While working for one of the largest insurance defense firms in the country, Ms. Ackels handled malpractice claims for healthcare professionals, lawyers, real estate agents, design professionals, and insurance brokers. She also has extensive general liability experience, representing individuals and entities in personal injury, business, and commercial litigation matters involving negligence, DTPA, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, premises liability, and wrongful death claims.

Additionally, Katie has advised and defended insurers, reinsurers, and managing general agents in coverage and bad faith matters.

A selection of Katie’s recent successes includes representing:

• The owner of one of the nation’s largest portfolios of open-air shopping centers in a wrongful death case involving the shooting death of a tenant’s employee. As a result of a thorough investigation in the discovery stage, the case was settled at mediation well below the potential verdict value.

• A multi-state apartment complex owner in a slip and fall matter. After removing the case to federal court, the Court granted summary judgment based on the pleadings alone, without the client having to engage in any prolonged discovery.

Ms. Ackels graduated magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law, where she was Executive Managing Editor of the Texas Tech Law Review, a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Society, and a founding member of the Organization of Women Law Students. Ms. Ackels holds a BA in English from Texas Lutheran University, where she was an Honors Program Graduate, a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and president of Kappa Pi Gamma sorority.