Karen Jean Hughes

Karen J. Hughes is a life-long Arkansan and Little Rock native. Her only years away from Little Rock were her four years at the University of Arkansas earning a degree in Psychology. During summers at home from college, Hughes worked at a local insurance company where she turned down a full-time employment opportunity to pursue a law school career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

While still in law school, Hughes was hired as a law clerk at Laser Law Firm. She graduated from law school in 1989 and was hired full-time as an insurance defense litigation attorney. Hughes practiced with Laser Law Firm for 15 years until she joined several of its former partners at Watts, Donovan & Tilley, PA in 2004. Hughes carried on her practice there until joining Smith, Williams & Meeks, LLP in the summer of 2013. In the summer of 2018, she became a partner and the firm became Smith, Williams, Hughes & Meeks, LLP.

In early 2020, Hughes was hired to bring her insurance background and litigation experience to Rainwater Holt & Sexton where she uses that experience to fight for injured Arkansans. Hughes is married to her high school sweetheart, enjoys all things Arkansas Razorbacks, as well as spending time with her family, children, and grandchildren. Hughes is excited and energized to be working in cases involving motor vehicle accidents with such a great group of experienced attorneys. “I love being able to use my insurance background to now represent injured clients and love the opportunity this firm allows me to make a difference in the lives of many Arkansans for years to come…” said Hughes.

Karen is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association and has practiced in State and Federal Courts statewide since 1989. She was awarded the W. A. Eldredge, Jr. Outstanding Young Trial Lawyer Award in 1999 and was nominated by her peers and inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2007 where she served as the Arkansas Chapter’s Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President before proudly taking the oath as the Arkansas Chapter President for 2024. She was recently recognized in the Best Lawyers of America publication and is also a member of Litigation Counsel of America, The National Trial Lawyer Honorary Society.