Biography
Kristin has experience in all stages of the trial and appellate processes as well as arbitration. This includes extensive experience in both state and federal courts handling a wide range of complex business litigation matters including business torts, complex commercial disputes, employment, environmental disputes, and royalty litigation. Kristin’s clients have spanned a diverse range of industries including oil and gas, finance, banking, manufacturing, pharmaceutical technology, and insurance.
Representative Matters
Representation of individual in FINRA arbitration relating to margin trading.
Representation of board member of non-profit lobbying organization in dispute with former board member including defense of Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss.
Representation of former business partner in partnership dispute regarding wind-up of real estate venture.
Representation of a publicly traded exploration and production company in multi-district litigation involving royalty dispute alleging underpayment of royalties on natural gas liquids production.
Representation of a publicly traded oil and gas company in contested case hearing before TCEQ involving air permit application.
Representation of lender in arbitration involving multiple personal guarantees and allegations of lack of mental capacity to contract.
Representation of numerous lenders in deficiency actions against borrowers and guarantors to collect unpaid debt, including subsequent collection of judgments.
Representation of a software development company in an employment incentive compensation dispute in jury trial.
Representation of a fuel and lubricant marketer in arbitration involving a dispute with a former sales representative.
Representation of insurance company in insurance coverage dispute involving rental properties in a bench trial.
Representation of heavy equipment manufacturer in a breach of contract dispute.
Representation of a national retailer in nonsubscriber suits brought by employees claiming workplace injuries.
Education
J.D., Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, 2006
SMU Law Review, Associate Managing Editor
SMU Law Review Best Casenote Award, 2005
SMU Law Review Best Comment Award, 2005
SMU Barristers
Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar, 2001-2002
B.A., Texas A&M University, Political Science and German, magna cum laude, 2001
Judicial Clerkships/Internships
Briefing Attorney, Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Justice Charles W. Seymore, 2006-2007
Intern, Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht, Texas Supreme Court, 2005
Intern, Judge Lynn N. Hughes, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2004
Honors & Awards
Houston Bar Association President’s Award for Outstanding Service as Co-Chair of the HBA Gender Fairness Committee, 2020
Winner, Houston Young Lawyers Association Woodrow B. Seals Outstanding Young Lawyer, 2015
Texas Super Lawyer, Business Litigation, Thomson Reuters (published in Texas Monthly) 2020-2022
Texas Rising Star, Business Litigation, Thompson Reuters (published in Texas Monthly), 2013-2018
Houstonia Top Lawyers 2022
Houston’s Top Lawyers, H Texas, 2014-2015
Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
Houston Bar Foundation, Fellow
HBF Fellows Nominating Committee 2022-2023
Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, Fellow
Court Admissions
Texas
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Professional & Community Involvement
State Bar of Texas
Texas State Bar Litigation Section
Houston Bar Association
Gender Fairness Committee, Co-Chair 2013-2014 & 2019-2020; member 2010-present
Appellate Section
Texas Young Lawyers Association
Houston Young Lawyers Association
Publications
Kristin Kruse Lotz & Jillian Schumacher, Houston Courthouse Lactation Rooms Support Attorney Mothers, THE HOUSTON LAWYER, Nov/Dec. 2022, at 18.
Casenote – Religious Land Use − Eleventh Circuit Broadly Interprets Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 to Leave Local Governments Nearly Powerless to Zone Houses of Worship, 58 SMU L. Rev. 465 (2005).
Comment – Proving Discriminatory Intent in Selective Prosecution Challenges – An Alternative Approach to United States v. Armstrong, 58 SMU L. Rev. 1523 (2005).
Languages
German