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Carolyn D. Roch

Partner

Direct: 713.844.3015
Fax: 713.844.3030

carolyn.roch@keanmiller.com
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Carolyn Roch is a partner in the Houston office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2024 and practices in the labor and employment law, casualty litigation, and commercial litigation groups. Carolyn is a trial lawyer who specializes in complex commercial litigation. She first began trying cases as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office after graduating law school. During her time with the District Attorney’s Office, she first-chaired more than 50 jury trials and successfully argued multiple appellate matters.

After leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Carolyn began her commercial litigation practice. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants, including Fortune 100 companies and executives. With her wide array of business litigation experience, Carolyn has particular experience in employment, unfair competition and securities litigation. She defends corporations in discrimination, covenant not to compete and trade secret cases, and she represents individuals in executive compensation, breach of contract, and wrongful termination cases. Carolyn also conducts employment investigations and routinely handles race discrimination, sexual harassment, FMLA, ADA, and retaliation suits. Her securities practice includes representing brokerage firms in recruiting and raiding cases, as well as investor actions before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Carolyn served as the Chair of the Securities Litigation and Arbitration Section in 2015. She practices in state and federal courts throughout Texas and has successfully arbitrated numerous matters.

While Carolyn is a seasoned trial lawyer, she is also a counselor and advisor to her clients. Her insight, diligence, and interpersonal skills enable her to understand her client’s objectives and business needs. Carolyn works to find creative and cost-effective solutions for her clients.

Carolyn is listed in Texas Monthly Magazine as a Rising Star and has been named a Lawyer on the Fast Track by H Texas Magazine. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law from 2013-2024 and Texas Super Lawyers from 2020-2022, and as a Rising Star in 2005, 2007-2008.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
  • Representation of an international energy company against a former head of U.S. operations for misappropriation of trade secrets and raiding a team of key employees.
  • Representation of a health care corporation against its former president in a breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and non-competition case.
  • Representation of an international manufacturing company against a former recruiter for breach of the recruiting contract and solicitation of the company’s employees.
  • Representation of an international drilling company against a former president for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and violation of a non-competition agreement.
  • Representation of telecommunications company in personal injury matters.
  • Representation of a group of physicians in a non-competition matter against their former partners.
  • Representation of an international drilling company in a non-compete case involving theft of trade secrets, the improper solicitation of the company’s key employees, and breach of contract related to the acquisition of a multi-million-dollar business unit.
  • Representation of a bank president in an unfair competition case.
  • Representation of the president of a national insurance company in a misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and non-competition matter.
  • Representation of an international drilling company against a former vice president of finance in a non-competition, non-solicitation, and breach of fiduciary duty case.
  • Served as counsel for a chief financial officer of a major energy corporation in an executive compensation dispute involving complex accounting issues.
  • Representation of a national trucking company in a race discrimination matter.
  • Representation of an international products manufacturer in a national origin and race discrimination case.
  • Representation of an energy executive in a Sabine Pilot and defamation action involving the fraudulent booking of oil-and-gas reserves.
  • Representation of a national securities firm against its former head of commodities trading in an unfair competition, raiding, and tortious interference case.
  • Defended a securities brokerage firm in research fraud claims.
  • Representation of an international manufacturer in a multi-million-dollar dispute involving an allegedly defective product.
  • Representation of retail brokerage firms and registered representatives in investigations, litigation, and arbitration before FINRA (formerly NASD), NYSE, and AAA.
  • Routinely called upon to counsel individual financial consultants during transition.
  • Representation of securities brokerage firms in multiple raiding, tortious interference, and non-compete cases.
  • Obtained numerous temporary restraining orders and injunctions on behalf of retail brokerage firms.
  • Arbitrated multiple promissory note cases on behalf of national securities firms.
  • Served as Texas counsel for a manufacturer of component parts.
  • Served as Texas counsel for a California manufacturer of float valves and assemblies.
  • Obtained numerous temporary restraining orders and injunctions for clients in various industries, including brokerage firms, oil-and-gas companies, and product manufacturers.
  • Handled numerous employment investigations involving race discrimination, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and age discrimination.
  • Routinely called upon to advise corporations and individuals in a variety of employment related issues.
  • Served as regional counsel for a health care corporation.
  • Representation of national and regional banks in unfair competition cases.
  • Represented individual defendant in multi-million dollar fraud suit involving the start-up and sale of a business.
EDUCATION

Carolyn earned her J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. She earned her B.A. in Honors English and Plan I Honors from The University of Texas at Austin.

ADMISSIONS
  • Admitted, Texas
  • Admitted, Washington