A young woman with straight light brown hair, wearing a dark blazer over a striped shirt, is smiling at the camera against a plain grey background, representing litigation support for lawyers in Chicago.

Katherine M. Plachta

Associate

Katherine M. Plachta

Associate

Katie Plachta assists clients with compliance and transactional matters as a member of Foley & Lardner’s Environmental Practice Group. She has experience working on permitting issues, endangered species issues, Superfund sites, solar project transactions, and business transactions.

Prior to joining Foley, Katie worked as a law clerk at the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Environmental Protection Unit and Midwest Environmental Advocates. She also served as a law fellow for the UW System’s Office of General Counsel where she prepared memoranda on constitutional issues in higher education and employment matters.

November 11, 2025 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents KeyBank as Sole Lender in $75M Lightshift Energy Project Finance Facility

Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal advisor to KeyBanc Capital Markets, the corporate and investment banking arm of Cleveland based KeyCorp, for the $75 million credit facility to support Lightshift Energy’s expanding fleet of battery projects.
October 7, 2025 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

What Every Consumer Products Retailer Needs to Know About the CPSC

Running a consumer products retail business is hard work.  In addition to the day-to-day challenges facing any business, the applicable...
The California state flag waves in front of the California State Capitol building under a clear blue sky, embodying the spirit upheld by any leading corporate law office.
April 24, 2025 Foley Viewpoints

Prop 65: Changes to Short-Form Warnings Will Cause Long-Term Impacts

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment recently amended its regulations concerning requirements for consumer product warnings to qualify for “safe harbor” protection from enforcement actions brought under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as Proposition 65.
April 14, 2025 Pro Bono

Foley Secures Jury Trial Win for Pro Bono Client in Civil Rights Case

Foley & Lardner LLP recently secured a favorable jury verdict on behalf of a pro bono client in Harris v. Giese, No. 3:22-cv-00387-wmc (W.D. Wis.), a federal civil rights case involving the use of excessive force by a jail officer.
A bronze sign reads “United States Environmental Protection Agency” mounted on the exterior of a government building, much like those seen at a corporate law office or among chicago lawyers specializing in environmental and intellectual property law.
June 4, 2024 Energy Current

EPA Finalizes New Greenhouse Gas Reporting Obligations for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: More Companies Impacted; More Fees Charged

On May 14, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published the final Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under 40 C.F.R. Part 98, Subpart W in the Federal Register.
May 10, 2024 Deals and Wins

Foley Represents Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Acquisition of ATEK Metal Technologies

Foley & Lardner LLP advised Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAF), a leader in aluminum and copper-based alloy castings, in its acquisition of ATEK Metal Technologies (ATEK), an Iowa-based manufacturing company.