Attorneys

Kat Gallagher

Partner

When some of the largest companies in the world need trial counsel that they can rely on in high stakes litigation, they call on Kat Gallagher. In over twenty-five years of practice, Kat has distinguished herself as an elite trial lawyer with outstanding instincts for how to best tell her client’s story in the most persuasive and compelling way. Her effortless style in the courtroom makes her an always-effective advocate. For judges and juries alike, Kat's unique blend of talents make her both instantly likable and always commanding of respect.

Recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America, Kat has earned the respect of her peers and adversaries alike. Her active trial practice includes experience as lead counsel in trials of products liability, commercial cases, professional malpractice, intentional torts, premises liability, and environmental and negligence claims among others. In addition to being a tireless advocate for her clients, she also lends her time and talents to many organizations and causes in the community including Children at Risk, the United Way and the Houston Zoo.

Background

Professional Activities and Memberships

Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation

Fellow, Houston Bar Association

American College of Trial Lawyers

American Board of Trial Advocates

International Association of Defense Counsel

International Society of Barristers

Defense Research Institute

Litigation Counsel of America

Texas Association of Defense Counsel

American Bar Association

Texas Bar Association

Houston Bar Association

Admissions

State Bar of Texas

State Bar of Louisiana

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas

Honors & Awards

Recognized in Chambers USA in Litigation: General Commercial (Texas); Litigation: Trial Lawyers (Texas), 2020

Named in Best Lawyers in America's 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2006 - 2020

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star, 2018

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of the best female lawyers in the nation: 2017 Top 250 Women in Litigation; 2019 Top 250 Women in Litigation

Selected to Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers - Civil Litigation: Defense, 2006, 2008 - 2019

Selected by Lawyer Monthly magazine for global 2016 Women in Law Award

Defense Hot List - Geers V. Wyeth, National Law Journal, 2006

Education

J.D., Louisiana State University Law Center, 1988
- Order of the Coif
- Louisiana Law Review

B.A., Louisiana State University, Journalism, 1985

Community Involvement

Board Member, Public Policy and Law Center Advisory Board for Children at Risk

United Way Tocqueville Society and United Way Women's Initiative

Board Member, Houston Zoo

Board Member, Art League of Houston, 2004-2009

Publications and Presentations

"Closing Arguments," Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, June, 2009

"Closing Arguments," DRI, June 2007

"Charting from a Litigation Perspective," May 2003

"Update of Product Liability Law," Advanced Personal Injury Seminar, 2003

Related News

Representative Experience

Products Liability

Represented a major tobacco company in Engle progeny trials throughout Florida.

Obtained defense verdict in the first case remanded from the MDL in the nation for a pharmaceutical manufacturer involving a withdrawn drug.

Represented Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. in wrongful death and personal injury suits filed in multiple counties in Texas relating to rollover accidents and product recall; served on pretrial and trial teams for all Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. cases in Texas involving the recalled tires.

Represented a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in suits arising from the use of prescription drugs.

Medical Malpractice

Obtained defense verdict for hospital client in a wrongful death case alleging failure to adequately monitor heart patient.

Obtained defense verdict for hospital obstetrics case alleging that nursing negligence proximately caused death of one twin and brain damage to the second.

Obtained several defense verdicts for a number of national drug store pharmacies in unrelated prescription mis-fill cases, often where liability was stipulated and only causation and damages were contested at trial; one such case seeking in excess of $10 million in which liability was contested and settled for nuisance value after four days of trial.

Obtained defense verdict in dental malpractice case.

Regularly handled claims and cases against hospitals and advised on issues such as peer review, staffing, policies and procedures, and credentialing.

Premises Liability

Obtained defense verdict in case alleging that inadequate security of restaurant led to the shooting death of plaintiff's husband.

Obtained summary judgment for owner of parking garage where plaintiff was allegedly raped by city policeman who had stopped her for suspicion of drunk driving, with Texas Supreme Court's opinion modifying standard for proof in inadequate security cases.

Obtained defense verdicts in a number of traditional premises defect jury trials.

General Trial Practice

Obtained bench verdict for property owner in 1983 deprivation of access to property case against Harris County.

Obtained directed verdict for major telecommunications client on all causes of action including DTPA violations, slander, malicious prosecution, negligence, and breach of contract in a case involving client's fraud detection systems.

Represented the owner/operator of several landfills and related waste operations in a variety of nuisance, contract and personal injury actions.

Obtained defense verdicts in three civil assault/malicious prosecution cases.

Represented IPA in cases/arbitrations regarding contract disputes with its physicians and advised on other litigation matters.