Laura J. Coe focuses her practice on commercial and complex litigation. She has successfully tried cases to jury verdict and prosecuted appeals before federal and state courts in Texas. Laura’s practice encompasses a wide variety of commercial and civil matters ranging from contract to fraud disputes.
These representations include:
- Serving as regional, litigation counsel for two publicly-held real estate investment trusts in connection with contract, construction, and injury to real property disputes;
- Evaluating the existence of insurance coverage under business interruption, CGL, construction/builders risk, inland marine, property, and professional liability policies, and litigating
declaratory judgment and bad faith actions; - Advising clients on risk management matters, including review and counseling regarding adequacy of insurance coverage and enforceability of indemnity clauses;
- Handling bankruptcy litigation, including adversary proceedings involving the dischargeability of debts, the extent and validity of liens, and preferences, on behalf of secured and unsecured
creditors; - Prosecuting contested estate matters on behalf of executors, trustees, and beneficiaries; and
- Coordinating statewide defense efforts for a manufacturer against product liability claims.
Laura is a Certified Mediator and has mediated attorneys’ fees, construction contract, fiduciary duty, fraud, homeowners/condominium association, landlord-tenant, real estate, and tort disputes (achieving a 94 percent settlement rate).
Laura is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center, which is a non-profit corporation sponsored by the Houston Bar Association and funded through Harris County, providing free alternative dispute resolution services to the residents of Harris County. She is also a former Co-Chair of the Tomorrow’s Attorney Pipeline Program (TAPP), which is dedicated to increasing diversity in the legal profession by targeting diverse high school students and providing them concrete, motivating opportunities to learn about the law and begin planning for their law school education.
Laura also volunteers her time with a number of community service programs, including the Interprofessional Drug Education Alliance (IDEA), Meals on Wheels, and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Back to top
Significant Transactions
- Scott v. Hunt, No. 01-11-00042-CV, 2012 WL 983339 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] March 22, 2012) (affirming summary judgments dismissing fraud and DTPA claims against defendant and awarding defendant attorneys’ fees for bringing DTPA claim in bad faith).
- Avelo Mortgage Co., LLC v. Infinity Capital, LLC, No. 14-11-00463-CV, 2012 WL 823197 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] March 13, 2012) (affirming summary judgment vesting title in real property in favor of private equity fund which purchased property at a tax lien foreclosure sale).
- Travelers Indem. Co. v. Texas Mun. League Joint Self-Insurance Fund, No. 01-08-00062-CV, 2008 WL 2756874 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] July 17, 2008, no pet.) (affirming denial of Travelers’ motion to compel arbitration under reinsurance policy containing permissive arbitration clause).
- Lazo v. RSI Intern, Inc., No. 14-06-00432-CV, 2007 WL 2447299 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] August 30, 2007, no pet.) (affirming summary judgment in favor of managing general agent on claims of bad faith wrongful policy cancellation).
- EmCode Reimbursement Solutions, Inc. v. Nutmeg Ins. Co., 512 F. Supp. 2d. 603 (N.D. Tex. 2007) (granting summary judgment based on failure to comply with policy conditions in bad faith action arising out of time-pressure demand).
- Negotiated settlement of an insurance coverage allocation dispute involving over $25 million.
- Resolved hundreds of commercial and derivative claims in national mass tort bankruptcy.
- Managed briefing team defending state-wide products liability docket; litigation disposed of on summary judgment in favor of defense.
News
Laura Coe represents Weingarten Realty in “scrimmage” against Tennessee Titan, Vince Young. For more on the story, click here.
Back to top
Seminars & Presentations
- “Challenges and Opportunities for Diverse 21st-Century Lawyers: Ethical Considerations of Emerging Practice Models,” American Bar Association, Minority Counsel Program (May 2013).
- “Globalization & Emerging Trends in the Legal Profession: The Growth of Virtual Law firms – A Private Practitioner’s Perspective,” National Bar Association, 25th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference (February 2012).
- “The Double Minority: The Additional Challenges of Being Both Black and A Woman in the Legal Profession,” National Black Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair (November 2011)
- “The NEW Masters of Mediation (Trade Secrets of the New Guys on the Block),” Association of Attorney-Mediators, Advanced Mediator Training (September 2011).
- “Commercial Real Estate Leases: Top Ten Current Issues,” In-House Counsel Continuing Legal Education Program (March 2011).
- “How Does Networking Help Judges, In-House Counsel and Outside Counsel?,” Tomorrow’s Attorney Pipeline Program Networking Skills Program (October 2009).
- “Law School and Legal Career Exploration,” National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair (October 2008).
- “Firm Life,” Rocky Mountain Black Law Students Association (February 2008).
- “The Evolving Zones of Privacy: Safeguarding Third Party Information and Minimizing Privacy Claim Exposure,” Tax and Business Planning Seminar (November 2007).
- “Reservation of Rights and Denial of Coverage,” University of Houston, Continuing Legal Education, Insurance Law (December 1999).
- “Reservation of Rights: the Insurance Company’s Perspective,” University of Houston, Continuing Legal Education, Insurance Law (June 1999).
- “Defense Counsel-Who is the Client and What Does Tripartite Mean?,” Law Update Seminar (May 1999).
- “Insurance Fraud Update: New Cases, New Schemes,” Law Update Seminar (April 1998).
- “Insurance Fraud Update: Prosecutions and Trends,” Law Update Seminar (May 1997).
Articles and Publications
- “Coping with Market Risk and Regulatory Upheaval in the Energy Business: Representing Clients in Enforcement Actions,” Energy Bar Association (November 2002).
- “Handling Director/Officer Civil Liability Issues During a Criminal Investigation: Defense Perspective,” State Bar of Texas, Continuing Legal Education (November 2002).
- “Texas Law on Coverage Issues Under CGL Policies Involving Environmental Claims,” Journal of Texas Insurance (Spring 1999).
- “Coverage Issues Under CGL Policies for Environmental Claims Under Texas Law,” 9 Environmental Claims Journal 99 (Summer 1997).
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section; Litigation Section; Tort and Insurance Practice Section)
- National Bar Association
- Association of Attorney – Mediators
- State Bar of Texas (Alternative Dispute Resolution Section; Insurance Section; Litigation Section; Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section)
- Dispute Resolution Center (Board Member 2009-2010)
- Houston Bar Association
- Houston Lawyers Association
- Interprofessional Drug Education Alliance (IDEA)
- Real Estate Professional Ladies Golf League
- Tomorrow’s Attorneys Pipeline Project (Co-Chair 2007-2011)
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
- Texas Women Lawyers