Laura

Laura Ellis Kugler focuses her practice on tort litigation, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in products, premises, employment, and professional liability cases.

Laura has served on national coordinating teams for products, premises, and equipment manufacturers and currently serves as national coordinating counsel for a cosmetic talc defendant. She is also experienced in assisting clients with governmental relations and advocacy. She has served as the coordinating counsel for the liaison committee of the Texas asbestos MDL since its inception and has been involved with the evolution of the litigation. As a legislative consultant, she was involved in passing tort reform legislation that shifted Texas from being seen as the “lawsuit capital of the world” to one of the nation’s most business-friendly environments and robust economies.

Throughout her career, Laura has been at the forefront of Havner/Daubert issues, unique causation standards, and expert relations. She is involved in all aspects of litigation, from discovery to pre-trial preparation and hearings. She has extensive experience in the development of expert witnesses in the areas of industrial hygiene, medical causation, epidemiology, and naval expertise on a national level.

As a negotiator, Laura has settled thousands of cases nationwide. She is also a certified mediator with a focus on tort litigation.

Laura currently serves on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and the Council for the Women in the Law Section of the State Bar.