People

Mary Margaret Roark Baker Botts Austin
Mary Margaret Roark
Special Counsel
Mary Margaret Roark Baker Botts Austin
Mary Margaret Roark
Special Counsel

Overview

Mary Margaret Roark represents clients in civil matters across the nation in both federal and state courts. Her practice spans a variety of subject matters including securities fraud, entertainment, intellectual property, and energy. She has substantial experience in all aspects of complex, high stakes civil litigation including managing large scale discovery projects, briefing and arguing dispositive motions, taking and defending depositions, and presenting and cross-examining witnesses in jury trials. Mary Margaret also has a robust appellate practice, where she has prepared numerous appellate briefs in both state and federal courts and has presented appellate oral arguments for a number of clients with favorable outcomes.

Before joining Baker Botts, Mary Margaret clerked for the Honorable Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht of the Supreme Court of Texas for the 2017-2018 term.

Mary Margaret also devotes a significant amount of her time and energy to pro bono representation in the State of Texas. She serves on the Board of Directors for Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas and is on the Leadership Council for the Andy Roddick Foundation.

Admissions & Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas
  • Barrister, Robert W. Calvert Chapter, American Inns of Court
  • Austin Bar Association and Austin Young Lawyers Association Leadership Academy Graduate, Class of 2025
  • Travis County Women Lawyers' Foundation, Fellow
  • Travis County Women Lawyers' Association, Member
  • Austin Young Lawyers Association, Leadership Academy Committee Member
  • Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, Board of Directors, 2022-present
  • Austin Bar Association, Member

Education

  • J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law 2016
    Robert J. Farley Award Recipient
    2016 Phi Delta Phi Outstanding Graduate
  • B.S., Mississippi State University 2013
    summa cum laude

Experience

  • Obtained dismissal of a suit by over 2,000 plaintiffs against an energy client related to a discharge of oil.
  • Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a transportation network company in a case stemming from an alleged assault of a passenger.
  • Represented a corporate client in defending against claims by the DOJ and a whistleblower after the client acquired a company that marketed opioid products.
  • Represented an energy client in multiple consolidated actions in federal court regarding a storage tank explosion.
  • Represented a talent agent in an arbitration concerning the payment of royalties and commissions from numerous licensing agreements.
  • Represented a court-appointed receiver in numerous lawsuits and appeals related to a multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.
  • Served as first-chair in a federal jury trial regarding a Section 1983 claim for excessive use of force.
  • Represented an energy provider in litigation resulting from Winter Storm Uri.
  • Presented appellate argument in the Fifth Circuit obtaining reversal of judgment depriving client of commercial property in a contract dispute.
  • Presented appellate argument in the Fifth Circuit obtaining reversal of a dismissal of client's suit on a procedural issue.
  • Presented appellate argument in Texas court of appeals obtaining a favorable decision protecting an industry licensing organization from a claim that it was an unlawful monopoly.
  • Represented land owner in Texas court of appeals securing reversal of the district court regarding a property law issue concerning mineral classified lands.
  • Represented an energy client in securing the ability to construct a significant natural gas pipeline expansion.
  • Obtained dismissal of client from a multi-district pharmaceutical litigation.
  • Obtained dismissal on behalf of a trustee involved in a commercial development dispute based on a mandatory arbitration provision.
  • Represented a former professional athlete in a proceeding before the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Awards and Community

Recognized as "One to Watch" by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White), 2024 & 2025

National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition Champion, 2015 & 2016