Karen Gerstner

Karen Gerstner established the firm as a boutique estate planning and probate practice in 2004. Her law practice has focused on estate, trust, and probate law for over 40 years. Since 1986, Karen has been Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Since 1999, she has been a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, an international organization of lawyers who demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and expertise in wills and trusts, estate planning, and tax law.

Before opening her own firm, Karen practiced estate and trust law in other law firms for more than 20 years and gained experience in probate and estate litigation. While she no longer handles litigation, that background gives her valuable insight into what can go wrong with an estate plan, which has made her a more effective estate planning attorney.

High-Level Expertise — Attention to Detail — Personal Service

Karen is widely recognized as a top-level expert in estate planning and probate law. She is especially well-versed in applicable tax laws and is known for her expertise in estate planning for retirement plan benefits. She applies her in-depth knowledge and decades of experience to save and protect her clients’ money and help them achieve peace of mind.

In addition to her high-level legal expertise, Karen is known for her meticulous attention to detail, a characteristic that is invaluable in estate planning and has contributed significantly to the firm’s strong reputation for producing high-quality work. Her consistently conscientious approach has obvious benefits for her clients.

Karen builds long-lasting client relationships through her ability to relate to clients and establish a rapport with them. She is adept at explaining complicated concepts and information in an understandable way. Karen offers an exceptional level of personal service to every client, which includes providing legal services in a timely manner and treating each client with dignity and respect.

Dedication to Community and Family

While practicing law for over four decades, Karen has actively participated in professional organizations as both an active member and a leader. Karen is a past President of the Houston Bar Association’s Probate, Trusts and Estates Section, Past President of the Houston Estate and Financial Forum, and Past President of the Planned Giving Council of Houston. She has chaired all three State Bar of Texas Professional Estate Planning and Probate Conferences. Karen has also been a frequent author and speaker on legal topics related to her practice. In addition, Karen has shared her expertise through appearances on radio talk shows dedicated to financial issues. She has also devoted substantial time to civic and community non-profit organizations, such as the National Christian Foundation-Houston, Houston Center for Hearing and Speech, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and more.

Family is an integral part of Karen’s life. She and her husband Jim have been married since 1979 and have three daughters. Two of Karen’s daughters work with her at the firm. Laura Walbridge has worked at the firm since 2011 as Karen’s legal assistant and paralegal. Libby Mosher joined the firm as an attorney in May 2024. The family is very close-knit, as evidenced by the fact that all three of Karen’s daughters live within a block of each other. When she is not working, Karen’s favorite way to spend time is being with her family, including her granddaughter, Winifred (“Winnie”) and her grandson, Oliver (“Ollie”). She is also an avid hiker who enjoys traveling to special hiking destinations.