Lisa Kaufman

Lisa Kaufman is a force in Texas government affairs! Admired for her command of policy, her strategic instincts, and her ability to bring people together to solve the toughest problems. As Founding Partner of Davis Kaufman PLLC, she draws on more than two decades of experience navigating both the legislative and executive branches, earning the respect of lawmakers, staff, and stakeholders across the state.

“Lisa is a force to be reckoned with,” one nominator shared. “She’s an amazing person to work with and a role model.” Those who have worked alongside her echo that sentiment, describing a leader whose mix of intellect, grace, and grit sets the tone for how advocacy should be done.

Before founding the firm in 2012 with partner Denise Davis, Lisa served as Director of Budget & Policy and Special Counsel to Speaker Joe Straus, where she helped steer major policy negotiations and the state budget through two of the most challenging sessions in recent history. Her earlier career included more than a decade in the Texas Senate, where she served as General Counsel to Senator Robert Duncan and Committee Director for both the Senate Jurisprudence and State Affairs Committees.

A certified mediator and Fellow at the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at the University of Texas School of Law, Lisa continues to lead with the same collaborative mindset that has defined her career. She also serves on the Executive Committee of Austin’s ZACH Theatre, the Anti-Defamation League Board of Directors, and is a founding board member of Dress for Success Austin.

As one of this year’s Female Powerhouse of the Year honorees, Lisa Kaufman represents the intelligence, integrity, and influence that define Texas’s most exceptional women in government affairs.