Botkin Chiarello Calaf PLLC

Partner

Clients call María Amelia Calaf in times of crisis, when immediate action is required.  A seasoned first chair litigator, María Amelia practices complex commercial litigation with a focus on non-compete, non-solicit, and trade secret litigation. María Amelia has a track record of both helping clients protect their trade secrets and defeating unsubstantiated accusations of misappropriation.

Alongside her practice in trade secret litigation, María Amelia also regularly represents clients in disputes concerning business torts, breach of contract, defamation, and constitutional challenges. She has represented clients in a wide range of industries including life sciences, financial services, ag-biotech, oil and gas, renewable energy, semiconductor trading, mortgage companies, online publishers, defense contractors, software developers, and digital media companies. A trusted partner to her clients, María Amelia provides clear-eyed strategic advice that is results oriented and allows clients to make informed business decisions. She is a fierce advocate when litigation is called for, and helps clients understand when a negotiated resolution is the wiser course. In addition to her legal practice, she is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Law, where she teaches a seminar on trade secrets.

María Amelia also has significant experience litigating against the State of Texas. As the former Manager for Complex Litigation for the Attorney General of Texas, she leverages her knowledge of state government to help clients involved in actions against the State of Texas. She is particularly well-versed in pursuing constitutional challenges to state regulation, prosecuting disputes in the state’s administrative tribunals, and navigating Texas Public Information Act (PIA) requests.

María Amelia has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters, as one of Austin’s Top Attorneys by Austin Monthly, and by The Best Lawyers in America. In 2024 Austin Women named her one of Austin’s Changemakers and in 2022, Texas Lawyer recognized María Amelia as a Diversity and Inclusion Champion for her commitment to opening doors for women and minorities, especially Latina lawyers. María Amelia is a member of the Latina Commission for the Hispanic National Bar Association and founded a group dedicated to advancing Latina lawyers.

María Amelia is licensed to practice in Texas and New York. Before moving to Texas, she practiced securities and commercial litigation in the New York offices of Goodwin Procter and Boies Schiller Flexner. She began her career as a law clerk for the Honorable Jon P. McCalla in the Western District of Tennessee. María Amelia is a native Spanish speaker.

English, Spanish

University of Texas School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Trade Secret Law Hispanic National Bar Association, Latina Commission 2022 to present; Latina Executive Leadership Program, 2021-2022 Austin Women’s Fund, Grants Committee, 2021-2022; Steering Committee, 2022 to present Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association (MAMAs), Board Member, 2017 to present Travis County Women’s Lawyers, Member and Mentor, 2019 to present Austin Bar Association, Litigation Section Board Member, 2020-2022 Texas Minority Counsel Program, Steering Committee Member, 2018-2021 Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court, Barrister, 2016-2019 ATX Kids, Board Member, 2017-2020 State Bar of Texas Foundation, Fellow

J.D., Cornerstone Scholar, University of Chicago Law School, 2003 B.S.F.S., Georgetown University, 1996