Catherine W. Wilkinson joined the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson (now Steptoe LLP) following completion of her MBA at Indiana University Kelly School of Business. During her forty-year career at Steptoe, she practiced in the Tax Department; Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits and ERISA Department; and the White Collar Defense Department. In addition, she served on the Firm’s Executive and Compensation Committees, was chair of the Firm’s Finance, Professional Advancement and Hiring Committees, and chair of the Exempt Organizations Practice.
A significant portion of Catherine’s practice related to national and international conservation organizations, land trusts, conservation easements, and litigation and controversies involving charitable assets and activities of tax-exempt organizations. Her love and interest in land conservation and protection of wildlife began when she was in elementary school. Her mother started prairie restorations at that time and Catherine learned to collect seeds from native plants along the railroad right of ways which had been undisturbed since the original tracks were laid and learn about the birds and animals that thrived in that environment. Catherine has always felt that her work with conservation organizations is a labor of love.
