Katherine H. Betterly
View All Practices
Kate’s practice involves a wide spectrum of national and local transactional matters including business acquisition agreements, financing transactions (including matters involving UCC Article 9), bankruptcy-related transactions and other general contract law matters.
Kate’s practice also includes the preparation of Delaware legal opinions in connection with a range of transactional matters as well as representation of clients involved in bank and insurance regulatory matters.
Kate is also a member of the firm’s commercial real estate practice, where she focuses on transactions involving the finance, acquisition and development of commercial properties. Kate regularly represents both landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions. She also routinely handles issues related to ground leases, construction contracts, easements and licenses. She is a title agent for various national title insurance companies.
In addition to her transactional practice, Kate frequently represents unclaimed property holders. She acts as outside counsel to numerous Fortune 500 companies in connection with unclaimed property audits, compliance matters and voluntary disclosure programs.
Her clients range from large, multinational corporations to local private and governmental entities such as The Delaware River and Bay Authority, Diamond State Port Corporation, and 1201 North Market Street LLC.
Kate participates in drafting updates to Delaware’s Uniform Commercial Code as a member of the UCC subcommittee of the Commercial Law Section of the Delaware Bar Association. She also devotes a portion of her time to pro bono matters as an attorney guardian ad litem and/or Frazier attorney in the Family Court for the State of Delaware and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Delaware Library Associates.
Since 2020, Chambers USA has ranked Kate among leading Delaware practitioners in the Real Estate area. She has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Delaware Commercial Transactions / UCC Law.
Experience
Represented purchaser in acquisition of acrylonitrile manufacturing facility. Handled drafting of acquisition documentation, real estate issues and negotiation of transition and service agreements.
Serves as counsel to owner of 440,000 square feet high rise office building in downtown Wilmington, Delaware.
Represents large regional airport in wide variety of real estate issues, including leasing of airport facilities, federal aid grants and working with the Federal Aviation Administration as well as commercial airlines.
Represents Port of Wilmington in a wide variety of leasing and real estate matters including the acquisition of the Edgemoor facility.
News & Insights
Media Mention, The Best Lawyers in America®, 08.20.2026The annual peer-reviewed guide recognized Morris Nichols attorneys across a range of practice areas.
Professional & Civic
American Bar Association (Business Law Section, Real Property Trust & Estates Section, and Legal Opinions in Real Estate Transactions)
Committee of 100
Commercial-Industrial Realty Council
Delaware Commercial Real Estate Women
Delaware State Bar Association (Executive Committee (Member at Large 2026-2027); Commercial Law Section (Chair, 2011-2013; Vice Chair, 2009-2011; Secretary, 2007-2009), Real & Personal Property Section, Uniform Commercial Code Subcommittee)
Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization
University of Delaware Library Friends (Board of Directors)
Education
University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, 2001
University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, Associate Editor, 1999-2001
Duke University, BA, economics, magna cum laude, 1996
Admissions
- Delaware, 2001
Chambers USA has ranked Kate among leading Delaware practitioners in the Real Estate area.
