Driving Forward: Karl Rivas’s Journey from Immigrant Son to Transportation Legal Eagle
A journey that began in continental Europe, wound through the Middle East and Mexico, and landed in South East Texas, found planted roots with room to grow on the banks of the Brazos River. As an immigrant son of an immigrant and war refugee, Karl Rivas caught hold of the American dream living in Waco, working his way from shop assistant to parts counter help to master mechanic to shop foreman. When a buddy challenged him to take the LSAT, Karl could not pass up the opportunity to finish his Baylor studies with a Law School degree. However, it wasn’t until taking Constitutional law from the late great Baylor Law School Professor, David Guinn, that Karl realized he needed more “skin in the game” to live up to his civic responsibilities. In that class, Karl saw the vision of becoming a fully naturalized citizen, and in true Rivas family fashion, motivation became movement. While still a 2L, Karl filed his first lawsuit - his own pro se Petition for Naturalization. Naturally, he won.
Now a South Central Texan after over three decades of proud American citizenship, Karl can count automotive parts retailers, motor vehicle manufacturers, transportation providers and transportation workers among those he has represented in living out his American Dream. His highly skilled legal representation has leveraged many favorable outcomes, but his passion for the working men and women who fuel a trillion-dollar industry has won recognition and loyalty from clients and colleagues alike.
Karl’s bilingual and bicultural perspective enable him to connect meaningfully with both workers and companies. As counsel, he combines cultural understanding with a command of complex technical issues. In fact, his depth of understanding of the most arcane technical issues in cutting edge cases such as brake/ throttle override, lack of electronic stability control, rollover occupant protection, lack of laminated side window glazing, and non-deployment of airbags in catastrophic injury cases allows him to dissect highly technical claims and deliver strong defenses for his clients. Many in the firm and industry consult Karl as a second set of engineering eyes due to his work with leading national, multi-firm teams across states and international borders. His stellar career illustrates how bridging cultures, mastering technical details, and engaging across sectors can not only build effective advocacy but strengthen the legal profession.
Karl’s work has resulted in everything from voluntary dismissals to summary judgments to defense jury verdicts. He has managed teams of lawyers and staff in nationwide discovery programs and in trial. His distinguished client list includes well-known industry leaders such as AutoZone, Inc., General Motors Co, Volkswagen AG, and Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. Karl has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1992, and tries cases within every federal Texas District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In his spare time, Karl dedicates time to his church and Epiphany Ministries of Texas, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on offering incarcerated youth an opportunity to change their lives and value systems by introducing them to Jesus Christ.
For more information about Karl Rivas, please visit his professional bio page HERE.
For more information about Naman Howell capabilities regarding transportation litigation throughout Texas, please visit our website HERE.
