Learn about Partner Andrew Woellner’s journey to become a lawyer and what motivates him to advocate for victims of bad-faith insurance practices:
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY?
I knew as early as the 6th grade that I was meant to be a lawyer – I was always very argumentative as a child. My grandfather and great-grandfather were both attorneys, so my mother always knew I would likely follow in their footsteps.
I chose to pursue a law degree as an adult because I had the desire to help people in need of legal counsel. It has always given me a sense of purpose and self-esteem when I am able to help people in need.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRACTICING LAW?
I have been practicing law for over 10 years now. I started in 2007 as a defense lawyer, defending major corporations in various types of litigation. I was at that firm until joining the Potts Law Firm in 2014. Most of my work when I initially started practicing involved representing insurance carriers after Hurricane Ike. I now represent policyholders with first-party disputes involving property damage across Texas, including from Hurricane Harvey.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING AN ATTORNEY?
I love being able to provide someone with the resolution they set out for. I really enjoy getting victims the compensation that is rightfully theirs.
DESCRIBE A MEMORABLE STORY OF A CLIENT? WHAT WAS SO MEMORABLE ABOUT THIS CLIENT?
I once represented a janitor pro bono who was a victim of identity theft. This man came to me extremely troubled because his previous roommate had stolen several of his credit cards and destroyed his credit.
He was constantly being harassed by debt collectors who had purchased his debt from other credit companies. I was able to expunge these debts by questioning the legitimacy of the debt collector’s claims.
Because they had sold the debt countless times, they were unable to provide any original documentation of the charges they were accusing him of, so they had no choice but to withdraw their requests for payment.
WHAT ARE SOME MAJOR CASES YOU’VE WORKED ON OR ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
I am currently working on Hurricane Harvey inverse condemnation cases from the San Jacinto release of water from Lake Conroe. I also recently passed the Puerto Rico Bar to help victims of Hurricane Maria. I mainly handle property damage cases.
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY THING THAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER ATTORNEYS? IN OTHER WORDS, WHY DO YOUR CLIENTS CHOOSE TO WORK WITH YOU AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE ELSE?
I think clients enjoy working with me because I do not give up easily. I am relentless and work harder than most. A client has never come to me for help on their case and walked away with nothing.