Lauren is an effective business litigator and has a track record of securing clients’ victories in high stakes, bet the company litigation, with first chair litigation experience in cases ranging from tens of millions to a billion dollars in dispute. Valkenaar focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation concerning contractual provisions, breach of fiduciary duties and fraud for clients across many industries, including technology, cybersecurity, real estate, construction, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, financial institutions and transportation. She is experienced in all stages of the litigation process, from pre-suit investigation through motions practice, trial and appellate procedures.

Lauren has been heavily involved with prosecuting and defending commercial claims across the nation in both state and federal jurisdictions. She is experienced in conducting corporate internal investigations and advising clients through business decisions when litigation has been threatened. Lauren has litigated fiduciary conduct arising from trust and estates disputes, pursued litigation to halt competitors’ false advertising, validated bonds through expedited trial proceedings and defended against election challenges. She was recently recognized by Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters in the Texas Rising Stars list from 2021 to 2024.

    • J.D. – Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude, St. Mary’s School of Law

    • B.A. – Magna Cum Laude, Political Science, Trinity University


    While in law school, Lauren was an advocate on the External Advocacy Moot Court Team and served as Executive Managing Editor for the St. Mary’s Law Journal. During her first year of law school, she was awarded “Best Brief” in her law school section and “Best Advocate” in the annual competition judged by the Fourth Court of Appeals judiciary. Lauren was also a member of the John Marshall Harlan Honor Society and the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Fraternity.

    • Texas State Bar

    • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

    • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

    • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas

    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

    • United States Supreme Court

    • Up and Coming: Litigation – General Commercial, USA Guide 2024, Chambers and Partners

    • Best S.A. Lawyers – Business Litigation, SA Scene Magazine, 2017, 2018, 2020-2024

    • Texas Rising Stars, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2021-2024

    • Outstanding Women in Law, Scene in S.A., 2021-2022, 2024

    • Distinguished Young Alumna Award, St. Mary’s School of Law Alumni Association, 2023

    • Leading Commercial Litigator of the Year – USA, Leading Advisor Awards, 2023

    • Top Young Attorneys, Texas Monthly, 2021-2022

    • Best S.A. Female Lawyer – Business Litigation, SA Scene Magazine, 2021

    • Rising Star – Business & Commercial Litigation, SA Scene Magazine, 2017-2021

    • Top Attorney in San Antonio, San Antonio Magazine, 2021

    • Best of the Bar, 2020 Top 100 Verdicts

    • Feature, “Women in Law Raising the Bar,” San Antonio Women Magazine, May/June 2019

    • Feature, “Striving for Excellence,” Attorney At Law Magazine, October 2019

    • 10 Under 10 Honoree – St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2017

    • Speaker, “Recent Texas Supreme Court Updates Related to Real Estate Contracts,” State Bar of Texas 46th Annual Advanced Real Estate Law, Chapter 3, 2024

    • Speaker,  “Key Texas Supreme Court Rulings Impacting Contract Construction and Real Estate Jurisprudence,” State Bar of Texas 26th Annual Summer School: Sun, Sand, and CLE for the General Practitioner, 2024

    • Speaker, "Efficiency and Ethics: Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Corporate Counsel Part II", Association of Corporate Counsel, 2024

    • Speaker, "Expanding Downtown Horizons: Understanding Director Duties and Downtown Developments", Association of Corporate Counsel, San Antonio Chapter, 2023

    • Speaker, “Special CLE Round Table: Efficiency and Ethics: Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Corporate Counsel”, Association of Corporate Counsel, San Antonio Chapter, 2023

    • Speaker, “Recent Texas Supreme Court Updates Related to Real Estate Contracts”, Advanced Real Estate Law, State Bar of Texas 45th Annual Course, 2023

    • Speaker, “E-Discovery and Digital Evidence Course” taught by Hon. Xavier Rodriguez, St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2017-2023

    • Presenter, “Litigation Protections Post-Pandemic,” Association of Corporate Counsel | South Central Texas, 2021

    • Presenter, “Contract Litigation and Recovery of Attorney’s Fees,” San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, 2020

    • Presenter, “Real Estate Litigation: Specific Performance and Other Tools,” State Bar of Texas 14th Annual Advanced Real Estate Strategies Conference, 2020

    • Presenter, “Hindsight is 20/20: Contract Litigation and Risk Management During COVID-19 and Beyond,” Association of Corporate Counsel | South Central Texas, 2020

    • Speaker, “Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility Course,” Greehey School of Business, St. Mary’s University, 2019

    • Presenter, “Commerce in the Digital Age: Advertising, Privacy and E-Payments,” Association of Corporate Counsel | South Central Texas, 2018

    • Presenter, “Consumer Protection Law Update,” ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2017

    • “Key Texas Supreme Court Rulings Impacting Contract Construction and Real Estate Jurisprudence,” State Bar of Texas 26th Annual Summer School: Sun, Sand, and CLE for the General Practitioner, 2024

    • “Recent Texas Supreme Court Updates Related to Real Estate Contracts,” State Bar of Texas 46th Annual Advanced Real Estate Law, Chapter 3, 2024

    • “Recent Texas Supreme Court Updates Related to Real Estate Contracts,” Advanced Real Estate Law, State Bar of Texas 45th Annual Course, 2023

    • Co-Author, “Specific Performance and Other Remedies in Earnest Money Contract Disputes,” State Bar of Texas 14th Annual Advanced Real Estate Strategies Conference, 2020

    • Litigation Developments Contributor, Advertising Disputes and Litigation Committee, American Bar Association Antitrust Division, 2014-2017

    • “Sue Me Already,” The Brand Protection Blog, July 7, 2016

    • “Long Legal Battle Ends with Jury Victory for Coca-Cola in Pomegranate Juice Dispute,” The Brand Protection Blog, April 5, 2016

    • “No More Pretending Irreparable Harm: 9th Circuit Reverses Preliminary Injunction Favoring Platters Founder,” The Brand Protection Blog, December 5, 2013

    • “Protection Against Zombie Trademarks,” The Brand Protection Blog, October 31, 2013

    • “Civil Liability Approaches to the Stolen Valor Epidemic,” 44 St. Mary’s L.J. 835, 2013

    • San Antonio Bar Association Fellow (2023-Present)

    • Texas Bar Foundation – Life Fellow (2023-present)

    • Leadership San Antonio: Class 44

    • Respite Care of San Antonio: Board of Directors (2014-present), Board Chair (2023-2025)

    • Defense Counsel of San Antonio: Board of Directors (2013-present), Past President (2017)

    • Bexar County Women’s Bar Association: Board of Directors (2022-2023)

    • Special Reach: Board of Directors (2022)

    • St. Mary’s Law School Law School Mentorship Circles: Mentor (2020-2023)

    • William S. Sessions Inn of Court: Member

    • American Bar Association, Antitrust Division: Member

    • San Antonio Bar Association, Litigation Section: Member

    • St. Mary’s School of Law Alumni Association: Member