Karen E. Gross
Clemency & Pardon Representation
Providing thoughtful legal representation for individuals seeking pardons, clemency, and opportunities for restoration.
Leadership & Organizational Consulting
Supporting teams and institutions strengthen trust, advance their mission, build capacity, navigate conflict, and work better together.
Public Affairs & Strategic Advising
Helping leaders, campaigns, and mission-driven organizations communicate clearly, build coalitions, and navigate moments that require strategy, trust, and alignment.
Facilitation & Dialogue Design
Creating structured conversations that help people listen, disagree, solve problems, and move forward.
Credentials
Karen’s career has taken her from city hall to courtrooms to community spaces where difficult conversations happen. She has worked as a policy advisor, criminal defense attorney, clemency lawyer, community leader, educator, and facilitator. Across every role, she has focused on helping people and organizations find a way forward when communication breaks down, trust is tested, or the stakes are high.
Bar Admission Texas, 2009
University of Texas at Austin, BA, 2001
University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 2009
Legal Experience:
Of Counsel, Carmichael Ellis & Brock, PLLC (Alexandria, VA)
Staff Attorney, Clemency Project 2014, Washington, DC
Criminal defense attorney 2014-2018
Texas Super Lawyer 2016-2019
Civic Experience:
Founder, Citizen Discourse · CD Consulting
Community Director, Austin Anti-Defamation League
Policy Director, Austin City Council Member
Voter Protection Deputy Director
Testimonials / Articles
Pardons:
“Karen represented me in my successful petition for a pardon in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This outcome is huge for me since this means I can now take the next steps towards becoming a citizen.”
Abdul Q.
“I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and professionalism that Karen Gross provided throughout my pardon process. From our first conversation, she took the time to explain every step, answered all of my questions, and made what could have been an overwhelming experience much easier to navigate. Karen was knowledgeable, responsive, compassionate, and always kept me informed. Thanks to her dedication, expertise, and commitment to my case, I successfully received my pardon. I highly recommend Karen Gross to anyone seeking experienced, trustworthy, and caring legal representation. She truly made a life-changing difference for me.”
VS
Carmichael Ellis & Brock Celebrates Victory for Clemency Client Under Biden’s Historic Grant
In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden granted clemency to 2,490 men and women, setting them on a course to freedom from incarceration.
While most of my federal clients are petitioning for a pardon—an official act of forgiveness—clemency clients are incarcerated and praying for a shortened sentence. My client Darayvon was the poster child for clemency: a nonviolent offender who had already served 12 years of his sentence and still had 8 years to go. He took accountability, enrolled in every educational and workforce training program available, and stayed out of trouble…
CD Consulting
“One thing I’m thankful for: The retreat Karen Gross recently led for my editing team at The Texas Newsroom. We work in different cities around Texas, and the daylong event helped us connect with each other, build trust and focus on shared values. I highly recommend Karen and her company’s approach. She also happens to be a true fan of public radio.”
Corrie MacLaggan
Building capacity for difficult dialogue and equipping teams with practical skills to navigate conflict.
Through restorative facilitation, evidence-based emotional intelligence practices, and a proven conversation methodology, CD Consulting helps organizations strengthen culture, improve collaboration, and navigate complex challenges with more humanity.