Kerlick returns to roots at Wharton law office
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons 1987 WHS graduate I. Ray Kerlick has joined the law practice of Wadler, Perches and Hundl.

Attorney I. Ray Kerlick is getting back closer to his roots. With 13 years of experience under his belt, Kerlick joined Wadler, Perches and Hundl in July.

The son of Irby and Helen Kerlick of Wharton, the 1987 graduate of Wharton High School is married to the former Kelly Wondrash of East Bernard.

They currently live in Katy with a daughter in high school and one in junior high school.

Kerlick earned his bachelor of arts degree with high honors from the University of Texas in Austin in 1991. He went on to get his jurisprudence degree from UT in 1994.

While at UT he roomed with John Perches from Wharton and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and was a Townes-Rice Scholar.

He joined Hoffman, Sutterfield, Ensenat & Bankston in Houston from 1994 to 1996 as an associate. Kerlick worked with civil litigation, maritime litigation and work for Lloyd's of London.

Kerlick moved to Houston's Bankston & Associates, P.C., from 1996 to 1998 as an associate and did personal injury litigation there.

In 1998 he joined Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams, L.L.P. as a partner. He was there until this year. His duties there included commercial and maritime litigation, Londonbased insurance work, setting insurance plans and commercial litigation in federal court cases. This included many cases with oil field companies.

After 13 years in Houston, Kerlick felt like he was not spending enough time with his family.

"John (Perches) had been telling me for three or four years that I would enjoy the lifestyle and practice here in Wharton," Kerlick said. "I also wanted to be more active in church."

He said his friend was right. "My practice has changed from long-distance over-the-phone work to face-to-face," he said. "I'm now helping people I know and loving that. I really didn't expect to.

"It is really neat coming back to my hometown," he said. "My parents are still here and I get to see people I've not seen in years."

He says he's still in transition, but has been more successful than he thought he would be. Kerlick says he's been well supported here and wants to be even more involved in the community.

Kerlick brings to the local practice experience with civil and commercial litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith claims, agent/broker litigation, experience with London markets and federal court litigation.

He is a member of the Houston, Federal and Wharton Bar Associations, Texas Association of Defense Counsel and Defense Research Institute.