Meet Kathryn “Katie” Quinlan, ReMA’s New Assistant General Counsel

In August 2025, Kathryn “Katie” Quinlan joined the ReMA legal team as the new Assistant General Counsel. She comes to ReMA from the federal government where she was assistant general counsel with the General Services Administration (GSA) in Washington, D.C. Quinlan was also previously a Presidential Management Fellow with GSA and on detail to the Office of Management and Budget. She has experience in contracting, data privacy, and policy review and development.

ReMA News had the chance to chat with Quinlan about her background, why she decided to take a job with ReMA, and what she’s looking forward to most about working at the association.

Tell me about your role at ReMA.

I serve as ReMA’s Assistant General Counsel and Director of Contracts and Trademarks. In that role, I’ll be managing contracts and the contract process, as well as handling ReMA’s intellectual property. I will also be assisting the General Counsel with antitrust compliance and corporate governance issues. I will also serve as the staff liaison for ReMA’s Superfund Recycling Equity Act (SREA) Reasonable Care Compliance Program. The SREA Reasonable Care Compliance Program helps recyclers defend against Superfund liability by providing comprehensive reports on the environmental compliance of consuming facilities.

Tell me about your background.

Before coming to ReMA, I was assistant general counsel with the General Services Administration (GSA) in Washington, D.C. I was also previously a Presidential Management Fellow with GSA and on detail to the Office of Management and Budget within the Executive Office of the President. At GSA, I was in the tech law division, primarily supporting the technology-based programs. At OMB, I primarily focused on the privacy compliance program. Before that I clerked for the Hon. Mark J. Kappelhoff of the Hennepin County District Court immediately following law school.

I have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota and my law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

How did you decide to apply for the position at ReMA?

I was interested in working for a trade association. I’ve worked in the policy space in my previous roles—I worked on policy in a clinic in law school and in the federal government I supported a lot of our policy programs. Another reason I was interested in working at ReMA is because I have a background in mechanical engineering, and I was intrigued by the idea of working in an industry that’s related to the manufacturing and science sectors.

What are you looking forward to at ReMA?

I’m looking forward to working on corporate governance and antitrust issues. I wasn’t exposed to those spaces of law in my previous attorney positions at the federal government, so I’m interested in learning more about those areas of law.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to run, last year I participated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I also like to paint in my spare time. I really like doing a variety of outdoor activities like skiing, skating, and hiking.