Karen C. Burgess

Karen Burgess is a board-certified specialist in civil trial law (Texas Board of Legal Specialization) and the principal at Burgess Law PC in Austin, Texas. She concentrates on high-stakes business litigation that is likely to wind up in the courtroom.Ms. Burgess graduated from Rice University in 1992 with a B.A. in economics, Spanish and policy studies. In 1990, she studied Latin American history and policy at the UniversidadCatólicain Valparaiso, Chile. Ms. Burgess earned her J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1996. That same year, she was licensed in Texas, and since then she has also been admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5thCircuit.Ms. Burgess is active in the legal community—locally, nationally and internationally.  In fact, she currently serves as the President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and she is an Honorary Overseas Member of the Commercial Bar Association of the UK and Wales (COMBAR).  Ms. Burgess is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of its Texas State Committee, and she has been very active with the American Board of Trial Advocates, serving as the elected National Treasurer, the Austin Chapter President, and now as a presidential appointee to the National Board of Directors.  Ms. Burgess is also an invited member of the American Law Institute. She has served as President of the Lloyd Lochridge American Inn of Court and on the Nominating Committee for the Texas Bar Foundation.As Dean of the International Academy in 2022, Ms. Burgess presented the Dean’s Address on “Truth or Consequence: Protecting Justice and the Rule of Law Against a Crisis ofDeception,” and she has been invited to speak on the critical issue of disinformation around the country.  Shealso frequently presents on topics like business torts, trade secret misappropriation, fraudulent transfer, and trial skills topics at legal conferences and events.COMBAR has recently invited her back to participate in its annual on-stage Oxford style debate for a second time.  Esteemed outlets, such as The New York Times and Texas Monthly, have quoted Ms. Burgess on cases such as the lawsuit against Alex Jones for spreading misinformation about the Sandy Hook victims and their families, and on her role as lead counsel for Luckenbach in its trademark trial.Karen Burgess is recognized by Chambers and Partners as a Band One Commercial Trial Lawyer. Her name appears consistently in Lawdragon’s list of The 500 Leading Lawyers in America. In 2011, Ms. Burgess stood out as one of the “Winning Women” in Texas Lawyer, a distinction given to only 20 attorneys. The following year, she was named Litigator of the Year by the Travis County Women Lawyers Association. She has an “Excellent” rating on Avvo and is peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell.*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.