Carina M. Kraatz is a principal in the firm’s Detroit office. She focuses her practice in commercial law where she assists her clients with issues related to licensing, contract negotiation, product branding, real estate matters, and litigation. Ms. Kraatz also practices construction law, where her representative clients are both owners and design professionals, in contract negotiation, pre-litigation matters, and litigation.
As a registered patent attorney, she leads the Firm’s intellectual property practice, helping her clients with litigation, patent, trademark prosecution, trade secret protection, image misappropriation, copyright, and other infringement issues. Intellectual property law gives Ms. Kraatz the opportunity to work in partnership with extremely creative and driven clients to achieve the best possible outcome in challenging situations. Naturally facilitative in her approach, she always stands ready to defend her client zealously and aggressively when the need arises.
Ms. Kraatz finds that helping someone through a difficult situation can be the most rewarding experience in a person’s life. In 2019, Ms. Kraatz received the Pro Bono Award from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She has been recognized by the Detroit Bar Association for her commitment to pro bono work from 2019 - 2023, and in 2021, the Detroit Bar Association also awarded her with the Committee of the Year Award for her joint work to continue to access justice for those in need during the pandemic. Ms. Kraatz has also been recognized by DBusiness as a Top Lawyer and was named a Super Lawyer in 2024 and 2025.Only five percent of the attorneys in the state are named Super Lawyers.
Ms. Kraatz currently serves on the Detroit Bar Association Board of Directors as well as previously serving on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Chapter of NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) from 2022 to 2024. She is also an Allied member of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the Engineering Society of Detroit.
Publications & Presentations
Presenter, “Intellectual Property in the Construction Industry”, AGC, Webinar, Michigan 2022
Presenter, “UPDATE - Entering the Marijuana Industry in Michigan: An Overview of the Issues Facing Real Estate Professionals Interested in Commercial Cannabis”, Builders Owners Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, 2022
Panelist, “Developing Standards for Quantifying and Analyzing Productivity Claims and the Impact on Construction Audit”, National Association of Construction Auditors, Webinar, Michigan 2021
Presenter, “Construction Contract Terms for the Construction Auditor”, National Association of Construction Auditors, Webinar, Michigan 2021
Presenter, “Managing Engineering Liability & Risk”, Halfmoon Education, Webinar, Michigan 2021
Author, “Chapter V - Delays in Contract Performance”, AGC Contractors Guide to Michigan Construction Law, 2021
Presenter, “Commercial Law Update”, MDTC, Michigan, including current issues in the Marijuana Industry in Michigan, 2021
Presenter, “UPDATE - Entering the Marijuana Industry in Michigan: An Overview of the Issues Facing Real Estate Professionals Interested in Commercial Cannabis”, Builders Owners Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, 2021
Presenter, “Blockchain 2-hour Legal Update”, Builders Owners Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan 2018
Presenter, “Intellectual Property Primer for Construction Auditors”, National Association of Construction Auditors, Nevada, 2017
Insights & News
March, 2025 - Recent Highlights
Kitch: Proud to be a Sponsor of the DBusiness Top Corporate Culture Awards
November, 2024 - Recent Highlights, Community Involvement
Kitch Attorneys Honored at 20th Annual Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award Gala
November, 2024 - Recent Highlights, Wins
Success in Michigan Supreme Court
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or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
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respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
