LAWYER PROFILE
Karen Burgess

Karen Burgess

USA 2026

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Ranked in 2 practice areas

About

Provided by Burgess Law PC

Practice Areas

Karen C. Burgess is a trial lawyer who handles business disputes and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Specialization. Her practice includes trade secrets, oil and gas, contract, real estate, securities, partnership and fiduciary litigation—all areas of commercial litigation.

Professional Memberships

Karen is Past President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. She is a Fellow and has served on the Texas State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Karen is also a fellow of the International Society of Barristers. After two terms as the elected treasurer of The American Board of Trial Advocates’ National Board of Directors, Karen currently serves as a presidential appointee to the National Board. She was a faculty member for the ABOTA’s National Trial College at Yale Law School in 2018 and 2022. Karen is also a member of the American Law Institute.

She is an Honorary Overseas Member of the Commercial Bar Association of the UK and Wales (COMBAR), and COMBAR has featured Karen in its annual on-stage, Oxford style debate at COMBAR’s Combined North American Meeting three times—against the trial process no longer being fit for purpose in resolving commercial disputes in Boston, for the merits of damages-based fees in Stockholm, and for preparing and rehearsing witnesses in Rome.

Publications

– Stacy Rogers Sharp and Karen Burgess, Anatomy of a Trade Secrets Case, 100 The Advoc. (Texas) 16 (Fall 2022)

– Karen Burgess and Erica Harris, Pre-Trial Planning Checklist, 82 The Advoc. (Texas) 24 (Spring 2018)

Education

University of Texas School of Law

Doctor of Jurisprudence, Order of the Barristers

1996

Rice University

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Spanish, and Policy Studies

1992

Universidad Catolica

Studied Latin American History and Policy

1990

Awards

The Karen Burgess Public Interest Law Fellowship

The Whitehurst Public Interest Summer Fellowship

2018

Alumni Mentor of the Year Award

University of Texas School of Law

2018

Litigator of the Year

Travis County Women Lawyers Association

2012

Winning Women

Texas Lawyer

2011

Top 10 Super Lawyer in Texas: 2022 –2026

Super Lawyers

Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in Texas: 2014, 2016, 2019–2026

Super Lawyers

Top 50 Super Lawyers in Central/West Texas: 2014–2016, 2018–2026

Super Lawyers

Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas: 2019, 2021–2026

Super Lawyers

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Litigation: General Commercial - Texas: Austin & Surrounds

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial
Karen Burgess of Burgess Law PC is an experienced trial lawyer offering expert handling of securities, contract, insurance and other commercial disputes.

Litigation: Trial Lawyers - Texas

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial
Karen Burgess of Burgess Law PC is an experienced trial lawyer offering expert handling of securities, contract, insurance and other commercial disputes.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Karen is a very good courtroom lawyer.

    Litigation: General CommercialChambers Guide to the USA
  • Karen is an excellent attorney and a strong trial lawyer.

    Litigation: General CommercialChambers Guide to the USA
  • Karen is one of the best trial lawyers in Austin. She is incredibly detail-oriented, smart, savvy and great with juries. She is at the top of her game and highly respected in this community.

    Litigation: General CommercialChambers Guide to the USA
  • Karen is a well-regarded and well-connected statesperson. She is an excellent trial lawyer.

    Litigation: General CommercialChambers Guide to the USA
  • Karen Burgess is a tremendous litigator and very easy to work with.

    Litigation: General CommercialChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Burgess Law PC (2)

Texas

Texas: Austin & Surrounds

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