massachusetts and federal public policy matters. 
  • Represented daily fantasy sports operator in multi-jurisdictional gaming litigation and secured dismissal of all claims.
  • Served as lead gaming regulatory attorney on multi-billion-dollar deal representing foreign gaming client in acquisition of division of global gaming company based in the United States.  
  • Advised casino gaming operator on tribal land-to-trust process under Indian Reorganization Act, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and tribe-specific land claim settlement acts.
  • Counseled payment processor on state gaming vendor licensing and registration requirements.
  • Advised daily fantasy sports operator on gaming regulatory implications of transaction with affiliate.

Employment

  • Represented employers in litigation involving claims of employment discrimination, theft of trade secret, and violation of restrictive covenant disputes.

Higher Education

  • Defended colleges and universities against breach of contract, tort, discrimination including under Title IX, and other claims in state and federal court.
  • Negotiated employment and separation agreements on behalf of university presidents.

Ballot Questions and Public Policy

  • Represented clients in all aspects of Massachusetts ballot initiative process, including drafting, certification with the Attorney General, campaign finance compliance for initiative campaigns, coordination with public relations teams and signature gathering firms, and briefing and oral argument of constitutional court challenges to the Supreme Judicial Court under Article 48.
  • Represented public employees before the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and provided counseling to avoid conflicts of interest.
  • Represented clients in investigations of campaign finance violations by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Public Finance.
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

Gaming

  • Served as principal outside gaming counsel to national casino-entertainment company for Massachusetts and federal public policy matters. 
  • Represented daily fantasy sports operator in multi-jurisdictional gaming litigation and secured dismissal of all claims.
  • Served as lead gaming regulatory attorney on multi-billion-dollar deal representing foreign gaming client in acquisition of division of global gaming company based in the United States.  
  • Advised casino gaming operator on tribal land-to-trust process under Indian Reorganization Act, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and tribe-specific land claim settlement acts.
  • Counseled payment processor on state gaming vendor licensing and registration requirements.
  • Advised daily fantasy sports operator on gaming regulatory implications of transaction with affiliate.

Employment

  • Represented employers in litigation involving claims of employment discrimination, theft of trade secret, and violation of restrictive covenant disputes.

Higher Education

  • Defended colleges and universities against breach of contract, tort, discrimination including under Title IX, and other claims in state and federal court.
  • Negotiated employment and separation agreements on behalf of university presidents.

Ballot Questions and Public Policy

  • Represented clients in all aspects of Massachusetts ballot initiative process, including drafting, certification with the Attorney General, campaign finance compliance for initiative campaigns, coordination with public relations teams and signature gathering firms, and briefing and oral argument of constitutional court challenges to the Supreme Judicial Court under Article 48.
  • Represented public employees before the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and provided counseling to avoid conflicts of interest.
  • Represented clients in investigations of campaign finance violations by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Public Finance.

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • Women in FinTech (WinFin), co-founder
  • International Association of Gaming Advisors
  • Global Gaming Women
  • Massachusetts Bar Association, Leadership Academy Graduate (Inaugural Class)
  • USA500 Club

Community

  • Holy Cross Alumni Association Board of Directors

Katherine is the Chair of the Gaming Industry Group at the firm. She is a gaming regulatory attorney and litigator who assists casino gaming, igaming, sports betting, and fantasy sports operators, vendors, and entrepreneurs to navigate the state and federal, commercial and tribal gaming landscape, including leveraging fintech solutions. She advises gaming clients on regulatory compliance, licensing,... and legislative strategy, provides legal opinions in support of operations, and serves as gaming regulatory counsel for corporate transactions. Katherine also represents clients in complex litigation matters in state and federal court, primarily in gaming-related disputes.

In addition, Katherine is one of a small group of attorneys with expertise in all aspects of the Massachusetts initiative petition process from drafting to campaign finance compliance to constitutional challenges before the Supreme Judicial Court. Her regulatory experience extends to drafting legislation, representing clients before state agencies including the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and Office of Political and Campaign Finance, and interpreting statutes and regulations related to gaming, education, conflicts of interest, and campaign finance. 

In 2021, Katherine co-founded the Women in Fintech (WinFin) affinity group at the firm and focuses her thought leadership on the intersection between gaming regulation and fintech.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

Gaming

  • Served as principal outside gaming counsel to national casino-entertainment company for Massachusetts and federal public policy matters. 
  • Represented daily fantasy sports operator in multi-jurisdictional gaming litigation and secured dismissal of all claims.
  • Served as lead gaming regulatory attorney on multi-billion-dollar deal representing foreign gaming client in acquisition of division of global gaming company based in the United States.  
  • Advised casino gaming operator on tribal land-to-trust process under Indian Reorganization Act, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and tribe-specific land claim settlement acts.
  • Counseled payment processor on state gaming vendor licensing and registration requirements.
  • Advised daily fantasy sports operator on gaming regulatory implications of transaction with affiliate.

Employment

  • Represented employers in litigation involving claims of employment discrimination, theft of trade secret, and violation of restrictive covenant disputes.

Higher Education

  • Defended colleges and universities against breach of contract, tort, discrimination including under Title IX, and other claims in state and federal court.
  • Negotiated employment and separation agreements on behalf of university presidents.

Ballot Questions and Public Policy

  • Represented clients in all aspects of Massachusetts ballot initiative process, including drafting, certification with the Attorney General, campaign finance compliance for initiative campaigns, coordination with public relations teams and signature gathering firms, and briefing and oral argument of constitutional court challenges to the Supreme Judicial Court under Article 48.
  • Represented public employees before the Massachusetts Ethics Commission and provided counseling to avoid conflicts of interest.
  • Represented clients in investigations of campaign finance violations by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Public Finance.

Education

  • Boston College Law School, JD
  • College of the Holy Cross, BA, magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire

Practice Areas

Industries

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Women in FinTech (WinFin), co-founder
  • International Association of Gaming Advisors
  • Global Gaming Women
  • Massachusetts Bar Association, Leadership Academy Graduate (Inaugural Class)
  • USA500 Club
  • Holy Cross Alumni Association Board of Directors