Mastering Reptile Tactics: How Plaintiff Attorneys Secure Larger Verdicts and How Defendant Attorneys Can Avoid Them (2025 Edition)

Kathryn S. Whitlock | McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC

Kate has spent her entire career defending and counseling individuals and insurance companies accused of not doing their jobs right. Primarily in professional liability, bad faith and sexual misconduct matters, Kate represents those in the legal, insurance, healthcare, real estate, accounting and education fields, among others. Kate is highly-skilled in the courtroom and alternative dispute forums; she has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict, bench decision or final arbitrator award in state and federal courts and various other venues.

Kate also handles her own cases through appeal and is often called on by others after they receive a disappointing first level dispute resolution outcome. Kate has been recognized in her practice by The Best Lawyers in America© and Georgia Super Lawyers and was named among America’s Top Lawyers by The American Law Society in 2018.

Kate serves in leadership roles with several national organizations, including Defense Research Institute, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and Georgia Defense Lawyers Association. In her pursuit to advance the legal field, she regularly lectures and publishes articles on emerging issues related to her litigation practice. Kate is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of trial attorneys.

Outside of MGC, Kate gives her time to non-profit organizations in Atlanta. She has been married to her husband—who is also an attorney—for over 35 years. Together, they share three grown non-lawyer children and two dogs.

I. Understanding Reptile Theory | 1:00pm – 1:20pm

II. Evolution of Damages | 1:20pm – 1:40pm

III. Identifying and Countering Reptilian Questions | 1:40pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

IV. Jury Persuasion Techniques | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

V. Building a Counter-Reptile Strategy | 2:30pm – 2:50pm

VI. Future of Reptile Tactics in Litigation | 2:50pm – 3:10pm