Kelli B. Smith earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law in 1998. While attending law school, she was a Teaching Quizmaster, an associate editor of the Texas Journal of Women and The Law, and excelled in Moot Court competitions. She has been with Germer since 1998 and has extensive experience handling appeals in state and federal courts, including more than 100 reported and unreported opinions. Kelli is admitted to practice before Texas courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Kelli is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Jefferson County Bar Association, Jefferson County Bar Journal Editorial Committee, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Michelle Mehaffy American Inns of Court, the Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas, and the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit. Kelli’s experience is in appellate practice and general civil litigation, including products liability, insurance defense, professional malpractice defense, and class and complex litigation.

Karen R. Bennett, managing principal with the firm, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech University. Karen has handled a docket of personal injury and civil litigation files since the beginning of her practice. She is also the principal in charge of the firm’s Family Law Department. She has litigated cases in the discovery phase and trial of several complex cases including those involving class actions and prescription drugs. She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Texas, Texas state courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She is a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, State Bar of Texas, Texas Women Lawyers, Jefferson County Bar Association along with Family Law Section, Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, American Board of Trial Advocates, and Houston Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates. She also has served on the Board of Directors for the Jefferson County Bar Association and has been a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and Mickey Mehaffy Inns of Court. She has served on the Board of the Jefferson County Bar Association Auxiliary and is a past President. She has also served on the Board of the Junior League of Beaumont. She was recognized as a “Texas Super Lawyer”, a Thompson Reuters publication, in 2013-2024. Karen has been active in many local volunteer organizations in the community.

Kevin became licensed to practice law in Texas in 2013. After living in Puerto Rico and San Antonio, he relocated to Houston in 2015 to expand his I am a lawyer with more than 25 years of experience. I can help you when you have a legal problems Kevin Acevedo (aka Kevin Acevedo-Carlson) is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing clients across Texas and Puerto Rico, in State and Federal courts. Kevin began his career in Puerto Rico, where he spent the first ten years practicing personal injury, complex commercial matters, including contracts, insurance, construction, intellectual property, medical malpractice, employment law and civil rights litigation. When you need experienced legal representation in Texas, Ace Law | Kevin Acevedo delivers strategic advocacy backed by years of hands-on litigation and negotiation experience. Our firm is committed to protecting your rights, defending your interests, and pursuing the best possible outcome in every case we handle. At Ace Law, we understand that legal matters can be overwhelming. Whether you are dealing with a complex family law dispute, divorce, child custody case, criminal defense matter, or other serious legal issue, you deserve a knowledgeable Texas attorney who will stand by your side every step of the way.

Dennis Spurling is a native of Southern California. He is a graduate of Grambling State University, (B.S. 1997), The Southern University Law Center (J.D. 2000) and the Tulane University School of Law, (LL.M. 2001). He began his legal career as an associate at a small Plaintiff oriented personal injury firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. where he has been licensed to practice law since he was sworn in October 2000. Mr. Spurling is a plaintiff’s oriented civil litigation attorney focused on serious injury claims resulting from motor vehicle, 18-wheeler, motorcycle wrecks, along with dog bite and trip and fall cases. Mr. Spurling now is the owner of a multi-jurisdictional civil litigation firm based in Houston, Texas. He is licensed to practice law in multiple states and jurisdictions, including Texas, Illinois, New York & Louisiana. He is also admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, The United States Southern District of Texas, The United States Middle District of Louisiana, The United States Western District of Louisiana, The United States Eastern District of Louisiana, The United States Southern District of New York and The United States Eastern District of New York.