A former federal prosecutor, Catherine Friesen is an experienced litigator who has practiced extensively in both Federal and New York State Court. As an Assistant United States Attorney in Brooklyn, Catherine served as both lead and co-counsel in complex RICO/racketeering cases, handling all stages of the proceedings from grand jury investigations through pre-trial motions, trials, and appeals. She received two Directors Awards for Superior Performances as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and served as a Deputy Supervisor in the Violent Criminal Enterprises Section.
After moving to private practice, Catherine handled a variety of cases in New York State Court, including land use disputes, municipal law issues, personal injury matters and construction-related lawsuits. She has successfully argued numerous appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the First and Second Departments of the New York State Appellate Division.
Before joining Denlea and Carton, Catherine taught history at a public high school in the Bronx. Catherine has also been an acting justice in Upper Nyack Village Court, served as Chairperson of the Nyack Zoning Board of Appeals, and remains active on the Nyack Planning Board.
Catherine is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College and attended Columbia Law School. She lives in Nyack, New York with her husband, a litigator in New York City. She is enormously proud of her three children, all of whom are pursuing various science-related paths and share her passion for hiking and outdoor pursuits.