Katherine Leatherman Adams (born April 20, 1964) is an American attorney and business executive best known for her tenure as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Apple Inc. A seasoned legal strategist, she has held high-ranking positions at Fortune 100 companies and served in significant roles within the federal government and private practice. Born in New York City, Adams was raised in a family deeply engaged in environmental advocacy. Her parents, John H. and Patricia Adams, were co-founders of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an influence that shaped her early interests and commitment to public service. Adams pursued her undergraduate studies at Brown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in comparative literature in 1986. She subsequently attended the University of Chicago Law School, graduating with her Juris Doctor in 1990. During her time at law school, she achieved the distinction of being elected to the Order of the Coif. Adams’ legal career began with prestigious clerkships that provided her with insight into the highest levels of the American judiciary. She served as a law clerk for Judge Stephen Breyer, who was then the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and later for Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor of the U.S. Supreme Court. Following her clerkships, she served as a trial attorney in the United States Department of Justice, specifically in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, where she was hired through the competitive Attorney General's Honors Program. Transitioning to the private sector, she became a partner at the international law firm Sidley Austin LLP in New York, where she practiced for a decade. In 2003, Adams joined the multinational conglomerate Honeywell. Over her 14-year tenure at the company, she rose to become the Senior Vice President and General Counsel, where she was responsible for managing the organization's global legal strategy across more than 100 countries. Her work at Honeywell earned her significant industry recognition, including being named "General Counsel of the Year" for large corporations. In 2017, Adams joined Apple Inc., succeeding Bruce Sewell as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook, she became a pivotal member of Apple’s executive team. In this capacity, she oversaw the company's global legal matters, including intellectual property, privacy initiatives, corporate governance, global security, and complex litigation. Her tenure at Apple was marked by the company's navigation of intense global antitrust scrutiny and high-stakes legal battles involving the App Store’s business model and ecosystem regulations. In December 2025, Apple announced that Adams would retire from her role as General Counsel effective March 1, 2026, with Jennifer Newstead named as her successor. Following her departure from the General Counsel role, Adams remained with the company for a transition period, overseeing government affairs operations before her planned retirement later in 2026. Beyond her corporate roles, Adams has been active in various non-profit and academic endeavors. She has served on the boards of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Beaverkill Valley Land Trust, and she has contributed to the University of Chicago Law School Council. Additionally, she has held academic positions as an adjunct professor of law at New York University and Columbia University. Adams is married to Forwood C. Wiser III, and the couple has two children.