Since childhood, Kate Payton dreamed of becoming an attorney, often orchestrating pretend jury trials in her living room in Hart County, Kentucky. Though initially aspiring to work as a prosecutor, law school opened her eyes to other areas of law where she could genuinely serve people.
Kate attended Western Kentucky University, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She then pursued her childhood dream of becoming an attorney at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, earning her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2015. During law school, she worked as a student extern for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, and was selected to participate in the Kentucky Innocence Project, gaining invaluable experience in preparing and drafting pleadings, assisting with trial preparation, and engaging in client communication.
Upon graduating, Kate returned to Bowling Green to begin her legal career. Prior to joining ELPO Law as senior counsel, she served as an associate attorney for Broderick & Davenport, PLLC and most recently as a staff attorney for Warren Circuit Family Court Judge David A. Lanphear. While primarily practicing in general civil litigation, Kate is passionate about advocating for her clients. She believes that when individuals need legal representation, they often face some of the most stressful times in their lives. “One of my responsibilities as their attorney is to try and ease their stress as best I can by providing accurate, transparent, and honest legal representation,” says Kate. She is dedicated to ensuring her clients are the most informed litigants in the courtroom, not just about their case facts, but also about the judicial system. It is this commitment to integrity and professionalism that drives Kate to deliver exceptional client service consistently.
Outside the courtroom, Kate enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and sporting events with her family. She and her husband, Ray, live in Bowling Green with their two young children.
