Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Van Holten.
Karen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Fifteen years ago I started as the receptionist at a title company, answering phones, greeting clients, making cookies and filing paperwork. I fell in love with title work and the problem solving that it requires and continued on my career path working as an escrow assistant then escrow officer. After a year, I started law school, going to school at night while continuing to work full time during the day.
During law school, I accepted a new position examining title and preparing chains of title for closings for over 40 states, where I learned how to cure many title clouds in both residential and commercial transactions. I was fortunate to be able to study in Egypt for a summer, learning all about international petroleum transactions. After finishing law school, I moved to Houston and started working with a foreclosure title firm while I obtained my LLM (Master of Laws) focused on energy, natural resources and environmental law from the University of Houston Law School.
While at U of H, I was mentored by one of the most successful women in oil and gas, Jacqueline Weaver, who by happenstance one day was sitting next to the principal attorney of a boutique oil and gas firm who was looking to hire new attorneys. Upon her recommendation, I was offered an interview and then a position with a prestigious law firm in the Galleria area. Of course, I accepted it. When your very successful mentor suggests you make a career move, you listen. In the beginning, I practiced Texas law exclusively. I spent almost four years drafting title opinions and reviewing documents for some of the major players in the oil and gas business.
This amazing opportunity allowed me to learn so much about title and the energy business. During my time there I obtained my licenses to practice in Ohio and New Mexico as well. My fourth year in, I was accepted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. During a trip to Washington DC to be sworn in before the Court, I told my husband that when we returned to Houston I was going quit my job. Knowing that I loved my job, my husband was quite surprised, so he asked me, “well, then what?” I knew that I wanted to interact with people more than what my current position was allowing.
I wanted to be able to really connect with my clients and help them with their legal needs. I told my husband that I was going to open a law firm and a title company office and see which one I liked best. There is great joy in being part of a person’s closing on a new house or selling an old house and beginning a new chapter. There is great satisfaction in solving problems that take critical thinking and an out of the box mentality. I knew both of these efforts would provide both great joy and great satisfaction.
I started in a small office in Old Katy, where I worked daily on my skills and personal network. For the law firm, I offered estate planning, probate, business and real estate services. For the title company, I opened my own office working in the contract for a title agency. Last year, with the help of some investors, I opened Monarch Title of Texas, a licensed title insurance agency. There is a sort of magic that goes along with helping buyers and sellers through the stress of the home buying/selling process that you only experience in the closing room and I love it.
I continue to work with legal clients as the principal attorney of Van Holten Law Firm, which has a total of four attorneys now, assisting clients with probate in Fort Bend and Harris counties, estate planning, business formation and management, real estate, oil and gas, and litigation and disputes. Although I keep busy with business, I make sure I have time to be active in the community through networking and volunteer organizations. I am proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the Fulshear Police Foundation and Arts Fulshear and wouldn’t miss an event hosted by the Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working for yourself is always a challenge, no matter what business you are in.
Sometimes, you feel like you are volunteering, since the paychecks do not come regularly and nobody is paying you overtime. But, you work hard. I worked more hours for myself than I ever worked for anyone else. In the beginning, you have more time than money so you do a lot of tasks yourself that others may pay to have done.
I answered the phone, in the beginning, every time it rang because I had nobody else to do it. The biggest hurdle for a solo practice attorney, however, is learning to say no. Not every client is going to work out and not every issue is a good matter to accept. You really have to spend your time focusing on areas you enjoy to keep your momentum.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Monarch Title of Texas and Van Holten Law Firm – what should we know?
Many other title companies boast about their customer service and how they go above and beyond. At Monarch Title, above and beyond is our everyday routine. Great customer service should not be a selling point but should be a given. Our problem-solving skills are what set us apart from other companies.
My background in all areas of title, both as a practicing attorney and years working in an escrow office really makes a difference in my approach to real estate transactions. My team is phenomenal and loves learning new ways to help clients every day.
At Van Holten Law Firm, we pride ourselves on very personal service. Working with an attorney can often be stressful, but we are known for guiding our clients through difficult matters with care and diligence. We strive to be attorneys that clients can trust and talk to with ease.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
When I was a little girl, my mom told me that if I learned to read, I could do anything. She would go to the library and check out all of the books that I had the read-along tapes and I went through every single one that the library had. I haven’t stopped reading since.
I know other parents tell their children that they can do anything if they put their mind to it, but my mom’s words were more. I read to learn and that has helped me be successful more than anything else because it gave me a deep thirst for knowledge. If I don’t know the answer, I know I can find it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vanhotlenlawfirm.com and www.monarchtitleoftexas.com
- Phone: 832-404-6190
- Email: kvh@vanholtenlaw.com; kvh@mtotx.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monarchtitleoftexas/
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