Deborah C. Trejo

Deborah C. Trejo is a partner in the firm's Trial Department and Public and Environmental Law Department focusing on representing governmental entities and private clients in administrative matters and in trial and appellate proceedings before state and federal courts. Ms. Trejo specializes in groundwater issues, open government, regulatory takings, endangered species, elections, water quality, constitutional issues, enforcement, permitting and litigation.

Ms. Trejo is a frequent author and speaker and has consistently been selected for inclusion by Best Lawyers in America in the area of Administrative/Regulatory and Environmental Law and was named a Top Attorney by Austin Monthly in Government and Administrative Law.

Prior to joining Kemp Smith, Ms. Trejo worked on the Texas-Mexico border as an Assistant District Attorney for Cameron County, Texas, where she was involved in extensive litigation in state courts. During law school, Ms. Trejo held clerkships in the law firm of Clifford Chance in London, the Texas Office of the Attorney General in Austin, TX, and El Centro Legal Campesino in New Mexico and served as an attorney in the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic representing clients in state trial and appellate proceedings and before state and federal administrative agencies. She was also part of a special Tulane delegation to Havana where she worked with members of Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment to translate Cuba’s Law No. 81 on the Environment.

Professional & Civic Involvement

Ms. Trejo is the author of several publications and a frequent speaker on environmental and water law, including a chapter on groundwater conservation districts and subsidence districts in the State Bar of Texas’ Essentials of Texas Water Resources.  

Ms. Trejo is a founder and board member of 22Q Texas, Inc. and spearheaded the effort to get the Texas Legislature to pass the first legislation in the world to increase awareness of 22q11.2 deletion (Velocardiofacial or DiGeorge) syndrome, the second most common genetic abnormality. Ms. Trejo was a member of Leadership Austin’s 2008 Essential Class.  She also serves on the board of Texas Women Lawyers, on the Austin Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities and was a founding member of the Coalition for Special Education Equity in Austin ISD and the Coalition for Bilingual Education Equity in Austin.  She is a member of the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas and is a volunteer with the Parent Teacher Student Association of Austin High School, the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas and the Texas Parent to Parent Network. 

• Austin Monthly Top Attorney in Government and Administrative Law 
• Austin Young Lawyers’ Association Pro Bono Challenge Winner
• Best Lawyers in America in Administrative/Regulatory and Environmental Law
• Save Barton Creek Association Teamwork Award
• Recognized City of Austin Community Volunteer during Winter Story Uri
• BSA Capital Area Council Armadillo District Norm Hummell Award