Allie Grubb is an attorney in the Dallas office of Cokinos | Young. She focuses her practice on construction, insurance coverage, and commercial litigation matters. Allie received her J.D. from Texas A&M School of Law where she served as the Executive Editor for the Texas A&M Journal of Property Law. During her law school career, she had the opportunity to intern with the Honorable Chris Taylor of the Tarrant County 48th Civil District Court. Allie’s interest in construction law formed when she worked as a summer clerk at a large commercial construction & architectural company headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Education
Texas A&M School of Law –J.D., cum laude, 2024
Executive Editor, Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, Volume 10
University of Alabama –B.A. Political Science, summa cum laude, 2021
Publications
Allie Grubb, Can They Fix It? YES, They Can: Rebalancing the Scale of Financial Security on Construction Projects, 10 A&M J. Prop. L.277 (2024).
Michael has a broad background in public and private construction litigation, successfully representing general contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners in public and private construction projects. Additionally, Michael represents businesses and individuals in a wide variety of contract, real estate, business tort, product liability, and other tort related matters.
Michael has successfully litigated multi-million dollar jury trials, court trials and arbitrations attaining favorable results for clients in matters involving breach of contract, mechanic’s liens, construction delays, differing site conditions, construction/design defects, strict product liability, economic interference, product liability, and personal injury. Additionally, Michael’s practice focuses on contract negotiation and risk management to further his clients’ interests for cost efficient resolution.
Education
University of St. Thomas – J.D., 2013
Loyola Marymount University – B.A. Political Science, magna cum laude,2007
Recognitions & Distinctions
Named Rising Star by Southern California Super Lawyers 2024
Representative Experience
Representative Experience includes litigation counsel to both private and publicly traded companies, small businesses, and individuals, including:
First-chair trial counsel in complete defense jury verdict in a $7 Million claim against a general contractor.
Second-chair trial counsel in a $200 Million arbitration on behalf of a general contractor against a public entity.
First-chair trial counsel in successful arbitration award on behalf of general contractor against California public entity.
Lead counsel in successful mediations on behalf of contractors, small business, and individual clients
Memberships & Affiliations
Dallas Bar Association
American Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
German-American Business Association
Wilshire Bar Association
Engineering Contractors Association
Admissions
State Bar of California
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court: Central District of California
Tim Delabar is an attorney in Cokinos | Young’s Dallas Office. Tim’s practice is primarily focused on insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and related appellate matters. His experience includes litigating matters before federal and state courts in Texas and surrounding states as well as on appeals to the Fifth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, Texas Supreme Court, and numerous intermediate appellate courts in Texas.
Tim has experience as both first and second chair and has taken cases to verdict in state and federal courts representing both plaintiffs and defendants. His appellate experience reinforces that appeals are won or lost at the trial court and Tim takes to heart Professor Gerald Powell’s advice that a good trial lawyer is a good record-smith. Whether it is forum battles, dispositive motions, evidentiary disputes, or the jury charge, Tim works tirelessly to position cases to ensure successful outcomes at the trial court and to defend those successes on appeal.
Tim sharpens his appellate and litigation skills by constantly exploring evolving areas of the law. The St. Mary’s Law Journal recently published Tim’s argument in favor of expanding mandamus review to the denial of no-evidence summary judgment motions, something the Texas Supreme Court has traditionally found unsuitable for mandamus review.
Tim received his J.D. from Baylor Law School, where he competed in the National Moot Court Competition in Child Welfare & Adoption Law where he made it to the semi-finals. Tim also competed in Baylor Law’s intra-school moot court competition where he made it to the semi-finals and was named a top-10 overall speaker. As an undergrad at Texas Christian University, Tim majored in Political Science.
Education
Baylor Law School – J.D., 2019
Texas Christian University – B.S. Political Science, 2015
Recognitions & Distinctions
Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
Publications
Author, The Next Thirty Years: Developments in Mandamus Jurisprudence in the Last Thirty Years and Why the General Rule that Mandamus is Unavailable to Review the Denial of Summary Judgment is Inconsistent with Modern Mandamus Jurisprudence Under the In Re Prudential Balancing Test, 55 St. Mary’s L.J. 351 (April 2024).
Memberships & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas: Appellate, Construction, Litigation, and Insurance Sections
Dallas Bar Association: Appellate, Construction, Professionalism, Tort & Insurance Practice, and Trial Skills Sections
American Bar Association: Litigation, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice, and JD Appellate Judges Conference Sections
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, Western District of Oklahoma, Western District of Tennessee
United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Tenth Circuits
Jared Norton is an Attorney in the Dallas office of Cokinos | Young. His practice primarily focuses on construction, insurance coverage, and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Cokinos | Young, Mr. Norton solely represented design and engineering professionals against malpractice, construction defect, breach of contract, and indemnity claims. Mr. Norton is experienced in all aspects of litigation in state courts from initial answer or petition, discovery, and case strategy to preparing and arguing motions, conducting depositions, and trial or arbitration preparation.
Education
Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law – J.D., 2017
Texas A&M University – B.B.A. Finance, 2014
Recognitions & Distinctions
Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2024
Representative Experience
Second chair in one week arbitration before the American Arbitration Association regarding the representation of a design professional concerning claims made against it for design defects affecting the performance of a Dallas public school.
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Presenter, “AI in Construction Law: Managing Risks and Opportunities,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, February 6, 2024
Presenter, “Contractual Review & Strategies” – Specification Consultants in Independent Practice (SCIP) Annual Meeting, June 14, 2022
Memberships & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association: Construction Law Section
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Trial Skills Committee
Abigail has defended General Contractors and Subcontractors involving construction defect matters throughout Central and South Texas. She’s also represented defendants regarding commercial disputes, personal injury, premises liability, and product liability matters. Abigail is experienced in all aspects of litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration. In her career, Abigail has gained extensive courtroom experience and successfully briefed, argued motions, and handled depositions and trial preparation.
Before moving to Austin, Texas, in 2020, Abigail practiced law in Edinburg, Texas as a Criminal Defense Attorney, representing clients in various cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.
Education
Michigan State University College of Law – J.D., 2016
University of Texas at Austin – B.A. Spanish Literature and History, 2012
Memberships & Affiliations
Austin Young Lawyers Association
Travis County Women’s Bar Association
Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
Texas Bar College
Legal Chair for ACE Mentor Program-Austin
Member for Regional Hispanic Contractors Association- DFW
Admissions
State Bar of Texas (2017)
United States District Court: Northern, Southern & Western District of Texas
Renee Mango is an attorney in the Dallas office of Cokinos | Young. Her practice primarily focuses on construction, insurance coverage and commercial litigation. Renee received her J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law in May of 2021. From an early stage in law school, Renee developed an interest in construction law. She served as a judicial intern for a Magistrate Judge of the Northern District of Texas, and a summer clerk at a large commercial construction & architectural company headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Recognitions & Distinctions
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (2024 – 2025): Construction Law and Insurance Law
Education
Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law – J.D., 2021
– Associate Managing Editor, International Law Review Association
University of Texas at Austin – B.A., 2017
Memberships & Affiliations
Texas Bar Association
– Construction Section
– Insurance Section
Dallas Bar Association
– Business Litigation
– Construction Section
– Tort & Insurance Practices Section
– Trial Skills Section
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Courts: Northern & Eastern Districts of Texas
Derek J. Kammerlocher is a Principal in the Dallas office of Cokinos | Young. Derek has devoted his career and practice to serving as an advocate for clients in the construction industry, including developers, contractors, design professionals, material suppliers, and insurance companies involved in the construction process. Based on his knowledge of the industry and specific experience, Derek helps his clients achieve their dispute resolution goals in payment, contract, defect, and insurance disputes, as well as other areas that often impact the construction industry such as employment and personal injury disputes. Derek takes an individualized and tailored approach to each representation to ensure the satisfaction of each client’s specific goals.
Education
University of Texas School of Law – J.D., 2015
University of Texas at Austin – B.A. History, 2011
Recognitions & Distinctions
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (2023 – 2025): Construction Law, Corporate Law, Litigation – Construction, and Real Estate Law
Memberships & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas: Construction Law Section
Dallas Bar Association: Construction Law Section
State Bar of Texas
Admissions
State Bar of Texas (2015)
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern & Western Districts of Texas
United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit
Sam Crecelius is an associate in the Dallas office of Cokinos | Young. Sam represents clients in all phases of litigation, including mediation, trial, and appeals. A decorated U.S Army combat veteran, Sam knows the value of hard work, discipline, and perseverance in the face of adversity, and he applies those values to each case he handles. His practice focuses on coverage litigation, as well as construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, and premises liability litigation. For each client, regardless of the subject matter, Sam leverages his real-world experience to obtain a favorable outcome.
Education
Texas A&M University School of Law – J.D., summa cum laude, 2017
University of Dallas – B.A., 2002
Recognitions & Distinctions
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (2024 – 2025): Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Insurance Law
Publications
Texas Negligence Case Holds Lessons for Construction Cos., Law 360, August 26, 2021
Memberships & Affiliations
American Bar Association: Forum on Construction Law
State Bar of Texas: Insurance Law and Construction Law Sections
Dallas Bar Association: Construction Law and Tort & Insurance Practices Section
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Member, Texas Bar College
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern & Western Districts of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Stephanie Cook has extensive experience with a wide range of business negotiations and disputes, having successfully represented general contractors, banks, insurance companies, owners, developers, and individuals in complex commercial and construction litigation and bankruptcy for over twenty years. She began her career at Winstead P.C. and worked in the Austin and Houston offices handling lender liability and workouts. She actively served in its leadership committee before moving back to Austin to work in a litigation boutique handling civil and appellate litigation in state and federal courts for insurers, national lending institutions, and construction clients.
Stephanie has successfully negotiated contracts and resolved claims in excess of $1 billion in mission critical and emerging technology work, including for national and regional Top 20 ENR contractors and leading industry practitioners. She has experience in mission critical contracting, various project delivery methods, nuclear energy project delivery, project delays and claim resolution.
Stephanie has settled, tried or appealed a broad range of commercial and construction cases in state and federal courts in Texas, from delay claims, fraud, construction defects, commercial leases, subcontractor and general contractor disputes, director and officer liability, to lender liability and partnership disputes. She continues to represent international and national lending institutions relating to workout, debt restructuring, asset protection, and defaults. Her knowledge of lending practices translates into her ability to assess and protect clients in projects that are financially distressed.
Her devotion to the construction industry includes representing the industry before the Texas Legislature on matters important to continued construction success in Texas. She is a member of the Associated General Contractors-Texas Building Branch, Legal Affairs Committee which monitors developing law affecting the construction industry, and partners with experts in engineering and architecture to understand all aspects of construction, engineering, and design. Frequently, she speaks with professional associations on best practices and developing law to understand business risks within the construction industry. Her experience also earned her acceptance into the American Arbitration Association roster for complex commercial and construction litigation.
Stephanie also gives back to the community through leadership. She is working with TEXO (AGC/ABC in North Texas) to chair a new Risk Management Committee. She is the past-Chair of AGC-Austin’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and past Chair of TEXO Foundation’s DEI Committee. She was the past District Chair for Scouts, USA and continues to participate at the local level in community outreach with her children.
Education
St. Mary’s School of Law – J.D., magna cum laude, 1999
– Order of Barristers
– John Harlan Society
– Phi Delta Phi Honor Society
– St. Mary’s Law Journal, Associate Editor
Texas Tech University – B.A., 1994
Recognitions & Distinctions
Best Lawyers in America (2021 – 2025): Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction
America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators (2019 – 2022)
“Texas Rising Star,” Texas Monthly (2004)
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Adjunct Professor, University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Arbitration – Spring 2024; Fall 2022; Fall 2021
“The Power and Persuasion of a Lien” — AGC-TBB, June 2023
“DEI Impact Initiatives: Sexual Harassment” — TEXO Association, May 2023
“Contract Drafting and Administration After James v. Westlake” — DBIA Southwest, April 2023
“James v. Westlake”— AGC-TBB, July 2022
OSHA: AGC-Austin June 2022
SB 45 and Anti-Discrimination- Client Presentation, August 2021
“Modernizing Commercial Liens – Is HB 2237 Better?” AGC TBB Legislative Update, July 2021
“Risks and Rewards of Contracting in Texas” – Chambers Events Webinar, June 2021
“Pointers for General Contractors and Design-Builders” – Client Presentation, March 2021
“An Antidote for Construction Defects? The Right to Cure in Public Works and Buildings” – 34th Annual Construction Law Conference, March 2021
The Impacts of COVID-19 and the November Election on the Construction Industry – AGC Central Texas, November 2020
“COVID–Where Are We Today?” – TEXO Association, October 2020
“Key Provisions in Construction Contracts” – Client Presentation, February 2020
“Texas Legislative Update,” TCEL / Geoprofessionals Serving Texas, February 2020
Guest Lecturer, Texas State University, Construction Science and Management (2020 – present)
“COVID–Where Are We Today?” – TEXO Association, October 2020
“Managing Engineering Liability and Risk,” HalfMoon Seminar, January 2019
Guest Lecturer, Texas A&M University, Graduate Program in Engineering (2019 – present)
“The Successful Use and Presentation of Experts,” The Basics in Construction Law Annual Seminar, December 2018 & December 2019
“Concrete and Contracting Issues,” American Concrete Institute, July 2018
“Meeting the A/E’s Standard of Care,” Houston Engineering Society, February 2018
“Navigating Risks for Geoprofessionals,” TCEL / Geoprofessionals Serving Texas, January 2018
“The Toll of Litigation,” Moderator, Geoprofessional Business Association, October 2017
“Contract Clauses,” National Association of Women in Construction, April 2017
“The Toll of Litigation,” TCEL/Geoprofessionals Serving Texas, Geoprofessionals Case Histories Seminar, February 2017
“You Won! Ten things you did not know when collecting a judgment,” NACM Southwest Credit Exchange, August 2015
Publications
“An Antidote for Construction Defects? The Right to Cure in Public Works and Buildings” – 34th Annual Construction Law Conference, March 2021
“Negotiating a Contract, Clauses, Changes, and Delays,” Construction Executive, July 2017
“Case History Reviews,” Editorial Board, Geoprofessional Business Association, April 2017 – December 2019 (Assist with legal content and editing)
“Texas Groundwater: Reconciling the Rule of Capture with Environmental and Community Demands,” 30 St. Mary’s L.J. 305 (1998)
Memberships & Affiliations
Associated General Contractors (“AGC”)
– AGC-TBB Legal Affairs Committee
– AGC Austin Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair (2019 – 2022)
TEXO Foundation DE&I Committee Chair (2022 – 2023)
DBIA Southwest Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee
American Arbitration Association – Roster
Construction and Civil Law Sections, State Bar of Texas
Past ACE Mentor (Austin) Legal Chair
American Bar Association
Austin Bar Association
Travis County Women Lawyers Association
CREW Austin Chapter, Past –Committee Member
National Association of Women in Construction, Austin Chapter, Board of Director (2017 – 2018), Past –Committee Member
Admissions
State Bar of Texas (1999)
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern, & Western Districts of Texas
United States Bankruptcy Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern, & Western Districts of Texas
Travis M. Brown is a leader of the Insurance Coverage and Risk Management practice group and manages the firm’s Dallas office. He has over a decade of experience advising clients on a broad range of insurance coverage issues. Travis began his career at an insurer-side firm with a national practice and gained valuable insight into how insurance companies evaluate claims, both prior to and during litigation. Now, he applies that experience and insight on the other side of the docket, to help companies ensure that their insurers honor their obligations under the policy when a claim arises. His primary focus is on advising contractors, owners, subcontractors, and other participants in the construction industry in disputes with their insurance companies. Within his coverage practice, he also frequently represents oilfield service providers, pipeline and alternative energy contractors, and other members of the oil and gas and energy industries. In addition, his coverage expertise extends well outside the construction context. In the past two years alone, he has assisted clients in securing multi-million-dollar settlements or claim payments in disputes with insurers in a wide variety of cases, including a claim for coverage involving an e-mail spoofing/wire fraud incident, an eight-figure claim involving catastrophic property damage from the 2021 statewide freeze event in Texas, and several seven and eight-figure claims under builders risk policies.
Education
University of Texas School of Law – J.D., 2008
University of Texas at Austin – B.A., Plan II Honors Program, 2002
University of Texas at Austin – B.B.A. Finance, 2002
Recognitions & Distinctions
Best Lawyers in America (2023 – 2025): Construction Law, Insurance Law, Litigation – Construction, and Litigation – Insurance
Named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters (2022 – 2024). Each year, no more than 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected to receive this honor.
Representative Experience
Submitted amicus brief on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders, Home Builders Association of Tennessee, and Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville to the Tennessee Supreme Court in West Bend Mutual Ins. Co. v. Healy Homes, LLC, arguing that the Tennessee Supreme Court should follow a narrower construction of the standard “Pollution Exclusion” in a CGL policy.
Submitted amicus brief on behalf of Associated General Contractors of America (“AGC”) and Texas Building Branch—AGC, in support of Austin Bridge & Road, L.P. (“ABR”) in San Antonio River Authority v. Austin Bridge & Road, L.P., — S.W.3d —, 2020 WL 2097347 (Tex. May 1, 2020). After arbitrator denied River Authority’s plea of governmental immunity, River Authority objected to continuation of arbitration and filed suit against contractors in district court, contending that it lacked authority to agree to mandatory arbitration. Texas Supreme Court found for ABR and held that the River Authority had authority under the Local Government Code to agree to arbitrate disputes arising from a construction contract.
Lead counsel on lawsuit against carrier that denied coverage under client’s first-party property policy for Hurricane Harvey loss. Case resulted in seven figure settlement for client.
Obtained multi-million dollar settlement for a general contractor in a dispute involving coverage for a complex construction defect suit, in which primary and excess insurers all denied coverage.
Obtained summary judgment for general contractor client in declaratory judgment action filed by client’s liability insurer. Insurer denied coverage for underlying lawsuit involving alleged defects in construction of a municipal sports complex and filed suit seeking a declaratory judgment that it owed no duty to defend or indemnify the general contractor based on the “Breach of Contract Exclusion” endorsement in the policy. Court held that breach of contract exclusion did not apply to allegations of property damage caused by the defective work of client’s subcontractors, and insurer owed a duty to defend. Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Slay Engineering / Texas Multi-Chem / Huser Construction Company, LLC, No. 5-18-CV-00252-OLG, 2018 WL 3946547 (W.D. Tex. Aug. 15, 2018).
Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims against owner and general contractor in a third party over personal injury action brought by injured employee of subcontractor. The owner, general contractor, and plaintiff’s employer were insured under an owner controlled insurance program (“OCIP”). The court applied section 406.123 of the Texas Labor Code to extend the protection of the worker’s compensation bar to the owner and general contractor.
Prepared amicus brief in support of Austin Bridge & Road, LP in Austin Bridge & Road, LP v. Suarez, et al., — S.W.3d —, 2018 WL 2049356 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 3, 2018, no pet.). Court enforced OCIP workers compensation bar under Section 406.123 of the Texas Labor Code, reversed $17 million verdict and rendered take nothing verdict in wrongful death suit brought by survivors of sub-subcontractor’s employee, who died while performing work on McClane Stadium project at Baylor University. Court confirmed previous Texas cases holding that all contractors and subcontractors on the project that were insured under the OCIP were entitled to comp bar protection.
Regularly work with construction clients, prior to engaging in coverage litigation, to ensure that insurance carriers are properly defending their insureds, contributing to settlement of covered property damage and bodily injury claims, and paying first party claims under business risk and commercial property policies.
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Presenter, “Insurance Law Update” — Construction Law Foundation of Texas, 2021 Annual CLE for Board Certified Construction Lawyers
Presenter and Article Author for the “Construction Update” — Texas Insurance Law Section, Advanced Insurance Law CLE (Webcast), 10-1-2021
Presenter and Article Author for the “Construction Update” — Texas Insurance Law Section, Advanced Insurance Law CLE (Webcast), 6-5-2020
Panel Member – EPC Contract & Risk Management for Construction and Capital Projects Conference, Houston, Texas 9-12-19
Insurance Co. Must Cover Contractor in Sports Complex Row, by Mike Curley – Law360, 8-17-18
Court of Appeals Enforces OCIP Workers Comp Bar, Reverses $17 Million Verdict and Renders Take Nothing Judgment, 5-7-18
Court Enforces OCIP Workers Comp Bar in Third Party Over Action, 12-8-17
Insurance Basics for the Construction Lawyer – The Basic Course in Texas Construction Law 2017, Dallas, Texas 11-30-17
USAA v. Menchaca, Texas Supreme Court Issues Significant Clarification Affecting Insureds and Insurers, 4-25-17
Publications
Texas Negligence Case Holds Lessons for Construction Cos., Law 360, August 26, 2021
Memberships & Affiliations
Dallas Bar Association: Construction Law, Tort & Insurance Practice Sections
Dallas Bar Association: Construction Law Section, Council Member (2021)
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern & Western Districts of Texas
Community Involvement
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority: Board of Directors, (2016 – Present); Chairman of Fundraising and Development (2018 – 2019)
Exchange Club of Lake Highlands: Scholarship Committee, 2017; Oktoberfest Committee, 2013
Recent Comments