Sarah E. Scott

Sarah is an experienced litigator who has practiced in state and federal courts throughout Texas.

Sarah represents clients at multiple stages of the dispute process. Her clients include municipalities, private owners, and contractors. She frequently resolves construction defects, payment claims, and surety disputes. In addition, Sarah is well-versed in complex insurance issues that arise during multi-party disputes and helps clients navigate insurance issues before and during trial.

Prior to joining The Chapman Firm, Sarah analyzed and litigated insurance-coverage issues for both carriers and insureds, including determining priority of coverage in complex construction-defect cases. She also has experience handling a variety of cases in insurance defense, including wrongful death, personal injury, and property-damage claims. Sarah has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict, including both bench and jury trials.

On a personal note:

When she’s not working, Sarah enjoys cycling and frequenting some of Austin’s many trails and swimming holes with her family. She loves watching all sports, especially baseball, and will happily talk your ear off about the 1990s lineup for the Atlanta Braves. She’s also an avid reader and firm believer in the superiority of printed books.

Representative Experience

  • Represented a trucking company in a payment dispute; opposing party non-suited the case prior to summary judgment.
  • Obtained favorable settlement for a contractor client in dispute with homeowner.
  • Represented a municipality in a contract dispute with a general contractor regarding faulty civil construction. Obtained dismissal of all the contractor’s claims on a summary judgment motion.
  • Represented a commercial owner in a payment and performance dispute related to construction of a warehouse. The case was ultimately resolved through favorable settlement.

Education

J.D, Baylor University, 2013 (cum laude) (executive editor, Baylor Law Review)
B.A., English, Spanish and journalism, Southern Methodist University, 2007 (summa cum laude)

Bar & Court Admissions

Texas Bar
Admitted to the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas

Professional Associations and Memberships

State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section
State Bar of Texas, Insurance Law Section
Austin Bar Association, Construction Law Section
Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association
Travis County Young Lawyers’ Association

Honors and Awards

Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021-23
National Trial Lawyers’ Association “Top 40 Under 40,” 2015

Seminars/Published Works

  • “2023 Legislative Update,” Austin Contractors & Engineers Association Symposium, May 2024
  • “Everything You Need to Know About Contract Disputes,” HalfMoon Education Construction Contract Workshop, January 2024
  • Co-Author, “Five Things Texas Trial Lawyers Should Know About Insurance,” 38th Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law CLE, 2022