Laura Hanley Carlock

Biography

Laura Hanley Carlock is the Chair of Daly & Black’s Appellate Law Section, and in addition to overseeing external appeals, she manages the firm’s appellate and motions practice docket. To date, Laura’s legal career has focused on appellate and motions practice in large, commercial, bet-the-company cases at both state and federal levels; public law advocacy; and the representation of state governments in seeking remedies for environmental contamination and restoration, while on occasion serving as special counsel to state attorneys general. Joining Daly & Black, Laura brings her legal expertise to assist plaintiffs in personal injury, first-party insurance, mass tort, and commercial cases. 

Laura is a dedicated attorney who combines a deep understanding of the law with exceptional writing, analytical, and advocacy skills. Laura’s commitment to pursuing justice, coupled with her ability to navigate the complexities of the appellate and motions practice process, makes her an invaluable asset to her clients. Laura has a considerable amount of empathy and is committed to helping individuals who have been harmed or subjected to injustice.

Prior to practicing law, Laura was a professional musician with a popular acoustic duo based in Memphis, Tennessee. As lead vocalist and bass guitarist, Laura performed over 20 times a month for audiences throughout the South. While she was a musician, Laura attended Memphis State, where she completed a dual major in math and sociology and graduated summa cum laude. She then moved to Houston in 1997 and attended the University of Houston Law Center, graduating first in her class while also serving as Editor in Chief of the Houston Law Review. She was also a member of the Order of the Barons, Order of the Coif, and the Order of Barristers and was the recipient of the University of Houston Law Center’s Distinguished Service Award.

After graduating from law school, Laura served as a clerk to The Honorable Caroline Dineen King, Chief Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She also returned to the University of Houston Law Center as an adjunct professor of both Legal Research & Writing and Remedies. Her peers have recognized her as a Thompson Reuters’ “Texas Rising Star” and “Texas Super Lawyer.”

Laura has always focused on making a positive impact on the world through advocacy and nonprofit work. When she arrived in Houston to attend law school, she quickly learned of the massive homeless animal population in Houston and the high kill rates in Houston’s shelters. For approximately 25 years, Laura committed to making a difference in the lives of homeless animals by serving on animal welfare nonprofit boards; extensive fundraising for shelters; and, in 2013, co-founding Rescued Pets Movement, a groundbreaking animal rescue organization that saves dogs and cats from Houston shelters, places them in foster homes until healthy, transports them to other areas of the nation that have a need for adoptable pets, and is credited for saving the lives of over 100,000 homeless animals.

Laura’s history showcases a unique blend of legal expertise and compassionate advocacy. Having focused on public law advocacy, environmental remedies, and animal welfare, Laura seamlessly extends her commitment to justice into the areas of first-party insurance and personal injury matters at Daly & Black.