Legal services donor spotlight: Catherine London

Catherine London, a seasoned healthcare attorney and passionate advocate, has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals facing cancer through her work with Cancer Legal Care (CLC). With 12 years of experience in health law, London’s journey began at Fredrikson & Byron, where she represented healthcare companies on regulatory and transactional matters. Today she leads her own healthcare advising firm while continuing to make a profound impact through her partnership with CLC.

London first connected with CLC as a second-year attorney when she volunteered on a case involving a young woman with leukemia. The case—helping the woman’s brother secure immigration support to provide a life-saving transplant—left an indelible mark on her. Since 2019, she has served on CLC’s Board of Directors, including two years as chair. She also helped to establish and currently chairs the Advocacy Committee, which leads efforts advocating for policies that address financial toxicity, medical debt, and access to care at both the state and federal levels. Most notably, CLC recently played a key role in advancing medical debt reform legislation in Minnesota.

CLC provides a broad range of legal services to individuals affected by cancer, including employment issues, insurance appeals, and estate planning. For London, this work highlights the powerful intersection of law and health. “There’s a direct link between financial toxicity and health outcomes,” she explains. “When individuals incur medical debt and suffer from financial toxicity around certain healthcare issues like cancer, the research shows that they have worse outcomes because they are suffering from external factors that might be related to legal barriers they are facing—which have a direct impact on their health outcomes.”

London’s background in public health deepens her commitment to CLC’s mission. She believes it’s essential for lawyers to recognize the many ways they can contribute beyond traditional casework—whether through volunteering, serving on boards, advocacy, or fundraising. “There are so many opportunities to make a difference,” she emphasizes. “Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. I wish more people understood the breadth of legal challenges individuals face and how organizations like CLC provide vital solutions.”

Her advice for attorneys looking to make a difference? “Find an organization that speaks to you, where you feel you can have the greatest impact—whether that’s through time, resources, or leadership.” Catherine London’s work with Cancer Legal Care is a powerful reminder of how lawyers can transform lives not just in the courtroom, but in the communities they serve.