Katherine H. Betterly

Katherine H. Betterly is a Wilmington, Delaware lawyer who handles commercial transactions, real estate, and unclaimed property matters. She advises businesses and public entities on acquisition agreements, financing transactions, bankruptcy-related deals, and general contract issues. Her work also includes preparing Delaware legal opinions and providing guidance on bank and insurance regulatory matters. She serves clients ranging from multinational corporations to private companies and government-related entities.

Katherine earned a BA in economics, magna cum laude, from Duke University in 1996. She received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2001. While in law school, she served as an associate editor of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law. Her academic training in economics and law supports her ability to analyze complex transactions, assess risks, and provide practical guidance to businesses and property owners.

Katherine advises clients on the financing, acquisition, development, and leasing of commercial properties. She represents landlords and tenants and handles ground leases, construction contracts, easements, licenses, and title insurance matters. She has represented a purchaser in acquiring an acrylonitrile manufacturing facility and served as counsel to the owner of a 440,000-square-foot office building in Wilmington. She also counsels Fortune 500 companies on unclaimed property audits, compliance matters, and voluntary disclosure programs.

Katherine H. Betterly has been ranked among leading Delaware real estate practitioners by Chambers USA since 2020. She has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Transactions/UCC Law. She helps draft updates to Delaware’s Uniform Commercial Code through a state bar subcommittee and serves in bar leadership. She also provides pro bono representation in Delaware Family Court and serves on the board of the University of Delaware Library Friends.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
• Member, American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Real Property Trust & Estates Section
• Member, Delaware State Bar Association

Licensed State

• Delaware

Education

• University of Pennsylvania Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Duke University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)