Catherine D. Bertram

Catherine D. Bertram is an attorney at Bertram & Murphy in Washington, D.C. who represents patients and families in personal injury and medical malpractice matters. Her practice includes major medical malpractice and wrongful death cases, birth injuries, emergency room malpractice, hospital and nursing errors, defective medical devices, medication errors, nursing home litigation, and other serious injury claims. She draws on decades of civil trial experience and prior hospital risk management work when evaluating medical evidence and liability issues.

Bertram earned her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in 1989, where she was named Woman Law Student of the Year and served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Judicial Notice. She received a B.A. and B.S.W. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her background in psychology, social work, and law supports her ability to understand the human impact of injuries while analyzing complex medical and legal questions.

Before building her plaintiff-side practice, Bertram served as director of risk management at Georgetown University Hospital, giving her direct insight into hospital operations and how medical claims are assessed. She has more than three decades of civil trial experience in Washington-area courts and has handled significant malpractice and injury cases. Her work also includes mediation and case evaluation, and she has taught medical malpractice as an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law.

Catherine D. Bertram has served on the D.C. Bar Board of Governors and the board of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. Her professional record includes recognition for medical malpractice and trial work, along with speaking and writing on patient safety and medical errors. She combines courtroom experience, knowledge of health care systems, and careful case preparation to help injured clients and families understand complicated claims and pursue appropriate legal remedies.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Bertram & Murphy
• Member, District of Columbia Bar
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, Board of Governors, D.C. Bar
• Board Member, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center
• Active member, DC Trial Lawyers Association
• Active member, University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni Association
• Founding member, Power 100, Washington, D.C.
• Active supporter, Public Citizen

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Maryland

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Bachelor’s Degree
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
  B.S.W.

Awards & Badges