Kathryn Elizabeth Boatman

Kathryn Elizabeth Boatman is counsel in the Litigation section of the Houston office. She has experience in all stages of the trial and appellate processes. She served as Law Clerk to The Honorable J. Dale Wainwright of the Texas Supreme Court and as Law Clerk to The Honorable Jennifer Walker Elrod of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

In 2016, Katy was the sole recipient of the American Bar Association’s National Outstanding Young Lawyers Award, Outstanding Young Lawyer of Houston Award, and the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas.

Katy has extensive experience in both state and federal courts litigating constitutional and election issues, commercial, oil and gas, and copyright disputes, and countless other matters.

Her clients have spanned a wide range of industries, including both government entities and hospitals, banks, oil and gas companies, aerospace companies, and others.

Experience:

• Representation of a real estate investment company in a dispute involving the applicability of the Rule Against Perpetuities to an option to purchase the land upon which a multi-story downtown parking garage was constructed.
• Representation of a large aerospace company in defense against a Texas Public Information Act request.
• Representation of a leading global investment bank in modifying a federal court injunction prohibiting foreclosure on properties worth millions of dollars.
• Representation of a large homebuilder in defending against claims of copyright infringement of architectural designs for duplex townhomes involving complex issues relating to substantial similarity and the extent of copyright protection afforded to derivative works.
• Representation of senior executive of oil and gas companies in connection with disputes relating to covenants not to compete, severance payments, incentive awards, and other benefits.
• Representation of a school district in a lawsuit for injunctive relief brought by community members seeking to prevent the school district from demolishing a historic school.
• Representation of a public entity in a lawsuit brought by members of the public seeking to prevent the entity from building public transportation in a busy area of Houston.

EDUCATION:

• JD, Baylor Law School, with honors, Baylor Law Review, Senior Executive Editor, National Order of the Barristers, 2008
• BA, Texas A&M University, with honors, 2004

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS:

• US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• US District Court, Eastern District of Texas
• US District Court, Northern District of Texas
• US District Court, Southern District of Texas
• US District Court, Western District of Texas

CLERKSHIPS:

• Supreme Court of Texas
• US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Memberships:

• State Bar of Texas Appellate Section, Chair (2018-2019)
• Yellowstone Academy Young Professionals Council, Chair (2016-present)
• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow (2010-present)
• Texas Young Lawyers Association (2010-present)
  • Board of Directors (2010-2014)
  • eNews Committee, Law Focused Education Committee
• Houston Bar Association
  • Appellate Practice Section (2009-present)
  • Campaign for the Homeless Committee (2009-2010)
  • Communities in Schools Committee (2009-2010)
• Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, Fellow (2011-present)
• Houston Young Lawyers Association (2009-present)
  • Board of Directors (2014-2015)
  • Bears for Babies Committee Chair (2014-2015)
  • The Women’s Home, Board Member (2015-present)
• The Women’s Home Young Professionals Council (2012-present)
  • President (2016)
  • Vice President (2015)
• United Way Young Leader (2013-present)
• Houston Urban Debate League Young Professionals Council (2012-present)
• Hermann Park Conservatory (2013-present)
• Bayou Buddies (2013-present)