Katherine M. Knudsen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University in 1983 and her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1986. While studying law, Ms. Knudsen attended Magdalen College, Oxford University in Oxford, England. She was admitted to practice in California in 1986. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court in the Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.

During her career, Ms. Knudsen has been involved in the San Diego Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. She served on its Board of Directors for three years and served on numerous committees as the chairperson within the association. Among her professional memberships, she has been an active member of the San Diego County Bar Association and served on its Legal Resource and Information Services Committee for six years. She also served on the Standing Committee on Legal Resource and Information Services for the American Bar Association for three years. She is also a member of the State Bar of California. Civically, Ms. Knudsen is on the Board of Directors for the Community Association of Bernardo Heights, is a member of the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce and served on its Economic Development Committee and Streetscape Subcommittee for one year.  She was selected for inclusion in the 2007 and 2008 Southern California Super Lawyers® - San Diego list for Construction Litigation.