Biography
Kathleen Barrett Madere is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Her practice is primarily focused on resolving complex construction and commercial disputes through litigation and arbitration. Kathleen’s construction practice primarily concerns representation of both owners and contractors in disputes arising from a broad range of construction projects, spanning the energy, infrastructure, commercial, medical, and residential development sectors. Her commercial practice encompasses a wide range of business disputes, including breach of contract, statutory claims under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and related business torts.
Kathleen has broad experience representing clients at all stages of the litigation process, from crafting pre-suit resolutions of complex matters and securing dismissals at the pleading and summary judgment stages, to leading trials and arbitrations. Kathleen has first-chair trial and arbitration experience and has achieved positive outcomes for her clients via jury verdicts, summary judgments, arbitration awards, and favorable settlements.
Education
- University of Texas School of Law – J.D., 2020
- Texas State University – B.A. English, 2017
Recognitions and Distinctions
- Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction (2024–2026)
- Named a Texas Super Lawyers® Rising Star in Construction Litigation by Thomson Reuters (2023–2025)
The top 2.5% of attorneys in the state who are 40 or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less
Representative Experience
- Second-chair trial experience successfully defending against allegations of mechanical failures and breach of contract in a jury trial.
- Successfully achieved summary judgment in a high-value pipeline dispute involving mineral lien rights.
- First-chair arbitration experience resulting in favorable award for claimant in DTPA/breach of contract matter.
- Obtained favorable outcome in large-scale dispute involving flooding and alleged negligence of developers engaged in business along Texas waterways.
- Achieved jury verdict on behalf of heavy highway contractor relating to motor vehicle accident.
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
- Fraud, Construction, and the Texas Property Code, HBA Construction Law Section, January 2021
Memberships & Affiliations
- Texas Bar Association
- Construction Law Section
- Texas Bar Association
- Women and the Law Section
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of Oregon
- United States District Courts: Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas