J. Cecelia Satterthwaite

Associate Indianapolis

Summary

Cecelia represents clients in high-stakes litigation nationwide, including general commercial disputes, corporate governance and partnership disputes, transportation litigation, invasion of privacy actions, government investigations, and complex class action defenses. She is involved in all phases of litigation, from drafting pleadings and dispositive motions to managing discovery and crafting legal strategy.

Cecelia maintains focus throughout the litigation process on trial strategy. She constantly evaluates each litigated issue and contested fact for its ultimate influence on the finder of fact. Notably, Cecelia lead her previous firm’s initiatives to integrate trial technology early in a case, helping to ensure that the evidence was ultimately presented in a smooth and persuasive manner. As part of this process, Cecelia has become a trained hot-seat operator with the leading trial presentation platform, OnCue.

Before joining Taft, Cecelia served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Mark J. Dinsmore, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. She earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she was a Senior Executive Editor for the Indiana Law Review and on the Moot Court Executive Board.

Cecelia received her bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Indiana University – Bloomington. To support the community, Cecelia provides pro bono representation by federal court appointment to indigent clients at both the trial and appellate levels.

Awards

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, Entertainment and Sports Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Transportation Law (2026)

  • Honoree, Indy’s Best and Brightest Awards, Law Category (2025)

All Service Areas

All Practices

Education

  • Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (2022)

    summa cum laude
    Indiana Law Review, Senior Executive Editor

  • Indiana University - Bloomington (2018)

    B.A. – Economics, Political Science

Admissions

  • State - Indiana
  • Federal - Indiana Northern District Court
  • Federal - Indiana Southern District Court
  • Federal - U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit