Tracie J. Renfroe is a trial lawyer and partner in King & Spalding’s Houston Litigation Practice Group. She tries cases in federal and state courts around the country, and has successfully argued cases before the Texas Supreme Court and lower appellate courts. Ms. Renfroe represents clients in the energy and manufacturing sectors in international arbitrations, civil jury trials and as national coordinating counsel. Her practice focuses on toxic tort, product liability, environmental, and commercial disputes.
Tort & Environmental Litigation
Ms. Renfroe is well known for her skills in presenting complex scientific and technical issues to judges and juries. Most recently, in a 4-month California jury trial involving contaminated drinking water, she led the scientific attack of plaintiff’s causation witnesses, contributing to a complete defense verdict.
Her Daubert challenges of air and groundwater exposure models supported a no causation ruling leading to summary judgment and eventual resolution of protracted mass joinder personal injury litigation arising out of industrial contamination in Harlan, Kentucky.
Ms. Renfroe’s cross-examination of scientific and engineering experts also led to defeat of putative property damage class actions involving ethanol blended fuels and deep injection well contamination. Since 2006, she has represented a major energy company in climate change nuisance suits, and is a frequent speaker on climate change litigation.
Commercial & Professional Liability Litigation
Ms. Renfroe has tried conspiracy, securities fraud, breach of contract, and professional liability cases. She has had pre-trial successes in defeating class certification and winning multi-district litigation coordination of class actions. As lead trial counsel in a professional malpractice case, she overcame adverse pre-trial rulings by federal and state courts, and achieved a complete defense verdict after prevailing at the Texas Supreme Court.
Jurors typically comment on her “command of the technical issues and understandable presentation of the science.”
According to the Chambers guide, clients praise Ms. Renfroe for her “intelligent and highly capable approach to litigation.” Her trial results have been recognized in the American Lawyer Big Suits/Big Deals, the Texas Lawyer, and the L.A. Daily Journal.
Leadership
Ms. Renfroe has served on King & Spalding’s Policy Committee and numerous firm initiatives. She has chaired the board of the Houston Food Bank, the Houston Bar Foundation, and served as Co-Chair of the Gulf Coast United Way Law Firm Initiative.
