Professional Biography
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With over 35 years of distinguished legal practice in Texas, I have built a reputation as a tenacious advocate specializing in complex civil litigation. Since my admission to the Texas Bar in 1989, I have dedicated my career to representing clients in high-stakes matters including legal malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, commercial litigation, and defamation cases.
 
Areas of Expertise My practice focuses on several key areas where I have achieved significant results for my clients:
 
Legal Malpractice & Ethics — I have extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in legal malpractice actions, with a deep understanding of attorney professional responsibility and fiduciary duties. My work in this area includes securing multiple six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts, as well as successfully defending attorneys against malpractice claims. Notable achievements include a 2012 Texas Top Verdict™ award for the second highest legal malpractice verdict that year, and a 2023 settlement that cancelled an attorney's contingent fee interest in $9 million of real property.
Catastrophic Personal Injury — I have obtained substantial recoveries for clients who have suffered severe injuries, including burn injuries, premises liability cases, motor vehicle accidents, and sexual assault. Notable results include a $4 million judgment in a sexual assault case, a $1.7 million premises liability settlement, and a
$1.2 million motorcycle-commercial vehicle injury settlement.
 
Commercial & Consumer Litigation — My commercial litigation practice encompasses breach of contract claims, DTPA violations, insurance disputes, and complex business matters. I have successfully tried cases to verdict and negotiated favorable settlements in disputes ranging from partnership agreements to class action claims, including a landmark $10.8 million jury verdict in a DTPA/Insurance Code/Fraud case.
Defamation & First Amendment — I have represented professionals whose reputations have been damaged by false statements, securing significant verdicts and settlements, including a $1.875 million libel settlement and a $410,000 verdict recognized as a Texas Top Verdict™ in defamation.
Native American Tribal Representation — I have unique experience representing Native American tribes in jurisdictional and sovereignty matters, personal injury and property damage defense, and constitutional and election disputes. Notable achievements include securing a declaratory judgment declaring the legitimacy of an insurgent tribal government following a widely-publicized campaign of corruption on the part of the prior government.
 
I hold a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, the highest possible rating for ethical and skillful law practice, which is based on feedback from my colleagues and judges. Throughout my career, I have obtained multiple Texas Top Verdict™ awards and have secured numerous seven-figure verdicts and settlements for my clients. 
 
Expert Witness Services In addition to my litigation practice, I serve as an expert witness in legal malpractice and professional responsibility matters. I have provided expert reports and testimony in courts across multiple states, including Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Ohio.
 
Education & Credentials J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law, 1988  
AmJur Scholastic Achievement Awards in Land Use Controls and Conflicts of Law George W. Brackenridge Memorial Scholarship recipient
 
B.A., Government, University of Texas at Austin, 1984  
Admitted to Practice: Texas Supreme Court (1989), U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
 
Professional Involvement I am an active member of the State Bar of Texas, serving in the Litigation Section and Native American Law Section. I have contributed to the legal community through service on the Texas Supreme Court Committee for the Unauthorized Practice of Law and on fee dispute committees for both the San Antonio and Austin Bar Associations.
 
Beyond the Courtroom When I'm not advocating for my clients, I enjoy the precision and discipline of aviation as a licensed private pilot and the competitive spirit of racing sailing.

Contact me today to discuss how my experience and commitment to excellence can serve your legal needs.



Verdicts & Settlements

Legal Malpractice

Legal malpractice is a shorthand reference to a number of different civil liability claims that can be asserted against a lawyer, including violations of disciplinary rules, civil statutes, criminal statutes, common-law torts including “negligence”, “breach of fiduciary duty”,  fraud and constructive fraud.   The remedies can include damages, fee forfeiture, injunctive relief, disqualification, sanctions, and professional discipline. “Legal Malpractice” includes not only claims by a client against a lawyer, but can in limited circumstances include claims by a non-client against another person’s lawyer, such as fraud and negligent misrepresentation.  Deutsch vs. Hoover, Bax & Slovacek, LLP, 97 S. W. 3d 179, 184 n.1 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2003 no pet.).
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DID YOU KNOW...

If an attorney improperly contacts you  seeking to represent you after you've been in an accident...and you retain him...by law, you are not required to pay his fees out of your recovery.  If this describes you...

Our Offices

Carl J. Kolb, P.C. • Attorneys at Law

111 Congress Ave., Ste. 500
Austin, Texas  78701
Telephone (737) 227-5573​

Practice Areas

  • Legal professional negligence
  • Barratry
  • Fiduciary litigation
  • Consumer and Commercial Litigation
  • Defamation
  • ​Catastrophic personal injury
  • Expert Witness

​Texas Top Verdicts

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       Overall Peer Rating