Attorneys

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Karl Seelbach | MANAGING Partner

karl@doyleseelbach.com

512.960.4891

Karl vigorously represents his clients and plans for trial from day one. He’s a fighter who handles cases with tenacity and precision. His adversaries describe him as a “skilled advocate” who is “whip smart.” Karl’s law practice focuses heavily on personal injury, business and employment litigation. As the managing partner, he oversees the firm’s business development, finances, strategic direction, and overall operations. Karl is also deeply passionate about legal technology, ensuring that his firm stays on the cutting edge by using the latest tools to enhance efficiency and deliver the best results for clients.

Before launching his own law firm, Karl worked as a litigation partner at Winstead PC, one of the largest law firms in Texas. He was mentored by some of the top litigators in the state, including former appellate judges and veteran trial lawyers. After spending almost ten years at Winstead, Karl launched his own firm with co-founder Trek Doyle in 2015.

Representative Experience

  • Personal injury disputes, including general liability and employee injury claims filed against employers who do not subscribe to the Texas workers' compensation scheme

  • Labor and employment disputes, including breach of non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, etc.

  • Real estate and construction litigation, including representation of residential and commercial property owners, landlords, contractors and developers.

  • Banking litigation, including suits on notes, foreclosures, receiverships, debt collection and fraud claims.

Extended Bio

Karl was trained to be a skilled courtroom advocate at South Texas College of Law in Houston. While attending law school, he served on the law review and successfully competed as one of the top advocates in South Texas’ award-winning trial and appellate advocacy program.

Prior to law school, Karl attended college at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. While attending SFA, he served as president of the Student Foundation Association, vice president of the Student Government Association and an officer in his fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. He was honored to be named “Mr. SFA” his senior year. Most importantly, he met his wife, Adrienne, at SFA.

Before college, Karl attended grade school at West Rusk ISD in New London, Texas. He was a letterman in basketball and baseball and received numerous awards for his academic accomplishments. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class.

In his free time, Karl loves spending time with his wife, Adrienne, and daughters, Annabelle and Millie, in Dripping Springs, Texas, and takes great pride in cheering them on in volleyball, basketball, and their many other pursuits!

Education

South Texas College of Law

  • J.D., 2006, cum laude

  • Law Review, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

  • Order of the Lytae; Order of the Barristers

  • National Finalist, 2006 American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court

  • Regional Champion and Best Brief, 2005 American Bar Association Regional Moot Court

  • State Champion and Best Brief, 2005

  • Scribes Brief-Writing Award, The American Society of Legal Writers, 2006

Stephen F. Austin State University

  • B.B.A., 2003

  • Mr. SFA, 2003

  • Student Body Vice President 2001-2003

  • Sigma Tau Gamma, VP Finance, 2002-2003

  • Dean’s List, SFA College of Business, 2000-2003

Awards and Recognition

  • Texas Rising Star, Thomson Reuters & Texas Monthly, 2013-2020

  • Texas Bar Foundation Fellow

Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • Using Software to Reduce Deposition Expenses and Increase Efficiency, TrialSmith national webinar, August 2, 2023

  • Healthcare Industry Breakout, 21st Annual PartnerSource Employer’s Conference, September 30, 2021

  • COVID-19 and Texas Injury Benefit Plans, Webinar Moderator, Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (ARAWC), April 28, 2020

  • Will there be Texas work injury lawsuits alleging COVID-19 coronavirus exposure? Perhaps, but employees who file COVID-19 lawsuits against their employers may face an uphill battle; Article, April 20, 2020

  • Opting Out of Workers’ Compensation in Texas, Lockton Law Day, February 13, 2020

  • Communications Committee Update, Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (ARAWC), Annual Meeting, October 2, 2019

  • The Dos and Don’ts of Work Injury Claim Investigations, 2019 Safety & Workers’ Compensation CEU Seminar, hosted by Select Physical Therapy, February 6, 2019

  • A Commitment to Employee Care - Aligned, Balanced and Connected, 18th Annual PartnerSource Employer’s Conference, October 25, 2018

  • Licensing and Brand Protection Update, Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (ARAWC), Annual Meeting, October 24, 2018

  • Legal Panel: Focus on Texas Nonsubscription, Texas Alliance of Nonsubscribers, Annual Meeting, May 2, 2018

  • Medicare Conditional Payments: Protecting the Employer; Legal Panel Webinar, Texas Alliance of Nonsubscribers, November 8, 2017

  • Defining the Employer's Duty to Train; Texas Alliance of Nonsubscribers – Capitol Update; November 30, 2016

  • Investigation and Evaluation of Liability in Nonsubscriber Claims; York Risk Services Group Training, 2016

  • Technology is Making Everything Better Right? A Construction Litigator’s Guide to Surviving in the Digital Age; American Bar Association, Construction Law Forum, Austin, Texas, October 2015

  • Flip Side Of Texas High Court's Austin v. Kroger Decision; Law 360, September 2, 2015

  • Texas Supreme Court Further Limits Slip-and-Fall Liability For Premises Owners and Employers; Law 360, June 2015

  • Putting Texas Premises Liability Law In Perspective; Law 360, 2015

  • Legal Considerations for Nonsubscriber Lifting Injury & Premises Liability Claims; TXANS 24th Annual Conference, 2014

  • Trials by iPad for Litigators; Austin Bench Bar Conference, 2014

  • Recovering Attorneys’ Fees; WinU at Winstead PC, 2013

  • Attorney Leaders - Panel Discussion; 2013 Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy

  • Nonsubscriber, Employee-Injury Litigation; Tarrant County 4th Annual All-Star CLE Program; 2011

  • Products Liability Litigation: An Update on Current Issues; Texas Advanced Civil Litigation Course, 2008

  • Appellate Update; Texas State Bar Newsletter, 2007

  • Erroneously Compelled to Arbitration? Interlocutory and Mandamus Review post-Palacios; The Appellate Advocate, 2007

Professional, Charitable and Community Organizations

  • Kid’s Chance of Texas, Board of Directors, 2020-present, Fundraising Committee, 2019-present

  • Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (ARAWC), Executive Committee, 2019-present, Communications Chair, 2019-present, Legal Committee, 2018-2019

  • Austin Bar Association, Bench Bar Committee 2017-2018, Leadership Academy 2012

  • Young Risk Professionals of Austin, Chair 2013-2014

  • Dripping Springs Historic Preservation Commission, 2012-2015

  • Houston Young Lawyers Association, 2007-2008 Leadership Academy, 2008-2009 Special Olympics Committee Chair

 Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas

  • Texas State Courts