Overview

Karly Houchin thrives on being the most prepared person in the room. As a construction attorney, she guides her clients through each stage of the litigation process, from pre-claim disputes to arbitrations, discovery, negotiation, trial, and everything in between. Sometimes this means piecing together difficult, complex accounting for closeout disputes. Sometimes it means diving into the defect allegations from another party’s expert and grinding through fine details during depositions. Sometimes it means synthesizing complicated constitutional issues for water clients. Whatever the scenario, Karly is always prepared. Karly’s practice focuses on representing clients in water territory disputes, construction disputes, and insurance coverage disputes.

For water disputes, Karly primarily represents rural water districts enforcing federal protection of their territory from the construction and development of water infrastructure by competing water providers.

In construction disputes, Karly represents owners and general contractors in closeout disputes for multimillion-dollar projects. She also works with engineers and architects on professional liability cases and on complex, multiparty disputes.

More broadly, Karly represents all types of clients in insurance coverage disputes against carriers. She analyzes insurance policy terms and negotiates with carriers to  maximize insurance coverage for her clients. She also analyzes insurance policies for clients at the early stages of contract negotiation to make recommendations for that specific project.

During depositions, more than one client has observed that she was “the most prepared” lawyer in the room. For Karly, there is no higher praise. An essential part of her preparation is working closely with her clients who have lived through a project and are an invaluable resource. An informed, involved client is every attorney’s best asset, as each case is ultimately about protecting and defending the client’s interests. It’s important to Karly to generate trust with her clients. By having the facts and details at her fingertips, she is able to address what might otherwise be delicate issues straightforwardly and effectively. And clients return to her in the future—they’ve learned to trust her, they know she puts them first, and they want to work with her again. She sees her role as helping them navigate the litigation process and demystifying what can otherwise be a frustrating and confusing affair.

Identifying what a case is really about is fundamental to Karly’s approach to litigation. She identifies and pursues the path that is best for her client, wherever it leads. Karly is prepared to settle the case, take it to arbitration, seek a jury’s verdict, or pursue an appeal.

This flexibility also extends to her attitude toward her cases and her behavior with opposing counsel. Preparation allows her to be collegial, friendly, and cooperative most of the time, but also able to switch gears and be assertive when needed. Her reputation for professionalism typically precedes her, making negotiations more productive and efficient.

When she’s not digging into her cases, Karly is an avid golfer—she played competitively in high school and enjoys exploring courses wherever she finds herself. She’s also an enthusiastic hiker on the trails in and around Austin.

Read More

Education

  • J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law (2017)
    • The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race and Social Justice: Managing Executive Editor
    • Sandra Day O’Conner School of Law’s Law Review on Social Justice: Credit with honors awarded for publication
    • William S. Sessions American Inn of Court: Student Member
    • Judge K.K. Woodley Memorial Scholarship Recipient
  • B.A., University of Texas at Austin (2014)

Licenses & Certifications

  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • Admitted to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Admitted to U.S. District Courts for the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas
  • Board Certified, Construction Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization
×

Important: Do not send or include any information you consider confidential or privileged by email through this website. Unless there is a signed engagement agreement between you and Allensworth, now or in the future, no attorney-client relationship exists. This means that any information submitted will not be confidential or privileged and may be used adversely to you and for the benefit of existing or future clients of Allensworth. By clicking “OK”, you agree that you have read and accept this notice.