Mary-Ellen is a multi-faceted, results driven, and strategic leader and litigator with 22+ years of experience in leading both legal and management operations.  She has a strong history in identifying issues, advising clients, assisting clients in capitalizing on areas of opportunity, advising clients on litigation avoidance, leading internal training efforts, developing effective teams and efficient processes, dispute resolution, litigation management, and trying cases. 

Her primary focus is complex insurance coverage litigation, commercial litigation, business litigation, general civil litigation, and real estate litigation.  She has extensive experience in representing insurers and insurance companies in complex coverage litigation matters in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama and federal courts nationwide.  She has a history of being an aggressive and professional litigator with proven success in attaining favorable settlement where possible. If no settlement possible, she has a proven track record of obtaining favorable results via motion practice and trial. 

Ms. King has expansive experience in first-party and third-party coverage litigation, large loss insurance defense litigation, mass tort litigation, and catastrophe litigation. Mary Ellen handles all stages of litigation and has litigated hundreds of cases for insurers and insureds nationwide after Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Ike, Sandy, Harvey, Laura, Delta, and Ida. She advises clients on the existence of insurance coverage related to the handling of insurance claims. Mary Ellen litigates insurance coverage disputes and extra-contractual liability lawsuits involving the duty of good faith and fair dealing, Stowers liability, the Texas Insurance Code, and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.  Ms. King has a long history of representing multiple National Flood Insurance Program Write-Your-Own carriers following major flooding events. 

From 2017-2020, Mary-Ellen served as in-house counsel for a Texas political subdivision where she managed internal litigation and outside counsel in various types of litigation matters with a focus on eminent domain litigation and real estate disputes.

As a service to her clients, Mary-Ellen provides seminars and training on a variety of topics related to business operations, risk management, claims management, and litigation.

Speaking Engagements:

  • Wellness Problems During Practice: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Mental Illness, Coming Through to the Other Side, Austin Bar Association Bench Bar Conference 2025
  • Succession Planning: A Plan for the Expected and Unexpected, Austin Bar Association Bench Bar Conference 2025
  • Ethical Pitfalls in Claims Handling; Real Life Challenges and Solutions, CLM Annual Conference, 2025
  • Navigating Severe Weather Claims and Litigation, ProperyCasualty360 2025 Complex Claims & Litigation Forum
  • Engaging, Enlightening Ethics, ClaimsXChange Annual Conference, October 2024.
  • PFAS, COVID, and Mallry, Oh My: Litigating Personal Jurisdiction in Coverage Disputes, CLM Annual Conference, April 2024.
  • The Clock is Ticking: Efficiently and Effectively Handling Late Reported Claims
  • ClaimsXChange Annual Conference, October 2023.
  • Nuclear Verdicts in Texas: A Discussion of What is Driving Nuclear Verdicts in Texas, Austin CLM Local Chapter Event, October 2023.
  • CLM Construction Conference First Timer Event, an overview of CLM Local Chapters, CLM Construction Conference, September 2023.
  • 542A Texas Insurance Claims, TCCI Insurance Coverage Webinar, March 2023.
  • The Clock is Ticking: Dealing with late notice of claims, potential prejudice and the investigation dilemma presented by late notice CLM Annual Conference, Tampa, March 2023.
  • When the Thunder Rolls – Hurricanes, Tornadoes & the Wrath of Nature, ClaimsXChange first Annual Conference, Philadelphia, October 2022
  • Weathering Weather Related Events, CLM Annual Conference, Palm Desert, California, 2022.
  • Winter Storm Uri Update, TCCI Insurance Coverage Webinar, December 2021
  • Ethical Use of Social Media for Lawyers, TCCI Business Development Training, Dallas, Texas, November 2021
  • Weathering Weather Related Events, CLM Journal, February 2022
  • Bad Faith Bootcamp TCCI Coverage Webinar, presented with Jennifer Kearns, April 19, 2022 (we had over 1235 registrants)
  • Texas Claim Handling and Handling of Catastrophe Claims AmGUARD Insurance Company Claims Summit, July 2022, co-presented with Mark Kressenberg.
  • Appraisal, Think TANK, August 11, 2022, co-presented with Rhonda Thompson and Bob Lamb
  • The Clock is Ticking: Dealing with late notice of claims, potential prejudice and the investigation dilemma presented by late notice, CLM Annual Conference, Tampa Florida, March 2023, co-presenting with Jim Plantes, forensic engineer with Polaris Forensics and Kellene McMillan, Claims Legal Counsel/Claims Superintendent, Employers Mutual Casualty Company
  • I Love Insurance, Podcast Guest, March 2022
  • Update & Recap: Winter Storm Uri and Impact on Gulf Coast Coverage Cases, Dec 14, 2021
  • Avoiding the Bad Faith Setup, CLM Southwest Conference, Tampa, 2016

Areas of Practice

Insurance Coverage Litigation

Bad Faith Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Real Estate Litigation

Business Litigation

General Civil Litigation

Education

  • University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, AL
    Juris Doctorate
  • University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
    Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Alabama
  • Louisiana
  • Texas

Associations and Memberships

State Bar of Texas

State Bar of Louisiana

State Bar of Alabama

United States Court of Appeals - Fifth and Eleventh Circuit

United States District Court of Texas - Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western

United States District Court of Alabama - Middle, Northern, Southern

United States District Court of Louisiana - Eastern, Middle, Western

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

ClaimsXChange

Professional Recognition

2025 AV Preeminent Rated, Peer Review, Client Review, and Judicial Review

2026 Best Lawyers in America, Austin, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Litigation

2025 Austin Monthly Top Attorney in Austin for Civil Litigation

2025 Best Lawyers in America, Austin, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Litigation

2024 Austin Monthly Top Attorney in Austin for Civil Litigation

2024 Best Lawyers in America, Austin, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Litigation

2022-2023 Austin Bar Association, President’s Award of Merit

2023 Austin Monthly Top Attorney in Austin for Civil Litigation

2022 Rotary Club of Westlake, Rotarian of the Year

2012 Austin Young Lawyer Association Outstanding Young Lawyer

Publications

Does Excess Policy Cover Legal Defence Expenses? The Case of Ohio Casualty Insurance Company v. Patterson, Chambers Expert Focus, January 2025 Ohio Casualty Insurance Company v. Patterson | Chambers Expert Focus

Adjusting and Litigating Weather-Related Catastrophe Claims, Chambers Expert Focus, November 2024 Weather Catastrophe Claims: Legal Challenges | Chambers Expert Focus

The Perpetual Evolution of Bad Faith Claims: Exploring Recent US Legislative Reforms, Chambers Expert Focus, September 2024 US Bad Faith Legal Landscape | Chambers Expert Focus

Transferring Risk in the Wake of Anti-indemnity Statutes, Chambers Expert Focus, August 2024 Transferring Risk in the Wake of Anti-indemnity Statutes | USA - Chambers and Partners | Researching Outstanding Lawyers Globally | chambers.com

The Clock is Ticking, Effectively Handling Late Reported Claims, CLM Magazine, July/August 2024 https://736506f6.flowpaper.com/CLMJulyAugust2024/#page=1

Texas Supreme Court Set to Hear Oral Arguments in Case that May Broaden Duty to Defend, July 2024, Texas Supreme Court Set to Hear Oral Arguments in Case that May Broaden Duty to Defend :: Lucosky Brookman LLP

Austin, Texas Attorneys Mary-Ellen King and Samantha McCoy obtained a favorable ruling granting a motion to limit attorneys’ fees under 542A, May 2024, Austin, Texas Attorneys Mary-Ellen King and Samantha McCoy obtained a favorable ruling granting a motion to limit attorneys’ fees under 542A :: Lucosky Brookman LLP

Winter Storm Uri: Presenting, Adjusting, and Litigating Claims, Austin Lawyer, March 2022

Order Out of Chaos: Adjusting Claims and Litigating Weather Related Catastrophes CLM Magazine, February 2022 Order Out of Chaos/Articles/CLM Magazine

One Hundred Thirty-One Carriers Jointly File Subrogation Lawsuit For Proceeds Paid From Winter Storm Uri -- Jan 5, 2022

Pandemic Practice Pointers -- Austin Lawyer, official publication of the Austin Bar Association Nov 1, 2021 Austin Lawyer, November 2021 by Austin Bar Association - Issuu

Louisiana Single Deductible Statute, October 2021

Alfa Life and Health Insurance Compendium, 2009

Exempt Employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act, The Alabama Municipal Journal, 2006

The Fair Labor Standards Act: A Brief Overview, The Alabama Municipal Journal, 2005