Catherine E. York

Associate General Counsel

Catherine E. York is an Associate General Counsel at the University of Kentucky.  She has over twenty years of legal experience in private practice and public service. 

At UK, she advises the University in various areas of healthcare law, including contracts, privacy issues, payer relations, and regulatory compliance. 

Prior to joining the University, Cathy spent 17 years in public service with the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  She served as Deputy Executive Director of the Kentucky General’s Office of Trafficking and Abuse Prevention and Prosecution.  In that role, she worked to raise awareness about human trafficking and child abuse in Kentucky through training, legislation, and grant activities.  Through her efforts, the Office received a grant to help survivors of human trafficking in Southeastern Kentucky access transitional housing along with health and ancillary services.  She was Deputy General Counsel for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.  During her tenure, she headed the litigation team involved in complex litigation in federal and state courts, supervised legal support for all procurement matters, acted as primary counsel for the Department for Medicaid Services, and provided legal guidance to Executive Staff.  She was also Deputy General Counsel for the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, during which time she helped to bring the World Equestrian Games and Ryder Cup to Kentucky, as well as, to create the Louisville Arena Authority.  She began her career in private practice in London, Kentucky and Richmond, Kentucky.

A native of Laurel County, Kentucky, Cathy received her B.A., cum laude, from Centre College.  While at Centre, she founded the French Club and spent a semester studying in Strasburg, France.  She was a John C. Young Scholar and received the outstanding French major award. Cathy received her J.D. from the University of Virginia, School of Law, where she was an Editorial Board member of the Virginia Journal of International Law, Co-Director of Publications for the J.B. Moore International Law Society, and received the Virginia State Bar Family Law Book Award.

B.A., Centre College (cum laude)

J.D., University of Virginia, School of Law (Law Review)