Magnolia, TX

Karl Wayne Koen

Mr. Koen’s civil practice has focused on litigation involving Fortune 500 Companies in business and personal injury lawsuits, including oil and gas exploration and operations accidents, commercial transportation claims, product liability claims, Employer liability claims, premises liability, catastrophic injury and property damage claims, subrogation, Dram Shop claims, and Wrongful Death/Survival Claims. After graduation from the University of Texas, Mr. Koen worked as a CPA for a Big Eight accounting firm and a national communications firm before returning to law school at Texas Tech University, serving on the Board of Barristers and mock trial programs, while also obtaining his private pilot license for aviation defense cases. Mr. Koen then went into private practice and has successfully litigated and tried numerous lawsuits defending his clients in multi-million dollar claims in both state and federal court throughout the state of Texas. Mr. Koen has been a Super Lawyer since 2006, and has a preeminent AV peer review rating by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Koen is a member of the Texas Bar, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Dallas Bar Association (Litigation Section), TIDA (Trucking Industry Defense Association, the TADC (Texas Association of Defense Counsel), the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western U.S. District Courts, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Koen is a member of Christ Church Plano and an avid bicyclist, runner, snow skier, and scuba diver.

Geoffrey S. Binney

Mr. Binney is the Managing Partner of Gauntt, Koen, Binney & Kidd, L.L.P. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants and covers a wide variety of commercial and personal injury litigation matters, including contract disputes, Qui Tam lawsuits, automobile accidents, products liability, catastrophic construction-related accidents, premises liability, wrongful death, and litigation stemming from the purchase/sale of residential properties. A large percentage of Mr. Binney’s docket is comprised of home inspector errors and omissions defense cases. Mr. Binney, who represents home inspectors all over the country, does public speaking focusing on topics relating to home inspectors, specifically how they can best protect themselves from claims and litigation. After graduation from West Point, Mr. Binney served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, after which he served in the FBI for eight years. As an FBI Special Agent, Mr. Binney initiated and led Operation Candyman, one of law enforcement’s largest investigations into online child pornography, resulting in over 100 convictions and the identification of dozens of victims. In that regard, he appeared on several local news stations, Wired Magazine and on Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor. As a Supervisory Special Agent, Mr. Binney created and staffed the Houston Area Cyber-Crime Task Force, supervised the computer forensic examination efforts of all Houston-FBI investigations including the Enron and Arthur Anderson investigations. He also oversaw all cyber-crime related investigations, including computer intrusions, online crimes against children, fraud, cyber-terrorism, and theft of intellectual property. Mr. Binney is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, American Bar Association (Litigation Section), The Houston Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, The Woodlands Bar Association, and the West Point Society of Greater Houston. He is licensed to practice law in Texas as well as federal court in the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. He is a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. He and his wife Amy raised three sons in The Woodlands.

A. Scott Kidd

Scott Kidd represents both individuals and businesses in all types of litigation matters including auto/trucking accidents, workplace accidents, oilfield litigation, defective products, premises liability, and construction. He also provides representation in insurance, business, and real estate related matters. Scott takes a personal interest in every client represented and tailors that representation to their particular needs and desired result. Scott has been a trial lawyer for over 35 years representing clients in a wide variety of cases. Scott has been Board Certified in Personal Injury Law since 2003. Throughout his career, Scott has also been an advocate for children serving as a guardian ad litem for minors and as corporate counsel for one of the state’s largest Christian foster care/adoption agencies where he received the Servant’s Heart Award in 2008. He was elected in 2012 to the Board of Trustees for the Conroe Independent School District and served until 2020. Scott has also served on numerous boards, including both the Post Oak YMCA and South Montgomery County YMCA, Montgomery County Community Foundation, and Montgomery County Child Advocates Advisory Board. Scott and his wife Shannon taught youth bible study at The Woodlands First for 10 years where they raised their two now adult children. Scott grew up in Conroe and has lived in Montgomery County most of his life. Scott has an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest rating level based on legal ability and ethical standards. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review ratings are established by lawyers. Scott has been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since 1989 and is also licensed to practice in federal court in the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas.

J. Chad Gauntt

Mr. Gauntt began his legal career as an associate with the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. in the insurance defense litigation section. He moved his office to The Woodlands in 1993 and co-founded the law firm of Gauntt, Koen, Binney & Kidd, LLP in June, 1996. Mr. Gauntt is the author of Exploring the Examination Under Oath Process and Recent Developments in "Bad Faith" Law, papers he has presented as the speaker for continuing education courses for Texas insurance adjusters. Mr. Gauntt typically represents insurance companies in first party insurance matters. Mr. Gauntt's practice areas also include third party insurance defense litigation, personal injury litigation, commercial litigation, consumer protection and aviation accidents. Mr. Gauntt is an instrument and multi-engine rated private pilot. Mr. Gauntt is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Woodlands Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and Restoration Church Woodforest.

Anthony Dee

Anthony is a skilled commercial litigation defense attorney, licensed to practice in both Texas and California. He brings a strong business and entrepreneurial background to his legal practice and perspective that he refined while studying Business Administration at Rice University. This combination allows him to approach each case with a strategic mindset and a client-first focus. From complex disputes to everyday matters-whether involving construction sites, premises liability, insurance claims, negligence, employer liability, trucking, or automobile accidents-Anthony is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients even while balancing business considerations. Known for his sharp courtroom presence and presentation, Anthony thrives in litigation and has earned high praise for his legal acumen. During law school, he served as a judicial intern for both District Judge Richard Ogden and Federal Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell, who commended him for his excellent work product and diligence while serving in their chambers. Outside the courtroom, Anthony is a devoted father who treasures time with his son, Judah, whether that is splashing around at the pool, flying a drone together, or exploring a science museum. Anthony also enjoys serving in the community and is an active member of his church, hosts Bible studies, and volunteers in Sunday school.

W. Christopher Surber

After earning his Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law, Mr. Surber joined Gauntt, Earl & Binney, LLP, as an associate in 2008. Mr. Surber’s practice at Gauntt, Koen, Binney, Woodall & Kidd, LLP, focuses primarily on the areas of subrogation, first party insurance matters, third party insurance defense litigation, personal injury litigation, product liability, premises liability, commercial litigation, contract disputes, labor and employment law, consumer protection, and landlord-tenant disputes. Mr. Surber is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Woodlands Bar Association, and Lakewood Methodist Church. Mr. Surber is licensed to practice law in all Texas state courts. Mr. Surber has also been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western & Southern Districts of Texas.

Thomas F. O'Connell

Mr. O'Connell's practice includes defending professionals in errors & omissions claims statewide in Texas since 1986. He is also approved Texas panel counsel for numerous insurance carriers. Typical cases involve defending professionals in negligence, fraud, and deceptive trade practice lawsuits. Those clients include real estate agents and brokers, insurance agents, real estate inspectors, appraisers, mortgage brokers, builders, directors, and other professionals in various types of claims. He also handles numerous types of insurance defense-related cases, including commercial auto/trucking, CGL, EPL, P&C, and D&O related claims. Mr. O'Connell has authored several seminars, including "Defending the Real Estate Broker Errors and Omissions Claim" and "Defending the Insurance Agent Errors and Omissions Claim in Texas", which was approved by the Texas Department of Insurance for continuing education and has been presented to numerous errors and omissions insurance carriers. He has authored and presented a mock trial seminar for insurance agent-related organizations, including the Professional Insurance Agents of Texas’ statewide convention. He has also authored “Risk Management for Real Estate Agents: Tips to Avoid Litigation", which has been presented to numerous real estate agencies throughout Texas and Statewide real estate conventions and is also approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission for continuing education. Mr. O'Connell is also an approved instructor by the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Real Estate Commission and presently assists an insurance carrier in their statewide risk management hotline program in Texas. Mr. O'Connell is admitted to practice before all Texas state courts, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Houston Bar Association. He is also a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), PIA (Professional Insurance Agents) of Texas, the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Houston Bar Association, and the Houston Golf Association.