Larissa Wakelin

Full Profile

Larissa Wakelin focuses her practice on civil litigation defense across a broad range of matters, including construction defect, trucking and motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product liability, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and other complex claims. With more than 15 years of experience practicing law in Texas, Larissa has represented individuals, businesses, insurers, general contractors, subcontractors, and national trucking companies in high-exposure and multimillion-dollar litigation. 

Larissa recognizes that litigation is not just a legal dispute—it is a business challenge that requires strategic, practical solutions. She works closely with her clients to evaluate risk, develop effective litigation strategies, and pursue cost-effective resolutions in line with their objectives. Known for her analytical attention to detail and responsiveness, Larissa represents clients through every stage of litigation, from pre-suit investigation and discovery, to mediation, arbitration, and trial. 

Committed to providing practical counsel and dependable advocacy, Larissa believes effective representation begins with understanding her clients’ priorities and earning their trust, allowing her to serve not only as litigation counsel but also as a trusted advisor in navigating complex legal challenges.

Outside of the office, Larissa enjoys spending time with her husband and caring for their small menagerie of animals, including dogs, cats, koi, and a small flock of chickens. Together, they also enjoy hosting foreign exchange students and have welcomed high school students from around the world into their home, creating friendships and lasting memories that continue long after the school year ends.

Admissions

• Texas
• US District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas

Education

• J.D. & M.B.A., cum laude, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 2011
• B.S., magna cum laude with major honors, University of Texas at Dallas, 2007

Memberships

• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity (PAD)
• Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• Construction Law Foundation of Texas (CLFT)

Experience

Construction Litigation

• Represented a residential general contractor against a claim of defective construction of a multimillion-dollar lake house.
• Successfully defended a neighborhood developer against unfounded and speculative claims of contract breach, fraud, and defective construction until the plaintiff dismissed the suit.
• Defended a mid-tier subcontractor in connection with an injury caused when a kick plate landed on an employee of a third-tier subcontractor.
• Represented a general contractor in a wrongful death claim after a subcontractor fell from scaffolding at a residential construction site.
  Successfully settled a pre-litigation RCLA claim asserted after purchase of a new-build residential home.
• Defended a solar company against claims related to roof damage and water intrusion.
  Obtained a favorable settlement in a construction defect and mold claim with alleged personal injuries involving a residential home.
• Investigated and prepared a roofing consultant to defend against potential claims related to a roof collapse at a commercial building after a heavy rainstorm.
• Orchestrated a settlement in favor of a subcontractor in a multi-party case filed by the Texas Department of Transportation concerning the construction of a portion of the President George Bush Turnpike.

Product Liability 

• Defended a manufacturer of oil and gas fracking well casing against a products liability claim in Oklahoma against a multimillion-dollar claim.
• Represented a Texas-based manufacturer in a federal case in Ohio against a multimillion-dollar claim alleging defects caused by the manufacturing process, storage procedures, and shipping activities until settlement was reached three days before trial.
• Successfully defeated summary judgment filed by Mazda based on the statutes of repose and limitations in a case involving defective automotive parts subject to recall.

Transportation/Trucking Accident Litigation

• Defended a trucking company against a personal injury claim after the plaintiff ran into them while they were backing out of a business driveway.
• Represented the driver of an 18-wheeler after he swerved to avoid a reckless driver and side swiped another vehicle.
• Represented a leasing company in a wrongful death lawsuit where the vehicle driven by a drunk driver was leased to the driver’s girlfriend.
• Defended a private company to defend against numerous personal injury claims ranging from motor vehicle accidents to rental equipment incidents.

Premises Liability

• Obtained a favorable jury verdict in a personal injury case after a trespasser fell down an elevator shaft in a historical building in east Texas.
• Defended a restaurant franchisee against a slip-and-fall claim related to the sloped handicapped ramp on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.
• Successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of a franchisee after a slip-and-fall inside the restaurant.

Commercial and Business

• Provided contract review, revision, and negotiation consultation for a service agreement with JC Penny.
• Prepared an independent contractor agreement for a Hawaiian company to protect the company's intellectual property.
• Defended an apartment management company against claims related to information disclosure during the sale of an apartment complex.

Arbitration 

• Successfully defended a Dallas business against a Dram Shop claim in private arbitration before obtaining a take-nothing award from the arbitrator.
• Defended a subcontractor in a AAA arbitration hearing concerning a multi-unit townhome community until settlement was reached two weeks into the final hearing.
• Represented a solar company in a series of claims filed with the AAA and JAMS for allegedly deceptive business practices.

Other

• Defended a commercial contractor after an acquaintance fraudulently represented himself as an employee of the contractor to steal insurance proceeds from a gas station after a hailstorm.
• Represented an insurance carrier in a subrogation claim against another carrier claiming coverage exclusion for an occurrence-based policy.
• Defended a professional malpractice claim asserted against attorneys from multiple states related to an international arms deal with the Ukrainian government until the suit was ultimately dismissed.