Catherine Hilliard

Catherine Tobin Hilliard is a partner, owner, and accomplished trial attorney whose practice focuses on complex, high-stakes litigation on behalf of individuals, families, and communities. A native of San Diego in Duval County, Texas, she brings a deep-rooted commitment to service and leadership to her work.

Catherine earned her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin and her Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where she was a member of the St. Mary’s Law Review. She began her career at Gonzales Hoblit Ferguson LLP, becoming the firm’s first female Hispanic partner and later its managing partner.

She joined Hilliard Law (formerly Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP) in 2010 and has since played a key role in complex litigation nationwide. In 2021, she was appointed by Brian R. Martinotti to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In re: Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2973. She was inducted into the Texas Bar Foundation in 2022.

Catherine is active in the American Bar Association and local bar associations and has served on the State Bar of Texas Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession Committee, as well as an adjunct professor at Del Mar College.

She is also a leader in the Coastal Bend community, serving as Chair of the Texas State Aquarium Board of Trustees and holding roles with numerous civic and educational organizations. From 2019 to 2023, she served as a Commissioner for the Port of Corpus Christi.

In 2026, Catherine and her husband, Bob Hilliard, were named Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Coastal Bend, recognizing their lasting impact across the Coastal Bend through community investment and leadership.