• Recognized as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters publication (2004-2009) and (2014-2015)
• Recognized in Construction Litigation and Municipal Litigation by Best Lawyers in America, a Woodward White, Inc. publication (2013-2020)

• Saint John’s University, Bachelor of Science – Finance, magna cum laude (1997)
• Southern Methodist University – Dedman School of Law, J.D.(2000)

• Texas Association of Defense Counsel (TADC), East Texas Vice President (2019-2020)
• Michelle F. Mehaffy Inn of Court, Member
• Jefferson County Bar Association, Member
• State Bar of Texas – Member

• Local Government and Municipal Law
• Business and Corporate
• Oil and Gas
• Insurance Litigation
• Personal Injury
• Product Liability
• Civil Litigation
• Eminent Domain
• Real Estate & Rights of Way
• Employment
• Non-Compete Disputes
• Construction Transactions and Litigation

Texas
US Supreme Court
5th District Court of Appeals
US District Courts:

• E.D. Texas
• W.D. Texas
• N.D. Texas
• S.D. Texas

• Represented Municipality against Water District on Breach of Water Supply Contract claim of approximately $1B in Damages and successfully settled matter for Municipality.
• Represented the River Authority in a dispute with landowner concerning the “ Winnie Lateral” and various claims of trespass and property damages alleged by landowners.
• Represented local school district opposing multi-family housing development before City Hall, leading to City Hall denying a requested variance to drainage and street access required for the development.
• Represented commercial landowner opposing commercial development before City Hall, leading to City Hall denying requested variance to landscaping and parking lot
• Represented local government in its application filed with and approved by the Texas Health and Human services Commission for licensing of nursing home and elderly care on private-public entity partnership between the local government and owner of a local nursing home company.
• Negotiated, drafted and finalized numerous master service agreements and supply contracts for local manufacturing and supply companies in Southeast Texas.
• Defended a number of industrial premise owners in Southeast Texas on a variety of negligence claims for property damage and personal injury claims, including death, burn and disfigurement claims.
• Obtained a defense verdict in favor of timber company client on a personal injury claim where man lost the use of one of his legs after he was jolted by an alleged defectively designed and constructed gate.
• Settled an electrocution case for a nationwide electrical service contractor whose subcontractor was electrocuted during a national disaster clean-up project following a local storm event.
• Negotiated and tried multiple matters before special commissioners on eminent domain matters for both the landowner and local government entity.
• Tried to verdict and handled the appeal of a construction dispute that a local government had with its construction contractor arising from the construction of a fire station in southeast Texas
• Represented local governments ( County and City) on collective bargaining negotiations and drafting of agreements with law enforcement employees
• Responded to and requested various public information act requests
• Regularly provided legal advice to local government in executive session and general session on a variety of land, contract and other legal matters
• Regularly attend and participate in commissioners court for local governmental entity to provide legal counsel on a variety of legal matters
• Drafted and advised local government on matters related to employee handbook, employee guidelines, and prohibition of gun signage on courthouse premises.
• Regularly represented, negotiated and drafted depository and other banking agreements between the local government and local banks.
• Defended local government on sex, race, age, and other discrimination claims in litigation during EEOC investigations
• Represented local government on contract negotiations with TXDOT on pass-through toll agreements and other road projects
• Represented local government for the negotiation and final agreement of various pipeline right-of-way agreements.
• Represented local government on wind farm negotiations
• Represented local governments for the negotiation and final agreement for the mineral lease of school lands in Crockett County, Texas
• Represented local government on the acquisition of drainage easements from landowners that were required for large scale, multimillion dollar drainage improvement projects in Southeast Texas
• Represented a number of clients in non-compete litigation including drafting of non-compete agreements and representing clients who prosecute or defend the alleged violation of these agreements.
• Represented business owner with negotiating the re-design of state highways with TXDOT
• Represented local HVAC contractor in contractual dispute with local state school arising from alleged construction defects and designs and the resolution of the dispute.
• Represented an oil and gas company in various real estate disputes and injunction proceedings related to the seismic surveying, development and drilling of oil and gas wells in southeast Texas.
• Represented an oil and gas company in litigation with another oil and gas company regarding seismic testing trespass claims
• Represented a number of clients defending and suing on personal injury claims arising from automobiles wrecks, including many fatalities and serious injuries.
• Tried to verdict and handled an appeal on a contractual dispute between a local manufacturer of oil field service and equipment and parts and an advertising agency.
• Helped lead an investigation following a petrochemical plant fire with a number of fatalities and severe burn injuries that lead to an OSHA investigation and a number of significant injury lawsuits filed in southeast Texas.