Patrice McKinney:
My name is Patrice McKinney. I’m an attorney with with the Lanier Law Firm in Houston, Texas. I graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelors in English. I have a Masters in English, a Masters of Science in Sports Health from Texas Tech, and I graduated from South Texas School of Law.
I’ve represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases my entire legal career, handled cases of all types, done a lot of major car collisions, trucking accidents. Our clients generally have very serious injuries. I’ve handled a number of wrongful death cases, and I’m currently working in the personal injury section at the Lanier Law Firm.
Personal Background
Patrice McKinney represents the LLF’s clients in personal injury cases, especially car and trucking collision cases, oilfield related injuries, and railroad workers injured on the job (FELA).
Patrice is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar Foundation Life Fellow, College of the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association – HBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Houston and Texas
Trial Lawyers Association, HTLA Board of Directors and Former Chair of the HTLA Women’s Caucus, HTLA 7th PAC Trustee, Christian Trial Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice, Academy of
Rail Labor Attorneys, Texas Women Lawyers, Association of Women Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Association, and National Women Trial Lawyers Association.
She is a member of the Keenan Trial Institute Teaching Faculty.
Patrice is licensed to practice in all Texas state and federal courts and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Education
- B.A. – University of Houston
- M.A. – Abilene Christian University
- M.S. – Texas Tech University
- J.D. – South Texas College of Law
Community Service
- Vice-President – Harris County Resources for Children & Adults Board
- Treasurer and Founding Member – Youth Development Center (YDC), an after school literacy program for children living in Houston’s Greater Fifth Ward. For the past 24 years, Patrice has ridden her bicycle several hundred miles in one week to raise funds for the YDC. She is the Former Chair and Co-Chair of the Impact Carnival, an annual event for inner-city children.
- Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) – Board member and member of the Executive and Nominating & Governance Committees and the Artistic Advisory Committee.
- Former Chair of the Board of Night Court, a 501(c)(3) organization benefitting other charities that provide pro bono legal services.
- Volunteer- Impact Houston, an inner city ministry serving the homeless, hungry, and hurting living in Houston’s most impoverished neighborhoods.
- Founding member of the Houston20 – An advocacy group that fights Sex Trafficking and aids victims.
- Senior Fellow – American Leadership Forum.
- Graduate – Houston, Texas, and America Leadership programs and the Center for Houston’s Future.
Awards
- AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell – Super Lawyer – 2017-2022
- Best Lawyers 2024 – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Best Lawyers 2025 – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Other
- Co-Chair – Houston Trial Lawyers 7th Amendment PAC Annual Meeting and Judicial Event
- Actor Participant – Houston Trial Lawyers 7th Amendment PAC Annual Meeting and Judicial Event
- Actor Participant – Houston Trial Lawyers Women’s Caucus 100th Anniversary Celebration – Women’s Suffrage
- Actor Participant – Houston Trial Lawyers 7th Amendment PAC Trivia Night Martindale-Hubbell – Silver Client Champion
- Cast Member – Inherit the Wind (One hour CLE Ethics credit for lawyers attending)
- Cast Member -12 Angry Jurors (One hour CLE Ethics credit for lawyers attending). Production promoted the Harris County jury system, the 7th Amendment, and jury service.
