Partner
Cathy tried her first jury trial in federal court in Waco in 1993 to a successful verdict, and she quickly realized that trying cases is one of the best parts of practicing law. Over the past thirty-five years, she has continued an active litigation practice, representing employers and employees, governmental entities, corporations and individuals in a wide variety of commercial and civil matters, completing over twenty-five jury and non-jury trials. She presently focuses her practice on aggressively defending corporations and individuals in tort litigation, including product liability, construction defect, employment matters, and officer and director liability. In that capacity, she works to obtain the best result possible for her clients and has won several defense verdicts for her business clients. She also works with prospective employees in negotiating the terms of their employment agreements, highlighting provisions that could prove problematic and developing a mutually beneficial outcome. Cathy is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (approximately 1% of attorneys in Texas have this certification), and, because of her expertise in the courtroom, she was invited to join the American Board of Trial Advocates, an elite organization representing barely 0.5% of the lawyers in the US. Cathy grew up in Dallas, graduated with honors from Plan II at UT, and earned her JD from Baylor Law School.
Honors and Activities:
Vice-Chair, City of Austin Ethics Review Commission 2007; Director, Austin Bar Association 1998-2000; Bench Bar Committee 1994; Co-Chair, Austin Bar Association 1997; Annual Meeting Committee, Austin Bar Association 2001; Law and Medicine Committee, Austin Bar Association, 1997; Adult Education Committee, Austin Bar Association 1996; Bar and Grill Committee, Austin Bar Association 1991-1999; Children and the Law Committee, Austin Bar Association 1997; Director, Austin Young Lawyers Association 1990-1993; Treasurer, Austin Young Lawyers Association 1991-1993; Chair, Community Service Committee, Austin Young Lawyers Association 1989-1990; Street Law Committee, Austin Young Lawyers Association 1993; Social Committee, Austin Young Lawyers Association 1987-1990; Mentor Committee, Austin Young Lawyers Association 1989; Founder, Secretary, The Fellows of the Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation 1995-1999.
Admissions:
State Bar of Texas; Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas.
Professional Membership:
American Board of Trial Advocates; Litigation Section, State Bar of Texas; Labor & Employment Law Section, State Bar of Texas; Corporate Counsel Section, State Bar of Texas; American Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; College of the State Bar; Travis County Women Lawyers Association.
Author and Speaker:
Products Liability: Update on the Year’s Best Cases (2007 – 2013); Supreme Court Update (speaker, 2004-2013); You’re Fired! Employment Law Update (2006); You’re Fired! Employer Liability for Employee Practices (2005); Consumer Protection: Privacy Issues Arising in Claims and Litigation (2004); Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Liability (2004).
Education:
University of Texas at Austin (B.A. in Plan II with special honors, College Scholar 1982-1983, Dean’s List 1982, National Merit Scholar 1980, Phi Eta Sigma); Baylor University School of Law (J.D., 1986, Honors Certificate, Harvey M. Ritchie Moot Court Society, Delta Theta Phi, Association of Women Law Students).
Other:
West Austin Neighborhood Group (President 2012–present; Board member 2010–present); Chair, Board of Directors, Hill Country Ride for AIDS (2010–present); Planned Parenthood of Austin Event Committee (2005); CASA of Travis County (2002-04); Texas Rural Legal Aid of Central Texas (2001-05).
Ratings:
AV® Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell (Highest Rating).