Sara Berkeley Churchin's practice centers on appellate law and civil litigation support. Her experience includes managing a caseload in the civil appellate division of a large national law firm in a variety of practice areas, including civil defense, product liability, construction law, first-party insurance & medical and professional liability, with a particular focus on petition practice in the Supreme Court of Texas. Before entering private practice, Sara was a briefing attorney for Justice Phil Johnson of the Texas Supreme Court. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers Ones to Watch and Texas Super Lawyers. Sara volunteers on an ongoing, pro bono basis for the “Don’t Bully Me Project.” The DBM Project helps connect families of minors experiencing bullying to cost-free civil legal representation and support through the San Antonio Legal Services Association’s (SALSA’s) partnership with David’s Legacy Foundation.
Overview
Sara Berkeley Churchin's practice centers on appellate law and civil litigation support. Her experience includes managing a caseload in the civil appellate division of a large national law firm in a variety of practice areas, including civil defense, product liability, construction law, first-party insurance & medical and professional liability, with a particular focus on petition practice in the Supreme Court of Texas. Before entering private practice, Sara was a briefing attorney for Justice Phil Johnson of the Texas Supreme Court. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers Ones to Watch and Texas Super Lawyers. Sara volunteers on an ongoing, pro bono basis for the “Don’t Bully Me Project.” The DBM Project helps connect families of minors experiencing bullying to cost-free civil legal representation and support through the San Antonio Legal Services Association’s (SALSA’s) partnership with David’s Legacy Foundation.
Practice Areas
Experience
- Handles all aspects of appellate strategy support from the outset of civil litigation to final appellate review, including dispositive-motion practice, drafting of special appearances, Daubert motions, motions in limine, jury charges, pre- and post-trial briefing, and appellate motions and briefs.
- Assists clients in a variety of statewide policy matters by drafting legislative memoranda for circulation during legislative session amongst members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives.
- Maintains an active pro bono docket; has provided pro bono assistance to The Texas Appleseed Project, the National Alliance of Mental Illness, and represents parents of school-aged children through SALSA’s & David’s Legacy Foundation’s “Don’t Bully Me Project.”
- Notable appellate results:
- Obtained mandamus relief for a medical provider from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a medical liability case on an issue of first impression concerning proper venue.
- Secured the reversal of a divorce and custody order in an appeal before the Third Court of Appeals on grounds of insufficient evidence.
- Achieved reversal of an excessive ad litem fee award based on insufficient evidence for a major international product manufacturer facing constant excessive ad litem awards.
- Obtained summary judgment on three out of five causes of action in a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute relating to the transfer of a large automotive dealership.
- Obtained reversal and take-nothing judgment for defendant on an easement-by-estoppel claim in a real-estate dispute tried to a jury.
Distinctions
- Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers®
- Texas Super Lawyer, Appellate, 2023-2024
- Texas Rising Star, 2018-2021
- BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
- Ones to Watch, 2021-2025
- St. Mary’s School of Law, GOLD Council Honoree, 2019
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2010
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- 5th Circuit
Education
- St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2010
- St. Mary’s Law Journal, Staff and Executive Editor
- Caroline L. Reynolds Endowed Scholarship Recipient
- Best Brief Awardee (all sections); Moot Court Competition Finalist
- Texas State University, B.A., English, summa cum laude, 2005
- Mitte Honors Program
- Allies of Texas State, Member
Associations
- State Bar of Texas
- Appellate Section
- Litigation Section
- Austin Bar Association
- Civil Appellate Section
- Civil Litigation Section
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Appellate Practice Section
- LGBT Law Section
- Litigation Section
- Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
- Travis County Women Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors
- Grants Coordinator Co-Chair
- William S. Sessions American Inn of Court, San Antonio, Texas
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Author, “Major Issues, Questionable Doctrine: West Virginia v. EPA,” Paul Sarahan, Co-Author, (forthcoming 2024–25).
- Presenter, “The New Texas Business Court CLE Presentation,” (Justice Jeff Boyd & Amy Prueger, Co-Presenters), San Antonio Bar Association, September 2023; El Paso Bar Association, Jan. 2024; Advanced Civil Trial Course, Dallas, July 2024; Houston, Oct. 2024.
- Presenter, “The New Texas Business Court CLE Presentation,” (Marcy Greer, Co-Presenter), William S. Sessions American Inn of Court, San Antonio, January 2024.
- Presenter, “Appellate Triage: Interlocutory Appeals & Mandamuses, Handling Your First (or Next) Civil Appeal CLE Presentation,” (Elizabeth G. “Heidi” Bloch, Co-Presenter), TexasBarCLE, Austin, April 25, 2024.
- Author, “Tips for Drafting Rule 11 Settlement Agreements,” Austin Lawyer, 2019.
- Author, “TCPA Procedures: Statutory Requirements & Open Questions,” (Amanda G. Taylor, Co-Author), The Advocate, Texas 2018.
- “What Happened?”: Confronting Confrontation in the Wake of Bullcoming, Bryant, and Crawford, (Hon. Dib Waldrib Co-Author), 43 St. Mary’s L.J. 1, 2011
- The BAPCPA’s Restriction on Attorney-Client Speech in the Fifth & Eighth Circuits: Worth Saving or Destroying?, Comment, 41 St. Mary’s L.J. 351, 2010
Civic Involvement
- San Antonio Legal Services Association & David’s Legacy Foundation, Volunteer
- Intake & Pro Bono Attorney, Don’t Bully Me Project