© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate and Brooks Igo
Staff Writers for The Texas Lawbook
(January 15) – Former state district judge Karen Gren Scholer has joined Carter Stafford Arnett Hamada & Mockler as a named partner. The firm’s new name will be Carter Scholer Stafford Arnett Hamada & Mockler.
Scholer, who joins the firm from Jones Day, served as State District Judge of the 95th Civil District Court in Dallas County from 2001 to 2008. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Scholer became Dallas County’s first Asian American district judge. She is also Carter Stafford’s first woman equity partner.
During her second official received phone call on her new direct line, Scholer told The Texas Lawbook that she decided to join Carter Stafford because the attorneys are “the finest set of trial lawyers in the State of Texas.”
She also knew she wanted to join a minority-owned firm. When she found out Carter Stafford had a place for her, she cancelled all other interviews.
“Minority representation is so important and a diverse law firm is representative of our society,” she said. “Clients want to hire law firms that are reflective of our society.”
Scholer added that she has known some of her new colleagues for decades. Some even tried cases in front of her when she was a judge.
A graduate of Cornell University Law School, Scholer’s practice focuses on complex business, tort and other civil litigation in state and federal courts.
Before becoming a judge, she spent 18 years practicing at two major Texas law firms.
When asked about her experience as a judge, Scholer said that every lawyer should have the opportunity to be one.
“As great as I thought I was before becoming a judge, I learned exactly what judges and juries are looking for,” she said. “I learned how to represent clients more effectively and how to build capital in front of a judge.”
Scholer said she looks forward to what the flexibility working at a litigation boutique will allow her in terms of her hourly rates and the number of cases she has at one time.
Carter Scholer is a Dallas-based, minority-owned litigation boutique with 16 lawyers.
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