Attorney Profiles

Biography

For Laura Baughman, her decision to become an advocate for people and communities hurt by exposure to toxic substances was personal. As a child, Laura's pediatrician feared that she was one of several children in her community who had developed leukemia suspected to be caused by contamination in the area. Fortunately, Laura's health scare was a false alarm. But throughout her life and her legal career, Laura has devoted her energies to serving those who have been less fortunate.

A shareholder and attorney with the law firm's toxic tort litigation group, Laura has handled a variety of toxic tort cases throughout the country, including cases involving exposure to mercury, lead, chromium, dioxin, PCBs, TCE, and water contaminated with MTBE, benzene and toluene. In addition to her law degree, Laura holds a master degree in civil (environmental) engineering. Her strong scientific background, keen intellect, and hard-driving dedication provide her impetus to seek optimal results for her clients. By way of example, Laura served as co-lead counsel in a California Proposition 65 water contamination case filed against several oil companies, culminating in a precedent-setting settlement providing significant funding for improvement projects to protect and clean up California drinking water supplies.

Laura has received several honors for her legal accomplishments. She was named a "Rising Star of Texas Law" in 2004 and a "Texas Super Lawyer" in 2005 by Law & Politics Media and Texas Monthly magazine. In 2006, she was recognized by D Magazine as among the "Best Lawyers in Dallas under the age of 40." She is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, its highest rating.

In addition to her legal advocacy, Laura has a long history of community involvement. She has represented several clients on a pro bono basis through the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program and over the years has served as co-chair of several committees for Attorneys Serving the Community. Formerly a member of the Dallas Bar Association's Community Involvement Committee, Laura was the chair of the group's "Lawyers Have Heart" 5-K run benefitting the American Heart Association. While in law school, Laura was the vice president of Texas Law Fellowships, a non-profit public interest organization.

Prior to joining Baron & Budd, Laura served as a briefing attorney to Justice Rose Spector of the Texas Supreme Court. She also served as Chief Articles and Notes Editor of the Texas International Law Journal in 1993 - 1994.