Accolades & Recognition

Areas of Practice
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • "Super Lawyer" (a Thomson Reuters service, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,2011, 2012, 2013, as published in Texas Monthly magazine)
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
  • Listed in U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" (2013)
  • Selected as an "H" Magazine "Lawyer for the People" (2008, 2010)
  • Selected as an "H" Magazine "Houston Top Lawyer" (2008, 2010)
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization
    • Board Member (2004 - 2010)
    • Chairman (2007 - 2009)
  • Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • Sustaining Life Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
  • Federal Court Advisory Council (1988-1991)
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
    • Associate Director 1992-1998
    • Director 1998 - 2009
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association
  • Houston Bar Association
    • Continuing Legal Education Committee (1984 - 1991)
  • State Bar of Texas
  • South Texas College of Law Alumni Association
    • President and Chairman of the Board 1987 - 1989
    • Vice President 1986 - 1987
    • Secretary 1985 - 1986

LEGAL WRITING AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • May 14, 2008
    • Lectured at Houston Bar Association program on the subject of Damages in Business Litigation
  • August 16-17, 2007
    • Lectured at South Texas College of Law, "Personal Injury/Automobile Injury Conference," Houston, TX, on the subject of Probate Issues in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • September 26-27, 2002
    • Lectured at Texas Trial Lawyers Association "13th Annual Medical Malpractice Conference," Houston, TX: Privilege or Posturing, You Make the Call
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • September 20-21, 2001
    • Lectured at Texas Trial Lawyers Association, "12th Annual Medical Malpractice Conference," Houston, TX: Sovereign Immunity: Can the Citizen Sue the State for Medical Malpractice?
    • Co-authored written materials for seminar book
  • July 11-13, 2001/August 1-3, 2001/August 22-24, 2001
    • Lectured at State Bar of Texas program, "Advanced Personal Injury Law Course," Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, TX on the subject of Settlements: The Simple, The Subtle, and The Sublime
    • Co-authored written materials for seminar book
  • September 2000
    • Co-Author of Gems in the Health & Safety Code and in Article 4495b: Diamonds or Rhinestones? Texas Trial Lawyers Association, "11th Annual Medical Malpractice Conference"
  • May 1999
    • Lectured at University of Houston Law Center seminar, "Civil Discovery Under the New Rules," Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, TX, on subject of Unanswered Questions and Ambiguities in the New Rules: Looking Toward the First Appellate Decisions
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • January 17-18, 1997
    • Lectured at State Bar of Texas program, "Annual Litigation Update Institute," Austin, TX, on subject of Cutting Edge Issues with Experts
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • November 15-16, 1996
    • Lectured at State Bar of Texas Legal Assistants Division program, "Advanced Civil Trial Law Course for Legal Assistants," Houston, TX, on subject of The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act-The Basics
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • November 12, 1996
    • Lectured at "Litigation Services Symposium," Houston, TX, on subject of Legal Valuation Methods
    • Co-Authored written materials for seminar book
  • September 19-20, 1996
    • Co-Author, How Early Settlements Can Ruin Your Case at Trial, Texas Trial Lawyers Association "7th Annual Medical Malpractice Conference"
  • July 10-12, 1996/July 24-26, 1996/August 7-9, 1996
    • Co-Author, Contribution and Indemnity, State Bar of Texas "Advanced Personal Injury Law Course"
  • April 25-26, 1996/May 2-3, 1996
    • Co-Author, Contribution, Indemnity and Complex Settlement Agreements, Texas Trial Lawyers Association "Advanced Personal Injury Course"
  • November 30-31, 1995/December 7-8, 1995
    • Lectured at University of Houston Continuing Legal Education program, "Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation," on subject of Dealing With The Insolvent (or Maybe Insolvent) Defendant
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • January 20-21, 1995
    • Lectured at State Bar of Texas Legal Assistants Division program, "Advanced Civil Trial Law Course for Legal Assistants," Houston, TX, on subject of The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act-The Basics
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • September 25, 1993
    • Lectured at Houston Court Reporters Association program, "Official Court Reporters Seminar," on subject of Motion Practice in Civil District Court
    • Authored written materials for seminar book
  • December 1992
    • Lectured at State Bar of Texas Professional Development Program, "5th Annual Evidence and Discovery Course," on subject of Interesting and Unique Evidence Problems
    • Co-Authored written materials for seminar book
  • April 1987
    • Co-Author, Frivolous Appeals in Texas, 50 Tex. B.J. 358 (April 1987). Spring 1984
    • Research and editorial assistance to Judge David Hittner in preparation of Summary Judgments in Texas, 35 Baylor L. Rev. 207.
  • Fall 1983
    • Lectured at South Texas College of Law, University of Houston College of Law, and Houston Bar Association programs, "Saturday Morning in Court," on subject of District Court Procedures in Texas
  • Spring 1983
    • Author, Is it Time for Texas to Amend Rule 215c to Adopt Guidelines for Taking Videotape Depositions?, 24 S. Tex. L.J. 225 (1983).
  • February 1983
    • Lectured at Houston Bar Association Program, "Civil Practice and Procedure Institute," on subject of Videotape Depositions
    • Co-Authored written materials for seminar book
  • Fall 1982
    • Author, Perry v. Hinshaw, Effect of a Condition of Survivorship on Determination of Class Gifts in Wills, 24 S. Tex. L.J. 381 (1983).
  • October 1982
    • Lectured at Houston Bar Association program, "Saturday Morning in Court," on subject of District Court Procedures in Texas
  • July 1982
    • Co-Author, Texas Court Reporters Desk Reference Manual published by Texas Shorthand Reporters Association
  • February 1982
    • Lectured at University of Houston College of Law on subject of District Court Procedures in Texas
  • October 1981
    • Lectured at Houston Bar Association program, "Saturday Morning in Court," on subject of District Court Procedures in Texas
EDUCATION:
South Texas College of Law
Houston, Texas
Doctor of Jurisprudence (summa cum laude) May 1984
Class Standing - First in Class (GPA: 91.55)
  • South Texas Law Journal:
    • Associate Editor-in-Chief, Comments (Summer, Fall 1983)
    • Associate Editor-in-Chief, Technical (Spring 1983)
    • Assistant Technical Editor (Summer, Fall 1982)
  • West Publishing Company Annual Hornbook Student Awards - 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 (Highest GPA in First, Second and Third-Year Classes)
  • American Jurisprudence Awards:
    • Agency & Partnership;
    • Commercial Law I;
    • Contracts;
    • Criminal Law;
    • Criminal Procedure;
    • Federal Procedure;
    • Procedure I;
    • Procedure II;
    • Property
    • Marital Property;
    • Torts II;
    • Wills, Trusts & Estates
  • Mock Trial Competitions:
    • Varsity Competitions:
      • ATLA Mock Trial Team: First Place in Region, Third Place in Nation, Spring 1984
      • National Mock Trial Team: Spring 1983, Spring 1984
    • Intraschool Competitions:
      • First Place, Fall 1983
      • Best Advocate and Finalist, Summer 1982
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Order of the Lytae (Honorary Academic Society)
  • Dean’s Student Service Award
  • Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity
  • President, South Texas Chapter, Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • SBA Merit Award
University of Houston (Downtown Campus)
Houston, Texas
Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in Business and Commerce (Major: Accounting) December 1980
GPA: 4.0

BAR ADMISSIONS:
  • State Bar of Texas (May 1984)
  • United States District Court
  • (Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas)
  • United States Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit)
  • United States Supreme Court
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS:
  • Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1993)
  • Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1999)