Karen Akiens received her JD and MBA degrees in May 1997, her Master of Law in Tax (LL.M) degree in May 1998, and her Estate Planning Certificate in January 1999 from Temple University School of Law and School of Business in Philadelphia. Karen is double Board Certified in Probate and Estate Planning, and Tax Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas which means she obtains double the amount of CLE credits an attorney is required to obtain each year by the State Bar of Texas.

Karen practiced as an attorney in Philadelphia before moving to Houston in 1999. For over twenty years she has specialized in the areas of asset protection, estate and gift tax planning, business planning, probate, and taxation. She manages the firm's estate planning, probate, and corporate departments, and she is a member of the Greater Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce, Woodlands Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce, Houston Bar Association, Houston NW Bar Association, Northeast Harris County Bar Association, Woodlands Bar Association, and the Houston Estate and Financial Forum. Karen has given numerous seminars on the issues of asset protection, estate, and business planning, along with probate and tax and received CLE teaching credits for the same.

Before she became a lawyer, Karen served in the US Navy as a Jet Mechanic and Aircrewman. In the service, she received the privilege of experiencing landing on and taking off from a couple of aircraft carriers. She also became a Plane Captain and was turn-qualified on the CT-39E jet airplane. This means she was one of the individuals on the tarmac directing the pilots in the airplanes where to go. She was also turn qualified to test engines so when engines were newly installed on an aircraft she was the one in the cockpit firmly depressing the brake pedals with the airplane securely chained down and wheels chocked, running the engines up to full military power for the tests. She received an Honorable Discharge and a Cold War Recognition Certificate for her service.

Karen lives with her family in the Magnolia (Plantersville) Texas area, and is a member of Grace Community Church. Additionally, Karen has a second degree black belt in Krav Maga and she is working on her third degree black belt at this time.

Education and Certifications

• Double Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization: Estate Planning and Probate, and Tax.

• Temple University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD), 1997
  Master of Law in Tax (LL.M), 1998
  Estate Planning Certificate

• Temple University School of Business
  (MBA) Master of Business Administration, 1997

• Warner Southern College Business
  (BA) Bachelor Arts - Business Studies, 1993

Activities & Affiliations

• Houston Northwest Bar Association

• NE Houston Bar Association

• Houston Bar Association

• Woodlands Bar Association

• South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce

• Magnolia Chamber of Commerce

• NW Houston Chamber of Commerce

• Houston Bar Association

• College of the State Bar of Texas

• Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate, and Tax Law)

• State Bar of Texas (Lawyer, Tax Section, and Attorneys in Tax and Probate)

Bar Admissions

• Texas (active)

• Pennsylvania (inactive)

• New Jersey (inactive)

Awards

• Nominated for “Lawyers of Distinction 2024”

• Nominated for 2024 “Recognizing Excellence in the Practice of Law”

• Nominated for 2024 “Lawyer’s of Distinction”

• Nominated for 2023 “Recognizing Excellence in the Practice of Law”

• Akiens Law Firm PLLC received 2023 nomination for “Recognizing Excellence in the Practice of Law”

• Akiens Law Firm PLLC is listed as one of the Best Business Lawyers in The Woodlands, Texas

• Nominated for 2023 “Recognizing Excellence in the Practice of Law”

• Named one of “Top 10 Inspiring Leaders of 2023” by IE Magazine

• Chosen for membership in Lawyers of Distinction 2022

• Nominated for inclusion in Lawyers of Distinction 2023

• Nominated for inclusion in Professional Who’s Who 2021

• Nominated for inclusion in Lawyers of Distinction 2021

• Nominated as one of 2020 Top Lawyers of Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2020

• Nominated as one of 2020 Top Lawyers of Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2020

• Selected into Marquis Who's Who in America, 2020

• Selected into Marquis Who's Who in the World, 2019

• Selected for the official Marquis’s Who’s Who 2018 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

• Selected into Marquis Who's Who in the World, 2018

• Selected for Membership as one of the "10 Best Attorneys" for Texas, American Institute of Legal Counsel 2018

• Top Lawyers in Texas, The Legal Network 2018

• Marquis Who's Who in American Law 2018

• Top Lawyers of Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2017

• Board Certified in Tax Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization

• Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2016

• Houston Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2015

• Five Star Wealth Manager, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2014

• Houston's Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2014

• Five Star Estate Planning Attorney, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2014

• Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2014

• Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2013

• Houston Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2013

• Houston Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2012

• Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2011

• Five Star Wealth Manager, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2011

• Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2010

• Five Star Wealth Manager: Best in Client Satisfaction, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2010

• Houston Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2010

• Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2009

• Five Star Wealth Manager, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2009

• Houston Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2009

• Houston Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine, 2008

• Houston's Top Lawyers for the People, H Texas Magazine, 2008

• College of the State Bar of Texas, 2006

• Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Publications

• NBI, Top LLC Mistakes in Asset Protection and Estate Planning, 2017

• National Business Institute Seminar, Advanced LLCs, 2015

• Houston Business and Tax Law Journal, Choice of Business Entity in Texas, 2004

Speaking Engagements

• NBI Live Webinar, Top LLC Mistakes in Asset Protection and Estate Planning, 2017

• NBI Webinar, Advanced LLCs, 2016

• NBI live Webinar, Advanced LLCs, 2015

• Keeble Office seminar, Maximize Your Estate/Minimize Your Taxes/Protect Your Assets, 2015

• Houston Northwest Bar Association Seminar, Advanced Asset Protection Planning: LPs and LLCs, 2015

• CPA seminar, Asset Protection Planning/Portability - Pros and Cons, 2015

• CPA breakfast seminar, Dysfunctional Families and Problems Inherent in Same, 2015

• Sam Houston Area Council, Wills & Trusts/Crummy Powers/Portability - Pros and Cons/ Asset Protection Strategies, 2014

• CPA breakfast seminar, Asset Protection/Portability - Pros and  Cons, 2014

• Business and Professional Women, Top 10 Tips for Estate and Asset Protection Planning, 2014

• American Women's Society of CPAs, Future of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning, 2006

• CPA breakfast seminar, Maximize Your Estate, Minimize Your Taxes, Protect Your Assets and Help Reduce Family Conflict, 2013

• Sam Houston Area Council, Maximize Your Estate, Minimize Your Taxes, Protect Your Assets and Help Eliminate Family Conflict, 2013

• CPA breakfast seminar, The New Tax Act and How it May Impact You, 2013

• Sam Houston Area Council, How to Avoid the Upcoming Tax Armageddon, 2012

• PAMCA Lunch Seminar, Collecting on a Debt, Impact of Debtor Filing Bankruptcy, Mechanics of Filing Lien, 2012

• Dinner Seminar, Maximize Your Wealth, 2012

• Sam Houston Area Council, Maximize Your Estate, Minimize Your Taxes, Protect Your Assets and Help Eliminate Family Conflict, 2011

• Texas Pastor Council and Montgomery County Pastor Council, Church Legal Issues Workshop, 2011

• PAMCA Lunch Seminar, Employee Health Benefits (current bill status in Congress), 2009

• PAMCA Lunch Seminar, Employee Policy Manuals and Enforcement, 2008

• Accounting Expo, Choice of Business Entities in Texas, 2003

Ally is the Probate and Funding Paralegal who is responsible for creating drafts of probate documentation for the different types of probates our firm files on behalf of decedents’ estates along with preparing drafts of 706 estate tax returns for attorney review. She also creates motions, accountings and orders as needed. Additionally, she prepares assignments of interests and deeds for clients’ estate planning packages. In addition to the above, Ally handles numerous communications with clients as well as providing administrative services to the firm.

Ally is a full-time law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and she is balancing her school load and workload very well.

Jess is the Estate Planning & Funding Paralegal who is responsible for supervising the drafting process for estate planning and business matters from intake to execution. Jess’ duties include, but are not limited to, creating drafts of estate planning and business documentation for attorney’s review and revision, performing the first and second levels of in-house review and revision of drafts, and supervising/training assistants on administrative tasks and legal drafting. Additionally, Jess is further responsible for the completion of change of beneficiary and ownership forms for life insurance policies, retirement plans and annuities for client’s signature along with providing the relevant funding instructions to financial advisors. Jess is currently a first-year (1L) law student at South Texas College of Law and is diligently working on the furtherance of her education to better assist our clients with all estate planning, business, probate, and tax law matters.

Yvonne Santellana is the Probate Paralegal who assists the attorneys in all the probate areas in which the firm provides services, including communicating with clients, court staff and attorney ad litems before, during and after the probate processes are complete. Yvonne was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She joined the legal field in 2013 after working in the financial industry for 18 years. Yvonne studied the area of business at Houston Community College. She has 3 children and lives in the NW Houston area.

Samula (Sam) Bell is a legal assistant in the firm.  She assists the Attorney and paralegals with all matters on client files.  She answers the telephone to assist client with scheduling appointments via telephone, zoom or in person or to help them with an issue on their legal matter.  Sam also creates files and invoices and scans in all documentation for clients along with recording deeds and business filings as needed.  Additionally, she makes sure all documentation for a client signing is printed and tabbed correctly for a smooth flow when the signing occurs.  Finally, Sam serves as a witness at signings when needed.

Taylor Frank is a legal assistant in our firm.  She assists the Attorney and paralegals with all matters on client files.  She also answers the telephone to assist clients with scheduling appointments via telephone, zoom or in person or help them with an issue on their legal matter.  Taylor creates files and invoices and she scans in all documentation for clients along with recording deeds and business filings as needed.  Finally, Taylor assists with making sure all documentation for a client signing is printed and tabbed correctly for a smooth flow when the signing occurs and she serves as a witness at signings when needed.

Leah is the contract legal assistant who is learning the estate planning side of our practice. Leah creates drafts of numerous estate planning documents such as wills, durable powers of attorney, combination medical powers of attorney/directives to physicians, declarations of guardians, appointments for disposition of remains, and HIPAA authorizations for paralegal and attorney’s review and revision. In addition to assisting in the estate planning department, Leah handles communications with our clients and provides administrative services for the firm. Leah has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio that proves beneficial in her legal drafting.

Coralee (Corky) Hines is a contract receptionist working for the Akiens Law Firm, PLLC.  Corky works part time answering the phone, scheduling appointments and confirming appointments with clients.  She also takes messages for the Attorney and staff when they are busy with clients or on other legal matters.  When clients execute their Estate Planning at our Champions location, Corky usually serves as a witness at the same.