Karen Koehler, aka the Velvet Hammer, is the Senior Managing Partner at Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore, a plaintiff trial law firm that exclusively handles catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and civil rights cases. She is best known for achieving the landmark $123M verdict against Ride the Ducks —the largest nonpunitive plaintiff personal injury trial verdict in state history. Recently she achieved a $44.7 Million jury verdict in a motorcycle v. car crash in 2022 – the largest collectible motorcycle crash verdict in the country.

She is the past president of the Washington State Association of Justice, past WSAJ Trial Lawyer of the Year and, the recipient of the National Melvin Belli Award in 2019. She has lived in Seattle since the age of 4, has 3 children, 2 grandchildren and, a spaniel named Nala.