HOW THE BEST LAWYERS STACK UP

Jeffreys, Brenda Sapino

DALLAS LAWYERS DEFY CATEGORIZAtion. Being a lawyer in Dallas means more than lunching at the Tower Club, The Palm, or The Mansion. It means paying attention to client needs and building firms that are sprawling across Texas and the country, but it also means working in politics or joining lawyer groups or simply showing some flamboyance. Dallas has spawned its share of big-name lawyers: Robert Strauss, the former ambassador to the Soviet Union and chairman of the Democratic National Committee; Fred Baron, the plaintiffs' lawyer who made a name in asbestos litigation and now heads the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; and the recently deceased Henry Wade, the longtime Dallas County DA who prosecuted Jack Ruby for killing Lee Harvey Oswara, racked up the biggest winning percentage in the history of criminal prosecution, and was the Wade in Roe v. Wade.

Dallas attorneys may still benefit from the aura of the Dallas TV series, which ended its 13-year prime time run in 1991. William Cobb, a law firm consultant in Houston, says that when he attends International Bar Association meetings in Europe, European lawyers assume he's from Dallas because he's from Texas. "From the world's perspective, those who've watched Dallas in reruns forever, Dallas has got great lawyers," he says. "From the national perspective, it's sort of mixed."

Just how are Dallas firms faring on the national scene? Do the names of Dallas firms roll off the tongues of in-house attorneys at corporations responsible for hiring lawyers to try their suits or do their deals? Boutique firms with niche practices get their names out by becoming go-to firms for particular kinds of lawsuits, such as those filed over the diet-drug duo fen/phen or airplane crashes or accidents in Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires. That can work for large law firms as well. But large law firms make their name outside the DallasFort Worth area either because they make an ungodly amount of money, or because some of their partners are the best in their fields or really, really good at attracting public attention. For the most part, though, the route to a high national profile is by busting out of Dallas city limits, putting lawyers in other Texas cities, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Some Dallas firms spend more time and money on that job than others.

Dallas legal recruiter Geoffrey Lee puts New York, Washington, LA, Chicago, and San Francisco in the top tier of law firm markets. Dallas, along with Houston, Atlanta, and Denver, comprise a "very close second tier" of firms in Lee's view. "Dallas has a pretty high profile because of the diversity of firms that are here-a really eclectic mix of homegrown firms, Texas-based firms that are prominent nationally, and a lot of branch offices of high-profile national firms," says Lee, who has measured the Dallas market for more than a decade. Others, like Kenneth Menges Jr., the lawyer who manages the Dallas office of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, concede the top tier belongs to New York and Washington. But Menges puts Dallas in the same category as Houston, LA, Atlanta, and San Francisco. "Los Angeles as a legal market is exactly like Dallas and Atlanta, dominated by middle-market entrepreneurial companies," he says. "To be frank, Dallas firms are primarily known as first-rate regional law firms. And unlike Houston, which has three firms that can legitimately claim reputations of national proportion, at least in certain areas, Dallas has never had as many as three."

Menges' firm is by far the largest firm based in Texas, with 1,038 lawyers in 13 cities. But he doesn't consider Akin, Gump a Dallas firm anymore. He describes it as a national firm founded in Dallas. The firm has twice as many lawyers in Washington as in Dallas-305 compared to 158-and its managing partner works out of the D.C. office, which opened in 1971. Jenkens & Gilchrist, the next largest Dallas-based firm, is trying like Akin, Gump to move from a regional base to a national footing. In January, Jenkens entered the New York market by merging with a 125-lawyer firm called Parker Chapin based in Manhattan. That gives Jenkens eight offices, including outposts in Chicago, LA, and Washington. New York was a must, says David Laney, the lawyer who runs the firm. But Jenkens has even a larger expansion in mind. During an interview with Texas Lawyer in 1998, Roger Hayse, the firm's executive director, gestured to a floor-to-ceiling map of the world in his office and said, "This is where we plan our world conquest."

Litigation firm Bickel & Brewer has had a New York office for years. Akin, Gump and Jenkens are the only large Dallas firms with New York offices. "It's impossible to have a substantial national reputation without a substantial New York office," Menges says. "It's the money center of the world."

Then there's Haynes and Boone, which may not have a New York office but is building a "super-regional" firm, to use the words of partner Mike Boone. It has offices in the five largest cities in Texas, Washington, and Mexico City. Boone says the firm will add lawyers in D.C. and a New York office, probably in 2002, because, he says, "it would just help us leverage off our offices here."

Richard Johnson is managing partner of Baker Botts in Houston, but he spent a dozen years managing the firm's Dallas office. Johnson says that when he arrived in Dallas in 1985 he found "great lawyers, but not great law firms." It was his sense the firms were focused on building regional reputations, not national ones. Johnson says he was surprised to find that clients, even from Dallas-based companies, were more likely to hire New York lawyers to represent them in betthe-company litigation or big deals than to hire lawyers from firms indigenous to Dallas. That wasn't the case in Houston, he says, where the Big Three had developed national reputations much earlier. Until the last three to five years, most Dallas firms have pursued a regional strategy, he points out, and major clients around the country recognize that.

"That's not to say that's the wrong strategy," he notes.

IT MAY NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE whether a large law firm is based in Dallas or Houston. All large Texas firms are regional, if not national, in reach and mind-set. Most have offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, and maybe San Antonio as well. The Big Three Houston firms-Fulbright & Jaworski, Vinson & Elkins, and Baker Botts-all have large Dallas outposts, and they have had better success in growing offices in North Texas than Dallas firms have had in growing their Houston offices. Locke Liddell & Sapp was born in the January 1999 merger between

Dallas' Locke Purnell Rain Harrell and Houston's Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon. It was a merger of equals; both firms were about 200 lawyers strong when they combined. Since the merger, lawyers have insisted the firm is headquartered in both cities. And until Dallas lawyer Harriet Miers left the firm to go to work for longtime client George W. Bush, the firm had two managing partners, one in Dallas and one in Houston.

But the Dallas and Houston legal markets developed differently. In Houston, the Big Three dominate. Fulbright, V&E, and Baker Botts have been in existence for decades. Even their names are institutional, and the lawyers who gave the firms those names are no longer practicing (or living). It was unheard of for a partner in one of the Big Three to jump to one of the others.

Until recently, the story has been different in Dallas. Firms would grow, but not to the size of the Houston Big Three, because lawyers were much more likely to flit from firm to firm. "For whatever reason, Dallas has more large firms, but not dominantly large firms, than probably any other major legal market in the country," says Mike Baggett, managing partner of Winstead Sechrest & Minick in Dallas and past president of the Dallas Bar Association.

Larry Prescott, who's done legal recruiting in Texas for 20 years, says the Dallas market has always been more fluid than Houston's. "The Dallas firms would get up to about 50 lawyers, 50 or 60 in size, and they would break up. You just didn't have these large law firms that had been in place for years and years," Prescott says. While Dallas lawyers kept their bags packed, the Texas legal market slumped in the late 1980s and contracted in the early '90s as the economy struggled. Some Dallas firms were forced to lay off lawyers. Law firm profits suffered in 1992 and 1993. But out of those lows came growth as the economy recovered. Law firm profits began to recover during fiscal 1994. Dallas firms began opening more offices in Houston and elsewhere.

SO WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT that helped Dallas firms ascend to the national scene? "It's more of an evolution of things than revolution," says Michael Lynn, a partner in litigation firm Lynn Tillotson & Pinker. He says the litigation morass stemming from the failure of savings and loans helped some

Dallas lawyers gain national reputations and contacts. Lee, the legal recruiter, suggests Dallas firms are growing to national prominence because the economy is diversifying away from the energy business of the old economy to the technology and telecommunications businesses of the new economy.

Menges of Akin, Gump sees two trends playing a part in the emergence of Dallas' legal stature. First is the recognition in the 1980s by some large and powerful national firms, like Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue of Cleveland and Weil, Gotshal & Manges of New York, that Dallas is a place where they need to have lawyers on the ground. Both opened outposts in Dallas. While those national firms were moving into Dallas, so were the Big Three Houston firms. The second development, according to Menges, was a change in attitude by some Dallas firms, like his, to aggressively expand nationally. "What Akin, Gump has tried to do is achieve critical mass in its crucial cities," he says. "In New York, we're still building to critical mass; we're at 150 [lawyers] and growing."

THE LEGAL BUSINESS IS CYCLICAL. Fortunately for large firms, litigation and bankruptcy work is usually up when deal work is down, a sitnation that works as a hedge. With the economic boom over the last five years, transactional lawyers-those helping corporations with mergers and acquisitions and raising money-have been swamped. Finns have had trouble hiring enough transactional lawyers to handle the work. Associate salaries went sky-high-big Texas law firms now pay a going rate of $115,000 to first-year lawyers-in part because Texas firms were following the lead of California firms weary of losing lawyers to dot.coms. But while Dallas firms are benefiting in a big way from the deluge of deal work, big New York firms still grab the lion's share of the prominent mergers and acquisitions and equity deals. That's not to say Dallas firms are lacking in important transactional work. But Fortune 100 companies tend to go to a group of New York City firms for help from lawyers to guide them through mergers and acquisitions or help them raise money through private financings or public offerings.

According to The American Lawyer's Corporate Scorecard, not a single Dallas-based firm is among the 35 U.S. firms that worked on the most big-ticket mergers and acquisitions in 2000. One Texas firm, Baker Botts, was ranked 18th on the list for representing principals in deals valued at $46 billion. Baker Botts and the rest of the Houston trio, V&E and Fulbright, are on the rankings for representing issuers or underwriters in public offerings in the United States. Dallas-based firms aren't on those rankings either.

Then there's litigation.

Dallas has always had a cadre of top-notch plaintiffs' lawyers with reputations that extend well outside Dallas. Besides Baron, whose firm, Baron & Budd, handles asbestos litigation across the country, there's John Howie, a partner in Howie & Sweeney, who is known for his aircraft lawsuits. Another is Windle Turley, who won the first crashworthiness suit against an airline manufacturer. And Kip Petroff and Robert Kisselburgh, partners in Petroff & Kisselburgh, are winning acclaim in fen/phen litigation. They are the first plaintiffs' lawyers in the nation to try a fen/phen suit in front of a jury. They won a $23.4 million verdict in Canton that set the stage for a $3.75 billion global settlement.

The strong plaintiffs bar in Dallas is leading to a higher profile for defense attorneys as well, suggests Bill Sims, a partner in V&E in Dallas. Over the last five or six years, Sims says he's getting interviewed more and more by major national companies interested in hiring him as the lead lawyer on big litigation, not just a Texas lawyer hired to smooth the way at a Texas courthouse with a Texas jury. The old paradigm called for a New York counsel handling the case with assistance from a local counsel. But now, Sims says, the corporate lawyers in charge of hiring outside lawyers for litigation simply bypass New York counsel and select Texas lawyers for the job. "It is due in part to the fact we have a very healthy plaintiffs commercial lawyer group who are aggressive in pursuing cases," he says. "If you look across the country, where are the biggest lawsuits being filed? Most of them are being filed in Texas."

But the bottom line really is about money. Akin, Gump, Jenkens, and Locke Liddell are on the Am Law 100, a ranking of the nation's highest-grossing law firms in 1999 prepared by The American Lawyer. Another six Dallas firmsHaynes and Boone, Gardere & Wynne, Thompson & Knight, Winstead Sechrest & Minick, Jackson Walker, and Hughes & Luce-are on the Am Law 200, a list of the next 100 firms in the country, also ranked by gross revenues. The gross revenues for 1999 for those Dallas-based firms range from $360 million for Akin, Gump to $62.9 million for Hughes & Luce. But the profits per partner-the money each partner earns after all overhead is paid-probably gives a better sense of how well the firm is doing. A look at the profits per partner of those firms ranges from an average of $590,000 for each partner in Akin, Gump to $332,000 for each partner in Jackson Walker. Just to throw out a few more numbers, Jenkens posted average profits per partner of $530,000; Haynes and Boone did $502,000; and Thompson & Knight, $345,000.

Those are downright heady numbers that may go a long way to dissipate any angst suffered by Dallas lawyers worrying about the national profile of their firms. Johnson, the Baker Botts lawyer, suggests the lack of a national reputation may not make much difference to most firms in Dallas. "Does it matter? Not in the conference room or in the courtroom. It doesn't matter a hoot," he says. "But it might matter in getting hired."

Mike Boone agrees, to a degree. "It's not a total showstopper, but it makes them shortlist you," Boone says. "The name of this game is making the short list. If you can make the short list of three or four, you will do very well."

MEET THE BEST IN DALLAS

From estate planning and family law to intellectual property and business litigation, these Dallas attorneys have the expertise you need.

ROBERT D. ALBERGOTTI

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5613

214-200-0350 (fax)

albergor@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: BANKRUPTCY & WORKOUTS

Education: B.A., Univ. of South Carolina; M.A., J.D., Tulane Univ.

Albergotti has extensive experience in bankruptcy matters, focusing primarily on the restructuring of medium and largesized public companies. He is currently the principal legal advisor to the California State Assembly on the financial crisis confronting the California electric utility industry. He is also counsel to Kitty Hawk, a cargo airline operating under Chapter 11. Albergotti was counsel for the debtor in several recent energy company Chapter 11 cases and was counsel to SpectraVision in its Chapter 11 reorganization. He is a master in the John C. Ford American Inn of Court.

Not ceritified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

CHARLA GLASS ALDOUS

3811 Turtle Creek Blvd. Ste. 170 Dallas, Texas 75219

214-526-5595

214-526-5525 (fax)

caldous@aldouslaw.com

Firm: THE LAW FIRM OF CHARLA G. ALDOUS, P.C.

Area of Practice: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Education: B.A., Austin College; J.D., SMU

After graduating from the SMU School of Law in 1985, Aldous began her legal career as a defense attorney, specializing in medical malpractice defense. She was a partner at Dallasbased Cowles & Thompson before leaving to form Cooper, Aldous & Scully. Since leaving that firm, Aldous has represented plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and death cases. She has successfully settled plaintiffs' cases in excess of $45 million. In 2000, she won the fifth largest jury verdict in the United States in a case involving the wrongful death of a child. She lives in Dallas with her four children.

Not ceritified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

CHARLES L. BABCOCK

901 Main St. Ste. 6000 Dallas, Texas 75202

214-953-6030

cbabcock@jw.com

Firm: JACKSON WALKER, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: A.B., Brown Univ.; J.D., Boston Univ.

Babcock is a partner in the litigation section of Jackson Walker and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the Dallas Bar Foundation. He specializes in commercial, media, and intellectual property litigation. Babcock is currently the chair of the Texas Supreme Court advisory committee. Throughout the years, he has been the recipient of numerous public service awards. He is also a frequent speaker at seminars and contributor to legal and trade publications.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

W. MIKE BAGGETT

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

mbaggett@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.B.A., Texas A&M; J.D., Baylor

Baggett leads Winstead as chairman and CEO. Baggett's leadership has been recognized by the Texas courts through his appointments to chair both the Texas Supreme Court home equity loan rules and reverse mortgage rules task forces. He has argued and been successful in six published opinions of the Texas Supreme Court, and his legal publications have been cited as authority by 12 appellate courts. His active role in the Dallas community has involved numerous leadership positions, including service as president of the Dallas Bar Association, chairman of the Cotton Bowl, Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Sports Commission, and the Central Dallas Association.

Board Certified, Civil Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

ANGELINE LINDLEY BAIN

8150 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 1850 Dallas, Texas 75206

214-373-7676

214-373-9959 (fax)

gbl@gbl-law.com

Firm: GORANSON, BAIN & LARSEN, L.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.S., Texas A&M; J.D., SMU

"My tenure as a Dallas family court associate judge taught me to evaluate cases as the court would, Consequently, I can favorably settle most cases and successfully try the rest," says Bain. She handles significant property cases and child-related matters. The board-certified family lawyer is also at the forefront of the collaborative law movement in Dallas, an innovative approach to divorce without litigation. Bain, a former chair of the family law section of the Dallas Bar Association is a frequent lecturer and author on family law matters. She is consistently listed in Woodard/White's The Best Lawyers in America.

Board Certified, Family Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

FREDERICK M. BARON

3102 Oak Lawn Ave. Ste. 1100 Dallas, Texas 75219

214-521-3605

214-520-1181 (fax)

fbaron@baronbudd.com

Firm: BARON & BUDD, P.C.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., J.D., UT Austin

Baron represented his first client with an asbestos-related illness in 1973. Since then, he has built one of the largest plaintiff firms in the country, representing victims of toxic and chemical exposure. The National Law Journal lists Baron as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in the United States," and Texas Lawyer recently honored him as a "Legal Legend" responsible for helping to shape the law during the 20th century. He currently serves as president of the prestigious Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Baron is married to Lisa Blue, a fellow shareholder of Baron & Budd.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JERRY L. BEANE

901 Main St. Ste. 4300 Dallas, Texas 75202-3794

214-651-4521

214-659-4124 (fax)

jerry.beane@strasburger.com

Firm: STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: ANTITRUST

Education: B.A., J.D., Baylor Univ.

Beane is one of the leading antitrust lawyers in the Southwest. Coca-Cola Enterprises, WorldCom, Borden Dairy, 7-Eleven, and Transplace.com are some of the companies using Beane's antitrust expertise. As counsel for Interstate Brands, he obtained a no-liability jury verdict in a $1 billion lawsuit involving 52,000 class members. Beane advises e-commerce and other companies on mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, and litigation issues. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a frequent author and speaker on antitrust. Beane has also served as an adjunct professor in antitrust law at SMU.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

JOHN F. BERGNER

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

jbergner@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: WEALTH PRESERVATION

Education: LLM., Georgetown Univ.; B.B.A., J.D., Washburn Univ.

Bergner, chairman of Winstead's wealth preservation practice, has devoted more than 16 years to the firm, providing wealthy individuals, estates, trusts, and charities with cutting-edge planning techniques and advice. Bergner is board certified in estate planning, probate, and trust law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Bergner is active with the American Bar Association's estate and gift tax committee and is the immediate past chairman of the probate and estate section of the Dallas Bar Association.

Board Certified, Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization

LISA A. BLUE, PH.D.

3102 Oak Lawn Ave. Ste. 1100 Dallas, Texas 75219

214-521-3605

214-520-1181 (fax)

lblue@baronbudd.com

Firm: BARON & BUDD, P.C.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.S., Univ. of Georgia; M.Ed., Univ. of Virginia; Ph.D., UNT.; J.D., South Texas College of Law

A trial attorney and psychologist, Blue has represented hundreds of victims of asbestos and other toxic substances since 1985. Blue is responsible for several multimillion-dollar verdicts on behalf of workers suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related injuries. The Texas chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates honored Blue as 1999's Trial Lawyer of the Year. Blue is a certified forensic psychologist and is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of jury selection, witness preparation, and trial psychology. She currently serves as board member of the Dallas Bar Association. She is married to founding Baron & Budd shareholder, Fred Baron.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MICHAEL M. BOONE

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5552

214-200-0369 (fax)

boonem@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Education: B.B.A., J.D., SMU

Boone is a member of Haynes and Boone's executive committee. He has more than 30 years of experience in SEC, merger and acquisition, and corporate law matters. A frequent writer and speaker, he most recently co-authored Complying with SEC Regulation FD, Mergers and Acquisitions-Dealing with Difficult Issues, Techniques and Strategies in Protecting Acquisition Transactions and The Ins and Outs of Handling Difficult Board Meetings. He has served as an adjunct professor of law at SMU in corporate securities transactions. Boone currently serves as chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council and is a member of the SMU Board of Trustees.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

GEORGE W. BRAMBLETT JR.

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5574

214-200-0374 (fax)

brambleg@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.A., J.D., SMU

Bramblett is a member of Haynes and Boone's executive committee. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates. As a trial lawyer, he has had an extensive and diverse litigation practice for more than 30 years. He has represented clients in the full range of business, commercial, and tort litigation. Bramblett also has significant experience in the general area of securities and shareholder litigation. He is a frequent speaker and has written extensively on courtroom procedures including, most recently, The Court's Charge and The Ultimate Trial Notebook.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

FRANK L. BRANSON

Highland Park Place, Ste. 1800 4514 Cole Ave. Dallas, Texas 75205

214-522-0200

214-521-5485 (fax)

flbranson@flbranson.com

Firm: LAW OFFICES OF FRANK L. BRANSON

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., Texas Christian Univ.; J.D., L.L.M., SMU

Branson has been named by Forbes as one of the nation's 50 most successful trial lawyers, and he is one of the first plaintiff lawyers in Dallas inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a fellow of the International Society of Barristers, a master of the Inns of Court, and the recipient of the 2001 War Horse Award for the Southern Trial Lawyers, which requires a 30-year commitment to the legal profession's highest principles. Branson has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for more than a decade,

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JIM BURNHAM

6116 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 515 Dallas, Texas 75206

214-750-6616

214-750-6649 (fax)

Jburnham14@aol.com

Firm: LAW OFFICES OF JIM BURNHAM

Area of Practice: CRIMINAL

Education: B.A., Univ. of Dallas; J.D., SMU

Burnham, a highly regarded trial lawyer, has devoted his practice to defending citizens charged with crimes. For 16 years, he served as a top assistant to legendary District Attorney Henry Wade, prosecuting more than 400 felony jury trials. He has successfully defended many clients before Texas state juries and federal juries in Texas, Louisiana, and Kansas. Burnham has served as president of the Dallas Bar Association and as chairman of the State Bar's District 6 Grievance Committee. He is a member of the Salesmanship Club and has been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JOE F. CANTERBURY JR.

Occidental Tower 5005 LBJ Fwy., Ste. 1000 Dallas, Texas 75244

972-239-7493

972-490-7739 (fax)

Firm: CANTERBURY, STUDER, ELDER, GOOCH & SURRATT, P.C.

Area of Practice: CONSTRUCTION

Education: B.A., Univ. of Dallas; J.D., SMU

Canterbury of Canterbury, Stuber, Elder, Gooch & Surratt is based in Dallas and serves clients nationally. He has more than 30 years of commercial construction law experience. Canterbury is a founding fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers. He is a founding member and past chairman of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association construction law sections. He is the author of several legal publications including the Texas Construction Law Manual.

Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JEFFREY A. CHAPMAN

3700 Trammell Crow Center Dallas, Texas 75201

214-220-7797

214-999-7797 (fax)

jchapman@velaw.com

Firm: VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: CORPORATE

Education: B.B.A., Univ. of Iowa; J.D., Harvard

Chapman serves as co-managing partner of Vinson & Elkins' Dallas office. He specializes in mergers, acquisitions, and securities offerings. He represents numerous investment banking firms, including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Bear Stearns; major Dallas businesses, including 7-Eleven and Crow Holdings; numerous technology firms, including Digital Convergence, MetaSolv, Hotel Reservations Network, and Aperian; and emerging healthcare companies such as United Surgical Partners and Odyssey Healthcare. He is a member of the Dallas Citizens Council and was recently named chair of the 2002 annual campaign of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texus Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

R. BRENT CLIFTON

2200 Ross Ave. Ste. 2200 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-740-8000

214-740-8800 (fax)

bclifton@lockeliddell.com

Firm: LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: TAX & PARTNERSHIP

Education: B.A., Abilene Christian Univ.; J.D., SMU

Clifton, a Locke Liddell & Sapp partner, is a member of the firm's tax section. While a young CPA, Clifton announced his law school plans to his grandmother. She replied, "You're not going into politics, are you?" Despite that beginning, Clifton's ambitions were realized when he moved to Dallas in 1987 to represent the Trammell Crow family's real estate partnership interests. He has chaired the Texas and Dallas Bar tax sections and several American Bar Association tax section partnership committees. Personal time is spent with his wife, Kimberly, and daughter, Morgan. Clifton also hosts Bible studies for a college and professionals group, CrossTrainers.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

TERRY W. CONNER

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5604

214-200-0408 (fax)

connert@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of practice: CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Education: B.A., J.D., UT Austin

Conner is a member of Haynes and Boone's executive committee. He has more than 25 years of extensive experience representing businesses in commercial transactions including acquisition, strategic alliance, outsourcing, and financing projects. He has been an adjunct professor of law at SMU, a lecturer on business law at UT Dallas, and a member of Governor Bush's science and technology council. He has been published in the Texas Law Review, Texas Tech Law Review and St. Mary's Law Review, and he is co-editor of the Commercial Loan Documentation Guide,

Not certified by the Texus Board of Legal Specialization

NINA CORTELL

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5579

214-200-0411 (fax)

cortelln@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: APPELLATE

Education: B.A., J.D., UT Austin

Cortell is a member of Haynes and Boone's executive committee. She has extensive experience in complex civil litigation and appellate work and has handled appeals to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and numerous Texas courts of appeals. Cortell is a member of the Texas Supreme Court advisory committee and the American Law Institute. She is a master in the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court and chair of the appellate section of the Dallas Bar Association. Cortell is also a frequent speaker on appellate law topics,

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

CHARLES S. COTROPIA

717 N. Harwood St. Ste. 3400 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-981-3305

214-981-3400 (fax)

ccotropia@sidley.com

Firm: SIBLEY & AUSTIN

Area of Practice: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Education: B.S., UT Austin; J.D., Cornell Univ.

Cotropia is a partner in Sidley & Austin's Dallas office. His practice includes patent, trademark, and copyright litigation, as well as the representation of clients before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Cotropia has represented clients in many industries, including aerospace, oil exploration, electronics, and manufacturing. He has procured more than 700 patents and has registered more than 850 trademarks for clients. Cotropia is chairman of the intellectual property law section of the State Bar of Texas. He has served as director of the Dallas Bar Association and as an officer and director of its intellectual property law section.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation hay been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

JIM COWLES

901 Main St. Ste. 4000 Dallas, Texas 75202

214-672-2000

214-672-2020 (fax)

jcowles@cowlesthompson.com

Firm: COWLES & THOMPSON, P.C.

Area of Practice: LITIGATION

Education: B.B.A, L.L.B., UT Austin

Cowles is founder and senior shareholder in the trial section of Cowles & Thompson, a Dallas-based firm established in 1978 that serves clients nationwide. With more than 35 years of experience, including more than 500 jury trials, Cowles brings a wealth of courtroom experience and skill that is truly exceptional. He has represented clients in complex and high-exposure litigation of all varieties, from personal injury claims to complex business disputes. He is a highly respected and popular speaker at legal conferences on topics such as voir dire and jury selection, trial tactics, professional liability, and medical malpractice.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

HENRY D. DEBERRY, III

2001 Ross Ave. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-953-6861

214-661-4861 (fax)

nick.deberry@bakerbotts.com

Firm: BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: TAX

Education: B.A., L.L.B., UT Austin; L.L.M., Geo. Washington Univ.

DeBerry is a partner who practices corporate, partnership, and natural resources tax law. He is a member of the Texas, Dallas, and American Bar Associations. DeBerry has served as chairman of the Dallas Bar Association and State Bar of Texas sections of taxation.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

DIANA C. DUTTON

1700 Pacific Ave. Ste. 4100 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-969-2855

214-969-4343 (fax)

ddutton@akingump.com

Firm: AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: ENVIRONMENTAL

Education: B.S., Georgetown; J.D., UT Austin

Dutton heads the environmental practice of Akin Gump, the eighth largest firm in the United States. Dutton has advised clients in nearly all aspects of environmental law. She previously served as regional counsel and enforcement director for Dallas' U.S. EPA and as chair of environmental law Sections of both the State and Dallas Bar. She currently Serves as chair of the Greater Dallas Chamber environmental committee and as a board member of the Dallas Nature Center. Dutton is listed in Who's Who in America and Woodard/White's The Best Lawyers in America. She and her husband, Tony Grindl, live in Dallas.

Not certified by the Texas Board of legal Specialization

BOB DYER

3000 Thanksgiving Tower 1601 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-999-4574

214-999-3574 (fax)

bdyer@gardere.com

Firm: GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL LLP

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Education: B.B.A., Lamar Univ.; J.D., UT Austin

Since the late 1960s, Dyer has provided legal services to a variety of businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in a broad spectrum of commercial activities, primarily in the Southwest. His representation has continued through numerous economic cycles and contributed to an experience base that facilitates his goal of serving as a value-added member of his client's team. Dyer serves as a director of the Volunteer Center of Dallas and has volunteered for the Dallas Museum of Art. He is also a director of the University of Texas Law Review Association and continues to support his alma mater.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

IRA D. EINSOHN

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

ieinsohn@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING

Education: B.A., Washington Univ.; J.D., SMU

Einsohn, a shareholder in Winstead, founded the firm's business restructuring practice group, which combines the experience of Winstead's many disciplines to focus on the needs of companies with financial problems. In his 30th year of practice, Einsohn counsels syndicates of senior lenders from all parts of the world in out-of-court debt restructures and bankruptcies of large corporations. Although a strong advocate, Einsohn is also known as a savvy business lawyer and negotiator, who is skilled at bringing parties together to create win-win solutions to complex problems. Einsohn serves on Winstead's executive committee and the executive committee of the Dallas Theater Center.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

RICHARD M. FIJOLEK

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5570

214-200-0442 (fax)

fijolekr@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: TAX

Education: B.A., Stanford; J.D., Columbia

Fijolek represents domestic and foreign entrepreneurs and high net-worth individuals and companies on legal and tax issues related to domestic and international business activities, including formation of partnerships and LLCs, acquisitions, strategic alliances, restructurings, and dispositions. He has represented venture capital, LBO, and other private equity funds; closely-held and family businesses; startups; multinational companies, real estate developers, syndicators, and funds, including REITs; and natural resource operating companies. Fijolek is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and is chair of the American Bar Association's international real estate committee and the State Bar's partnership tax committee.

Not certifed by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

LAURA M. FRANZE

1700 Pacific Ave. Ste. 4100 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-969-2779

214-969-4248 (fax)

lfranze@akingump.com

Firm: AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P. AKIN GUMP TECHNOLOGY VENTURES

Area of Practice: LABOR & EMPLOYMENT

Education: B.A., Thiel College; J.D., Duke Univ.

As chair of Akin Gump's 21-lawyer Dallas labor section, Franze leads one of the region's largest and most respected employment practices, representing leading, area employers including Cinemark USA, Fujitsu Network, Regal Cinemas, and Wyndham Hotels. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White and is designated a top Texas practitioner by Texas Lawyer. Franze has also authored two books, Texas Employment Law (1999) and Employment Law for Technology Companies (upcoming). She appeared on KXAS-TV Channel 5's "Ask a Lawyer" for six seasons and currently serves on the management committee at AGSH&F, the nation's eighth largest law firm.

Board Certified, Labor & Employment Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MAX FREEMAN

1201 Elm St. Ste. 4100 Dallas, Texas 75270

214-698-4116

214-747-2904 (fax)

mfreeman@gwinnroby.com

Firm: GWINN & ROBY

Area of Practice: TRIAL & MEDICAL DEFENSE

Education: B.S., Ball State Univ.; J.D., Indiana Univ.

A trial lawyer for more than 20 years, Freeman spends most of his time defending the medical community. He doesn't talk much about success in the courtroom; rather, he says, "I love trying lawsuits, but our clients generally prefer to stay out of the press. It would be poor form to talk about them here." He attributes success to "practicing with the best trial lawyers I've ever known and outworking the other side." Freeman is a member of numerous legal and medical associations. He is a black belt in Chang Chuan Kung Fu and has ridden Harleys for more than 30 years.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

KEVIN R. FULLER

2311 Cedar Springs Rd. Ste. 300 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-871-2727

214-871-0196 (fax)

keyin@kfvr-law.com

Firm: KOONS, FULLER, VANDEN EYKEL & ROBERTSON, P.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.S., Texas A&M; J.D., Baylor Univ.

Fuller, a partner in Koons, Fuller, Vanden Eykel & Robertson, has acquired extensive trial experience over the past 17 years, litigating numerous cases involving multimillion-dollar estates, complex property issues, and the custody of children. Fuller is a frequent author and lecturer on a variety of family law topics. He is a past chairman of the family law section of the Dallas Bar Association, a member of the Texas Family Law Council and a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Since 1997, Fuller has been listed as one of the nation's best family lawyers in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White.

Board Certified, Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MICHAEL P. GEARY

16475 Dallas Pkwy. Ste. 500 Addison, Texas 75001-6837

972-931-9901

972-931-9208 (fax)

mgeary@gpd.com

Firm: GEARY, PORTER & DONOVAN, P.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.A., UT Austin; J.D., South Texas College of Law

Geary began practicing family law in 1979, and he has been board certified since 1985. He is recognized for his expertise in complex property cases involving the valuation and division of business interests and executive compensation, tracing, characterization, and reimbursement. Though routinely representing clients in Dallas and the neighboring counties, he has been involved in cases throughout the state. Geary served as co-chairman and contributor to the State Bar of Texas Family Law Practice Manual. He is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and other professional organizations and is a frequent speaker on family law topics.

Board Certified, Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

RONALD L. GORANSON

Chateau Plaza, Ste. 1500 2515 McKinney Ave., LB21 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-651-1121

214-953-1366 (fax)

RLGatty@aol.com

Firm: MILNER, GORANSON, SORRELS, UDASHEN & WELLS

Area of Practice: CRIMINAL

Education: B.S., B.A., Univ. of Arkansas, J.D., SMU

Goranson, a founder of Milner & Goranson (1975)-now Milner, Goranson, Sorrels, Udashen & Wells-is experienced in complex federal and state criminal trials, investigations (including health care, bank fraud, and environmental and government contracts), grand jury investigations, appeals, and habeas corpus writs. He frequently lectures on criminal law matters. He is a former president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (1994), Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (1978), and Texas Association of Board Certified Specialists in Criminal Law (1989). Goranson currently serves on the State Bar of Texas District 6 Grievance Committee.

Board Certified, Criminal Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

THOMAS P. GORANSON

8150 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 1850 Dallas, Texas 75206

214-373-7676

214-373-9959 (fax)

gbl@gbl-law.com

Firm: GORANSON, BAIN & LARSEN, L.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.B.A., J.D., SMU

Goranson's divorce practice emphasizes significant property cases. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the William "Mac" Taylor American Inns of Court. He is a frequent lecturer on family law matters including valuation, tracing property, using expert witnesses, estate planning in a divorce context, reimbursement, intellectual property, and demonstrative evidence. A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Goranson is currently listed in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White and was selected as one of "The Top Lawyers" in family law in the May 1995 issue of D Magazine.

Board Certified, Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

H. DEWAYNE (COOTER) HALE

2300 Trammell Crow Center 2001 Ross Ave. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-978-3000

214-978-3099 (fax)

Firm: BAKER & MCKENZIE

Area of Practice: BANKRUPTCY & WORKOUT

Education: B.S., J.D., Louisiana State Univ.

Hale is a partner in the Dallas office of Baker & McKenzie, an international law firm, and has extensive experience representing debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. Hale has served as the Dallas Bankruptcy Bar chairman and remains on its board of advisors. He is very active in and a master in the John C. Ford Inns of Court, as well as the Louisiana, Texas, and local bar associations. He is a regular lecturer at law school seminars and writer of legal periodicals. Hale also serves as a board member for many civic organizations, including Central Dallas Ministries.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MICHAEL W. HILLIARD

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

mhilliard@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Education: B.A., St. Louis Univ.; J.D., Notre Dame

Hilliard, a shareholder at Winstead, serves as chairman of the firm's financial institutions section. Considered by a number of clients to be the best bank lawyer in Texas, his practice covers the full range of financial services, with particular emphasis on credit products, lending, leveraged leasing, and project finance. His well-established representation of leading financial institutions in complex lending transactions, including acquisition finance, mezzanine debt, and troubled loan restructurings, spans a number of industries. Hilliard is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Missouri Bar, and the Texas Association of Bank Counsel.

Not certified by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JOHN HOWIE

Park Place on Turtle Creek 2911 Turtle Creek Blvd. Ste. 1400 Dallas, Texas 75219

214-523-8800

214-523-8888 (fax)

jh@howie-sweeney.com

Firm: HOWIE & SWEENEY, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.B.A., UNT., J.D., SMU

Howie, a former Navy pilot, practices aviation, negligence, and product liability litigation. He has obtained many substantial verdicts and settlements for his clients. He has chaired the aviation sections of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the American Bar Association. He serves on the advisory board of the SMU Journal of Air Law and Commerce and the executive board of SMU School of Law. He is among 500 attorneys invited to become a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Howie received UNT's distinguished alumnus award and SMU's School of Law distinguished alumni award for private practice.

Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

THOMAS W. HUGHES

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

thughes@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: CORPORATE & SECURITIES

Education: B.A., Univ. of Oklahoma; J.D., Georgetown Univ.

Hughes is the chairman of Winstead's highly regarded corporate section, which emphasizes a multidisciplined team approach to assisting clients in complex corporate financings and acquisitions. Over the years, Hughes' team has been instrumental in numerous high-profile financial transactions, including Dell's initial public offering, the $1.5 billion acquisition of Rent-A-Center, the $1 billion management buyout of BTR, and the negotiation of institutional startup financing for the House of Blues entertainment chain. Hughes' 24 years of experience in the representation of prominent corporations, investors, and investment banking firms serves as a solid foundation for the breadth and depth of his team's work.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

ANN HURWITZ

1717 Main St. Ste. 4600 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-743-4521

214-743-4545 (fax)

Ann.Hurwitz@piperrudnick.com

Firm: PIPER MARBURY RUDNICK & WOLFE LLP

Area of Practice: FRANCHISE & DISTRIBUTION

Education: B.A., Univ. of South Carolina; J.D., Univ. of North Carolina Hurwitz concentrates her practice in franchise and distribution law. Her broad client base includes companies in the lodging, restaurant, retail, automobile rental, convenience store, consumer services, real estate, and communications industries. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the bar associations of Texas, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Dallas. Her experience has earned her listings in An International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers and Woodard/White's The Best Lawyers in America. She is married to Mitchell Hurwitz and is the mother of two children, Matt and Katie. In her free time, she enjoys reading and gardening.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

P. MICHAEL JUNG

901 Main St. Ste. 4300 Dallas, Texas 75202-3794

214-651-4724

214-659-4022 (fax)

michael.jung@strasburger.com

Firm: STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: APPELLATE

Education: S.B. degrees, MIT; J.D., Harvard

Jung heads the appellate practice group at Strasburger & Price. He has more than 20 years of experience handling state and federal appeals, covering subjects ranging from business torts and commercial disputes to personal injury, products liability, and civil rights. He has argued more than 130 cases, including 13 cases in the Supreme Court of Texas, and has participated in the two largest appeals in Dallas County history. Jung also consults with trial counsel in complex cases at the trial court level. A Lakewood resident, Jung is active in community affairs through city committees and homeowner and environmental organizations.

Board Certified Civil Appellate Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

RON KALTEYER

2200 Ross Ave. Ste. 2200 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-740-8771

214-740-8800 (fax)

rkalteyer@lockeliddell.com

Firm: LOCKE LIDDELL & SAPP, LLP

Area of Practice: TAX Education: B.B.A., M.P.A., J.D., UT Austin

Kalteyer, a partner in Locke Liddell & Sapp, is head of the firm's business tax section. He has more than 20 years of experience providing clients with federal and state business tax solutions. Kalteyer specializes in tax-advantaged structuring of transactions for partnerships, corporations, S corporations, limited liability companies, and real estate investment trusts. He coauthored a tax treatise titled "Federal Tax Aspects of Cancellation of Indebtedness and Foreclosures." Kalteyer is a frequent speaker and has taught classes at SMUs Law School. He resides in University Park with his wife, Carolyn, and their three sons.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JACK M. KINNEBREW

901 Main St. Ste. 4300 Dallas, Texas 75202-3794

214-651-4613

214-651-4330 (fax)

jack.kinnebrew@strasburger.com

Firm: STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: ESTATE PLANNING & TAX

Education: B.B.A., Univ. of Oklahoma; J.D., LL.M., SMU

Some of the most prominent families in Texas rely on Kinnebrew to plan their estates. He has handled numerous high-profile contested trust and estate matters. Kinnebrew is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, having served on its national board of regents, and is former president of the Dallas Estate Planning Council. Also a CPA, Kinnebrew has taught at SMU's School of Law and frequently speaks on estate planning before legal, professional, and charitable organizations. Kinnebrew serves as general counsel for Communities Foundation of Texas and is active in many civic organizations.

Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PETER KRAUS

3219 McKinney Ave. Ste. 3000 Dallas, Texas 75204

214-357-6244

214-357-7252 (fax)

Firm: WATERS & KRAUS, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., Duke; J.D., UT Austin

Kraus practices exclusively in toxic torts and specializes in asbestos cases. He has completed more than 25 trials for more than 100 plaintiffs. Recent verdicts include the largest plaintiff award in Longview: a $19.3 million verdict in a wrongful death case against an asbestos manufacturer. In 1996, Kraus won verdicts totaling $22 million, including a $12.8 million Louisiana verdict, one of the state's largest. Kraus was recently elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates and is a member of the Dallas, Texas, and Virginia Bar Associations. His firm maintains offices in Dallas, Newport News, Virginia, and Long Beach, California.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PAULA LARSEN

8150 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 1850 Dallas, Texas 75206

214-373-7676

214-373-9959 (fax)

gbl@gbl-law.com

Firm: GORANSON, BAIN & LARSEN, L.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.B.A., Univ. of Cincinnati; J.D., Rutgers Univ.

With 11 years of prior judicial experience as an associate judge and a district judge in the Dallas family courts (1983-1994), Larsen offers a unique perspective to her clients. Board certified in family law since 1985 and consistently named in Woodard/ White's The Best Lawyers in America since 1997, Larsen handles both significant property cases and child-related matters. Larsen's practice includes collaborative family law, an innovative approach for the amicable resolution of divorce cases without litigation. Larsen is a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs for family law attorneys.

Board Certified Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

GARY LAWSON

5323 Spring Valley Rd. Ste. 300 Dallas, Texas 75240

972-661-5323

972-661-5177

glawson@lawsonfields.com

Firm: LAWSON & FIELDS, P.C.

Area of Practice: ERISA

Education: A.A., Queens College; LL.M., New York Univ.; J.D., St. John's Univ.

Lawson, founder of Lawson & Fields, has 30 years of executive compensation, employee benefits, employment, and corporate law experience. He has represented parties in a successful string of litigation cases, including a challenge by trustees of an employer's right to amend its retirement plan, a $200 million class-action fiduciary breach claim, ERISA malpractice cases, and both an $11 million healthcare claim and a challenge of a governmental pension plan's exclusion of benefits to remarried persons argued to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lawson has published many articles, with "Forfeitures in Qualified Plans" referenced in a U.S. Court of Appeals decision.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MIKE LYNN

750 N. Paul St. Ste. 1400 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-981-3800

214-981-3839 (fax)

mlynn@lynnllp.com

Firm: LYNN, TILLOTSON & PINKER, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.A., Univ. of Virginia; J.D., SMU

Lynn is the named partner in Lynn, Tillotson & Pinker, a Dallas litigation boutique focusing on complex business disputes. Lynn has achieved settlements and verdicts totaling $250 million over the last six years and was recognized in 1999 by The National Law Journal as winning the most significant defense verdict in the United States. In 2000, Lynn and his firm obtained what they believe to be the largest settlement ever for a client in Dallas-Fort Worth. Clients include Alcatel, Intel, Visa, Bank One, and CSC. Lynn is married to Barbara M.G. Lynn, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

TED B. LYON

Town East Tower, Ste. 525 18601 LBJ Fwy. Mesquite, Texas 75150

972-279-6571

972-279-3021 (fax)

Firm: LAW OFFICES OF TEO B. LYON & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.S., East Texas State Univ.; J.D., SMU

For more than two decades, Lyon and his firm have represented victims and their families in personal injury cases ranging from wrongful death, chemical injuries, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence to product liability. The firm's tenacious attitude and zealous representation of its clients resulted in many unprecedented settlements, verdicts, and judgments. Lyon and his firm represent clients throughout Texas and the United States. Representation is based on respect for the client's needs and an understanding of how to advocate the client in today's complex and evolving legal system.

Board Certified Personal Injury Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

BRYAN J. MAEDGEN

901 Main St. Ste. 4300 Dallas, Texas 75202-3794

214-651-4540

214-651-4330 (fax)

bryan.maedgen@strasburger.com

Firm: STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: HEALTH

Education: B.B.A., J.D., UT Austin

Maedgen has served as lead Texas trial counsel on numerous high profile, multiclaimant cases involving healthcare as well as medical and pharmaceutical products. He was lead hospital attorney for the case that The National Law Journal called the nation's "biggest defense victory" of 1999. His clients include Tenet Healthcare, HCA, and numerous physicians, insurors, and owners/operators of healthcare operations. Maedgen is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is listed in The Best Attorneys in America in Health Law. He has advised, taught, and lectured at many law and medical schools, bar associations, and government agencies.

Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

STEPHEN F. MALOUF

2727 N. Harwood St. Ste. 950 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-969-7373

214-969-648 (fax)

smalouf@smalouf.com

Firm: LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN F. MALOOF, P.C.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY & BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.A., Univ. of Dallas; J.D., St. Mary's Univ.

Malouf is a member and life-fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who Among Outstanding Americans, Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans, and Who's Who in Litigation. Malouf has spoken nationally on technology and trial presentation strategies for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Law Education Institute of Georgetown University, University of Houston, Bureau of National Affairs, Alabama Trial Lawyers, Tennessee Trial Lawyers, Louisiana Trial Lawyers, State Bar of Texas, Texas Trial Lawyers, Dallas Trial Lawyers, Dallas Bar, and South Texas College of Law.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

DAVID L. McCOMBS

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5533

214-200-0526 (fax)

mccombsd@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Education: B.S., Denison Univ.; J.D., Univ. of Miami

McCombs has 17 years of experience as an intellectual property lawyer. He specializes in developing patent portfolios for startup and later-stage companies and in the commercialization of patented technology. His areas of expertise include computer software, telecommunications, electronics, biomedical engineering, and applied physics. As a writer and speaker, his recent subjects include strategic patenting, IP valuations, and the pros and cons of patenting methods of doing business.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MIKE McCURLEY

5950 Sherry Ln. 8th Floor Dallas, Texas 75225

214-273 2400

214-273-2470 (fax)

Firm: McCURLEY, KINSER, McCURLEY & NELSON, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.S., UNT, J.D., SMU

A former president of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. McCurley has developed a national reputation as one of the country's most formidable family lawyers. He is a sought-after speaker and author on family law topics, and his clients range from high-profile celebrities to those lesser known to the general public. During his tenure as AAML president, McCurley spearheaded a national public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the negative effects of divorce on children. He is married to McCurley, Kinser, McCurley & Nelson partner Mary Johanna McCurley.

Board Certified, Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MIKE McKOOL JR.

300 Crescent Court, Ste. 1500 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-978-4002

214-978-4044 (fax)

mmckool@mckoolsmith.com

Firm: McKOOL SMITH

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.S., Notre Dame; J.D., UT Austin

The "McKool Method" is well known as a rigorous system for conducting business litigation. Renowned for his skills and results in the courtroom, McKool also finds time to run one of the most successful trial boutiques in the country, with 50 litigators in Dallas and Austin. McKool is trial counsel for some of the largest corporations in the world, including major airlines, energy companies, telecommunications firms, and investment banking houses. He and members of his firm also work to protect the intellectual property rights of technology clients. McKool lives in Dallas with his wife, Gayle, and their two children.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

BARRY F. McNEIL

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5580

214-200-0535 (fax)

mcneilb@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: ANTITRUST

Education: B.A., Texas Tech Univ.; J.D., UT Austin

McNeil is a member of Haynes and Boone's executive committee. A trial lawyer, he has appeared before juries throughout the country representing companies and company officials accused of antitrust and corporate fraud violations under civil and criminal laws. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, former chair of the American Bar Association's litigation section, and was recently ranked as one of the 15 top litigators in the trial bar by International Commercial Litigation. In The National Law Journal's "biggest defense verdict of 1999," McNeil led the successful defense of a national healthcare provider, winning a "slam-dunk defense verdict."

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JOHN V. McSHANE

2651 N. Harwood St. Ste. 350 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-969-7300

214-969-7531 (fax)

jvmcshane@iuno.com

Firm: McSHANE & DAVIS, L.L.P.

Areas of Practice: FAMILY & CRIMINAL

Education: B.A., St. Mary's Univ.; J.D., UT Austin

As a nationally recognized divorce and criminal defense attorney with 33 years of experience, McShane empowers clients to enrich their lives, using their cases as catalysts for growth and change. A sought-after speaker at legal seminars, he inspires lawyers to reclaim their destiny as healers and peacemakers in the tradition of lawyers such as Lincoln and Ghandi. He is also a Certified Professional Coach and coaches lawyers and clients on finding joy, meaning, and passion in their lives and work. McShane was profiled in the June 2000 issue of the American Bar Association Journal as "The Passionate Practitioner."

Board Certified Family Law and Criminal Law

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

CHARLES M. MEADOWS JR.

901 Main St. Ste. 3700 Dallas, Texas 75202-3725

214-744-3700

214-747-3732 (fax)

cmeadows@meadowsowens.com

Firm: MEADOWS, OWENS, COLLIER, REED, COUSINS & BLAU, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE

Education: B.B.A., J.D., Baylor Univ.; CPA

Meadows, a founding partner, has 28 years of experience defending corporations and individuals in matters involving financial crimes and representing taxpayers in civil tax cases. He has successfully prevented indictments and obtained acquittals in matters involving tax and pension fund fraud, bankruptcy, mail and wire fraud, government contractor fraud, copyright and computer crimes, antitrust and customs violations, violations of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, and commercial bribery statues. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a frequent speaker at national and state institutes on the defense of white-collar crime investigations.

Board Certified, Tax Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

V. BRYAN MEDLOCK JR.

717 N. Harwood St. Ste. 3400 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-981-3302

214-981-3400 (fax)

bmedlock@sidley.com

Firm: SIDLEY & AUSTIN

Area of Practice: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Education: B.S., LL.B., Univ. of Oklahoma

Medlock has 35 years of experience trying, mediating, and arbitrating patent cases. He has been a lecturer on trade secret law at SMU. Medlock served as chairman of the Southwestern Legal Foundation Institute on Patent Law for 21 years. He also served as chairman of the patent, trademark, and copyright law section of the State Bar of Texas (receiving the Chairman's Award in 1993) and the litigation section of the American Bar Association's committee on patent litigation. Medlock was elected to Tau Beta Pi in engineering school and served as managing editor of the Oklahoma Law Review.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

THOMAS MELSHEIMER

5000 Bank One Center 1717 Main St. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-747-5070

214-747-2091 (fax)

melsheimer@fr.com

Firm: FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Education: B.A., Notre Dame; J.D., UT Austin

Melsheimer, managing principal of Fish & Richardson's Dallas office, handles complex cases such as intellectual property and antitrust litigation. A former federal prosecutor, Melsheimer successfully defended a data processing company in a "bet the company" case that The National Law Journal hailed as the best defense verdict of 1998. He also represented the plaintiff, Alcatel, in one of the largest trade secret cases ever tried in Texas. Melsheimer represents technology companies including Yahoo,. Alcatel, Texas Instruments, Power-One, and Atmel in trade secret, patent, and complex litigation matters. He and his wife, Miki, reside in Dallas with their two children.

Board Certified, Criminal Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

RALPH I. MILLER

100 Crescent Court Ste. 1300 Dallas, Texas 75201-6950

214-746-7756

214-746-7777 (fax)

ralph.miller@weil.com

Firm: WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP

Area of Practice: CIVIL LITIGATION

Education: B.S., J.D., UT Austin

Miller heads the litigation section of the Dallas office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which serves clients nationally and internationally in commercial disputes including accountants' liability, antitrust, arbitrations, business fraud, class actions, contract cases, internal investigations, lender liability claims, patents, and securities litigation. Miller, a Dallas native, clerked for Justice Harry Blackmun on the U.S. Supreme Court, served as a lawyer in the Army, and has since practiced continuously in Dallas for 25 years. Miller speaks and writes regularly on litigation management and technology. He lives in Dallas with his wife Nancy. Their children are Walt and Elisabeth.

Not Board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

TOM MILLS

5910 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 900 Dallas, Texas 75206

214-265-9265

214-303-3167 (fax)

tmills@millspresby.com

Firm: TOM MILLS & ASSOCIATES, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: CRIMINAL

Education: B.A., SMU; J.D., UT Austin

As partner in Tom Mills & Associates, Mills specializes in white-collar criminal defense. He has practiced law for 29 years, most recently in practice with his wife, Ellen Presby, a civil trial attorney. Mills' experience includes representation in many highstakes cases, including executives of high-profile corporations, brokerage houses and defense contractors; acquitted DISD trustee Dan Peavy; and the alleged (acquitted) kidnapper of Madalyn Murray O'Hair. He is writing a book on trial strategy and has taught at SMU Law School and a law school in Poland. He and Ellen enjoy outdoor activities and traveling with their family.

Board Certified, Criminal Defense Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

JERRY W. MILLS

2001 Ross Ave. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-953-6665

214-661-4665 (fax)

jerry.mills@bakerbotts.com

Firm: BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Education: B.S., Texas A&M; J.D., Georgetown Univ.

Mills is chairman of Baker Botts' intellectual property group, which includes 100 attorneys with engineering or science degrees. He has represented clients in electronic and software areas and in implementing corporate intellectual property programs. He has conducted successful licensing programs for patents involving voice mail, automated attendant PBX systems, electronic learning aids, and others. Mills has long been involved in the Dallas high-tech community; he is the founder of the Dallas Technology Calendar and co-founder of the Dallas Angels. He has previously served as adjunct professor at SMU Law School and is a fellow of the Texas and Dallas Bar Foundations.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

GEORGE R. MILNER

Chateau Plaza, Ste. 1500 2515 McKinney Ave., L621 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-651-1121

214-953-1366 (fax)

Firm: MILNER, GORANSON, SORRELS, UDASHEN & WELLS

Area of Practice: CRIMINAL

Education: B.B.A., L.L.B., SMU

Milner has been named among the busy criminal trial lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine three times (1975, 1985, and 1997) and, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White. The Observer cited Milner as the "Best Criminal Lawyer in Dallas" in 1999. Milner has more than 40 years of trial experience and has developed a national reputation in both federal and state courts. He handles all types of criminal cases, in particular white collar and complex fraud (bank, health care, government contracts, and environmental).

Board Certified. Criminal Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

DOUGLAS D. MULDER

2650 Maxus Energy Tower 717 N. Harwood St. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-953-1919

214-880-0409 (fax)

Firm: DOUGLAS D. MULDER

Area of Practice: CRIMINAL

Education: J.D., SMU

Mulder began his career as an assistant district attorney for Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade. In 1969, he was promoted to first assistant district attorney, a position he held until he resigned to enter private practice in 1981. As first assistant, Mulder supervised 165 attorneys. He organized the white collar crime unit and the career-criminal unit. Mulder has tried more than 300 jury trials in state and federal courts, including 75

murder trials. He practices with his daughter Michelle Mulder, his son Christopher Mulder, a former Dallas County assistant district attorney, and three associates.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

KATHRYN J. MURPHY

5700 W. Piano Pkwy. Ste. 2200 Plano, Texas 75093

972-769-2727

972-769-0313 (fax)

kathryn@kfvr-law.com

Firm: KOONS, FULLER, VANDEN EYKEL & ROBERTSON, P.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.A., UT Tyler; J.D., SMU

Murphy is a partner in Koons, Fuller, Vanden Eykel & Robertson. She coauthored West Publishing Company's Texas Family Law Practice Guide, a three-volume treatise embracing Texas family law. Murphy has extensive trial experience in family law litigation, and she is a frequent author and speaker on family law issues. She is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and is active in national and local bar associations. Murphy serves on the boards of legal and civic groups.

Board Certified, Family Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PATRICK J. NELIGAN JR.

1700 Pacific Ave. Ste. 2600 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-840-5300

214-840-5301 (fax)

pneligan@neliganlaw.com

Firm: NELIGAN, ANDREWS & FOLEY, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL BANKRUPTCY

Education: B.A., Yale; J.D., Univ. of Chicago

Neligan is a founder of Neligan, Andrews & Foley, which is based in Dallas but serves clients throughout the country. His firm specializes in commercial bankruptcy, out-of-court workouts, receiverships, and bankruptcy litigation. A lawyer for 18 years, Neligan focuses his practice on business restructurings. He represents both publicly traded and privately held companies in workouts and Chapter 11 reorganizations. The firm represents a variety of clients in insolvency matters, including Chapter I11 debtors, landlords, bankruptcy trustees, unsecured creditors' committees, and companies purchasing assets out of bankruptcy estates. He is a frequent writer and speaker on bankruptcy topics.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

KAREN S. NELSON

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5648

214-200-0673 (fax)

nelsonk@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: BANK LENDING

Education: B.S., Louisiana State Univ.; J.D., South Texas College of Law

Nelson's finance practice encompasses the representation of borrowers and lenders in secured and unsecured commercial lending transactions, including syndicated financings and merger and acquisition financings. She also has substantial workout and debt restructuring experience. Her industry-specific lending expertise includes media and telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, and financial institutions. Nelson is a member of Haynes and Boone's strategic advisory committee and served for the last five years as chair of the firm's financial transactions practice group. She is a frequent lecturer on lending topics and is the author of Negotiating with Lenders, The Lawyer's Brief. Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

TERRY OXFORD

901 Main St. Ste. 4100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3775

214-754-1902

214-665-0847 (fax)

toxford@susmangodffrey.com

Firm: SUSMAN GODFREY L.L.P.

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.A., Harvard; J.D., UT Austin

Oxford is one of the founders of Susman Godfrey and the senior partner in the firm's Dallas office. Oxford has handled all aspects of business litigation, from initial interviews to trial and consumer class actions to defending major corporations. He has served in the Northern District of Texas as a reporter for the Civil Justice Reform Act committee and as chair of the magistrate judge selection panel. He also currently serves on the board of Greenhill School and the National Kidney Foundation of North Texas. He and his wife, Joan, have three children, ages 13, 16, and 18.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MICHAEL L. PARHAM

2626 Cole Ave. Ste. 800 Dallas, Texas 75204-2407

214-999-1188

214-999-1138 (fax)

Firm: PARHAM, JONES & SHIVER, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., UT Austin; J.D., SMU

Parham currently serves as president of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. He has served as president and national director of the American Board of Trial Advocates' Dallas chapter and has been adjunct faculty in trial advocacy at the SMU Law School since 1982. He has also taught the NITA Faculty Trial Skills course and Deposition Skills course since 1986. Parham is a director in the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and a fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation, Dallas Bar Foundation, College of the State Bar of Texas, and American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation.

Board Certified, Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

EDWARD A. PETERSON

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

epeterson@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Education: B.S., B.A., Washington Univ.; LL.B., SMU

Peterson is a shareholder in Winstead's real estate section and a member of the firm's executive committee. Through his longterm representation of life insurance companies, pension funds, banks, and developers, Peterson has counseled corporate entities on an array of real estate matters, including many types of real estate financing and equity transactions. His active participation in the legal community through affiliations with the Dallas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers is complemented by his leadership in numerous Dallas community organizations, including the North Texas Commission and the South Dallas/fair Park Trust Fund.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

ROBIN E. PHELAN

901 Main St. Ste. 3100. Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5612

214-200-0649 (fax)

phelanr@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: BANKRUPTCY & WORKOUTS

Education: B.S., B.A., J.D., Ohio State Univ.

Phelan reorganizes businesses. He is a frequent speaker on domestic-and international panels and programs and has testified before both the Congressional bankruptcy review commission and the United States Congress regarding insolvency issues. He has authored numerous articles, including commentary regarding a World Bank report on global insolvency and an analysis of the Indonesian reorganization system. He participated in a program sponsored by the State Department and the United Nations to develop model cross-border insolvency provisions and in a White House program to improve the U.S. bankruptcy system. He is a former president of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

ROD PHELAN

2001 Ross Ave. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-953-6609

214-661-4609 (fax)

rod.phelan@bakerbotts.com

Firm: BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: TRIAL

Education: B.A., Vanderbilt Univ.; J.D., Duke Univ.

Phelan represents clients in the area of commercial litigation. He has tried contract, trademark, patent, trade secret, fiduciary duty, professional malpractice (legal, accounting, and engineering), probate, insurance, tax, oil and gas, usury, securities, construction, and most other types of business cases. He also handles appeals of cases tried by others. Phelan is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas and American Bar Associations, and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. At Duke, he was a member of the Order of the Coif and was on the editorial board of the Duke Law Journal.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PHILLIP B. PHILBIN

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5684

214-200-0672 (fax)

philbinp@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Education: B.S., Trinity Univ.; J.D., Baylor Univ.

Philbin concentrates his practice on intellectual property litigation. As a registered patent attorney and full-time trial lawyer, Philbin focuses a significant portion of his practice on pursuing and defending patent litigation claims in courts across the country. From prepaid point-of-sale activated calling cards to electronic billing analysis of call detail records, Philbin has considerable experience in telecommunications. He has managed enforcement campaigns for patent portfolios requiring creative business solutions and practical problem solving. He has handled cases involving all aspects of intellectual property and a myriad of technical business litigation issues.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

WILLIAM D. POWELL

8080 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 1380 Dallas, Texas 75206

214-373-8781

214-373-8768 (fax)

wpowell@psclaw.com

Firm: POWELL & COLEMAN, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Education: S.A., Univ. of Arkansas; L.L.B., SMU

Powell was the first graduate of SMU Dedman School of Law to be selected as a law clerk for the United States Supreme Court. He has practiced law in Dallas since then, and in 1995 formed Powell & Coleman with several of his longtime partners. Powell's commercial real estate clients include some of Dallas' leading developers, such as Raymond D. Nasher, Lincoln Property Company, and I. C. Deal Companies. He has served as lead counsel for major shopping center, office building and multifamily housing projects in Texas and numerous other states.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

THOMAS L. RAGGIO

3316 Oak Grove Ave. Dallas, Texas 75204

214-880-7500

214-880-7506 (fax)

tlr@raggiolaw.com

Firm: RAGGIO & RAGGIO, P.L.L.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.A., UT Austin; J.D., SMU

The highly respected law firm of Raggio & Raggio has served the community for 45 years. Raggio, with 30 years of legal experience, leads a team of six lawyers, plus accountants and experts, in valuing complex property, retirement, and child custody issues. Always putting his clients' interests first, whether in negotiations or at the courthouse, Raggio insists on matters being conducted rationally and with integrity. He is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and was named in Woodard/White's The Best Lawyers in America. Raggio has been married for 30 years and has two adult children.

Board Certified Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

C. TED RAINES JR.

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5536

214-200-0748 (fax)

rainest@haynesboone.com

Firm: JAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Education: B.A., J.D., SMU

Raines has more than 35 years of legal and business experience in real estate, concentrating in development and investment. His experience includes all aspects of the development process, from land assembly, financing, construction, and leasing to sales. He also has extensive experience in public and private financing of real estate. Raines is the author of several real estate-related articles, and he has spoken at the Mortgage Lending Institute, the Southwestern Legal Foundation, and the SMU School of Law. He is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

RICHARD SAYLES

4400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-939-8701

214-939-8787 (fax)

dsayles@saylid.com

Firm: SAYLES, LIDJI & WERBNER

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.A., Vanderbilt; J.D., Univ. of Houston

Sayles' 27 years of trial practice are distinguished by the multifaceted nature of his cases. He is one of few lawyers to consistently and successfully represent plaintiffs and defendants in both commercial and injury arenas. Sayles has tried cases throughout the state, including verdicts for Fortune 500 companies, as well as small businesses and individuals. He is frequently asked to defend product manufacturers in other states. In 2001, Sayles has already obtained close to $9 million for injury clients. Since 1994, Sayles has obtained $30 million for injury clients. Sayles is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Board Certified Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury

Trial Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

C. L. MIKE SCHMIDT

8401 N. Central Expwy. Ste. 880 Dallas, Texas 75225

214-521-4898

214-521-9995 (fax)

clmike@schmidtlaw.com

Firm: THE SCHMIDT FIRM

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH

Education: B.A., LL.B., SMU

Schmidt, founder of The Schmidt Firm, serves clients nationally. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is its former national membership chairman. Schmidt is coauthor of the Texas Practice Guide on Personal Injury Law, has been listed several years in Woodard/White's The Best Lawyers in America, and was listed in the Dallas Business Journal's "Who's Who in Law." He is married to sculptor Glenna Goodacre. They have five children and eight grandchildren.

Board Certified, Civil Trial Law and

Personal Injury Trial Law- Texas Board of Legal Specialization

LARRY SCHOENBRUN

3000 Thanksgiving Tower 1601 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-999-4703

214-999-3703 (fax)

Ischoenbrun@gardere.com

Firm: GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL LLP

Area of Practice: CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Education: B.A., LL.B, UT Austin

With more than 30 years of experience as a corporate and securities practitioner, Schoenbrun has coordinated the legal activities for a number of large and medium-sized corporations. In addition to representing clients in their initial public offerings, he has also represented underwriters, buyers, sellers, and venture capitalists. He is the immediate past managing partner of Gardere. He has chaired the Texas Business Law Foundation, as well as both the business law section and the securities committee of the State Bar of Texas. He also chaired the North Texas-Oklahoma Regional Board of Directors of the Anti-Defamation League.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

SALLY A. SCHREIBER

1445 Ross Ave. Ste. 4000 Dallas, Texas 75202-2790

214-855-7598

214-978-4323 (fax)

sschreiber@munsch.com

Firm: MUNSCH HARDT KOPF & HARR, P.C.

Area of Practice: CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Education: B.B.A., Univ. of New Mexico; J.D., Stanford

Since Schreiber's 1976 graduation from Stanford Law School (where she served as note editor of the Stanford Law Review), she has advised clients on a wide variety of corporate, securities, merger and acquisition, partnership, franchise, and general business matters. Her clients include startup entities, venture capitalists, and middle-market and publicly held companies. As a member of numerous State Bar committees (including the corporation law committee, of which she is currently chair), she has been actively involved in modernizing Texas state business laws. She is a frequent speaker on various business law topics.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

BARTON (BART) E. SHOWALTER

2001 Ross Ave. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-953-6509

214-661-4509 (fax)

bart.showalter@bakerbotts.com

Firm: BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Education: B.S., M.S., MIT, J.D., SMU

Showalter assists clients with all aspects of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on strategic patent procurement, licensing, and litigation in the Internet, telecommunications, and electronics fields. He also advises clients in all areas of e-commerce, venture financing, and software licensing. After working as a spacecraft and missile design engineer in the defense industry, Showalter attended the SMU School of Law, where he was a Hatton W. Sumners Scholar and editorin-chief of The Journal of Air Law and Commerce. Showalter currently serves as an adjunct professor of law at SMU. He often speaks to businesses and organizations about technology and innovation.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

LEWIS R. SIFFORD

2001 Bryan St. Ste. 2050 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-742-1200

214-220-0206 (fax)

lsifford@sifford.com

Firm: SIFFORD, ANDERSON, VICE & MACFARLANE, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., J.D., Baylor Univ.

Sifford is founder and managing partner of Sifford, Anderson, Vice & MacFarlane. He is a diplomate of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, which recently honored him as 2000's Texas Trial Lawyer of the Year. He has also been nationally recognized for his trial skills as the 1997 recipient of the Masters in Trial Award. Sifford is a frequent lecturer for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the State Bar of Texas. Since 1986, he has been an adjunct professor at the SMU School of Law in Dallas.

Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

WILLIAM D. SIMS JR.

3700 Trammell Crow Center Dallas, Texas 75201

214-220-7703

214-999-7703 (fax)

bsims@velaw.com

Firm: VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: LITIGATION

Education: B.A., Univ. of Mississippi; J.D., Harvard

Sims has been trying lawsuits for defendants and plaintiffs in Texas state and federal courts for nearly 30 years. He is the only attorney in the country to obtain two $200 million-plus jury verdicts and judgments in commercial litigation in the last five years. Recent high-profile clients include pharmaceutical giant American Home Products, Belo Corporation, CBS, and New York multimillionaire and philanthropist Stewart Rahr. Sims' verdict for Rahr was the largest in the history of the Northern District federal courts. Outside the courtroom, he raises cattle at his ranch on the Brazos River and attends NASCAR events around the country.

Board Certified, Civil Trial Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

EDWARD V. SMITH III

5500 Preston Rd. Ste. 300 Dallas, Texas 75205

214-599-7000

214-599-7010 (fax)

esmith@gsltx.com

Firm: GRAHAM, SMITH & LINDQUIST, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

Education: B.A., UNT:, J.D., SMU

Smith, a native of Dallas, is a senior partner in Graham, Smith & Lindquist. His specialties are will and trust planning, probate administration, and estate litigation. He is a former chairman of the probate section of the Dallas Bar Association. Smith is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in estate planning and probate law. He has served on numerous State Bar committees and councils and is a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is married to probate judge Nikki DeShazo. A graduate of UNT, Smith was named distinguished alumnus in 1992.

Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

DANIEL C. STEWART

3700 Trammell Crow Center Dallas, Texas 75201

214-220-7761

214-999-7761 (fax)

dstewart@velaw.com

Firm: VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: BANKRUPTCY & WORKOUT

Education: B.A., Brown; J.D., Duke Univ.

As one of the nation's most recognized attorneys in all aspects of debtor/creditor relationships, Stewart leads Vinson & Elkins' worldwide insolvency and reorganization practice. Matters that he has handled over the years include the original Braniff Airlines reorganization on behalf of the lenders, the Hunt brothers trust estates and their related corporate reorganizations on behalf of the largest bank lender, and the reorganizations of many Texas corporations, including El Paso Electric Company, ICH Corporation, and Furr's Cafeterias. Stewart attributes his success to hard work, great clients, promptly returning phone calls, and surrounding himself with eagles.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

WILLIAM C. STROCK

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5623

214-200-0655 (fax)

strockw@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: LABOR & EMPLOYMENT

Education: B.B.A., J.D., SMU

Strock, who has more than 30 years of experience in labor and employment law, is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Strock served for 14 years on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization's labor and employment law advisory commission. His practice has included defending clients facing employment discrimination lawsuits, many of which involved class allegations. His experience with complex class discrimination litigation began in the 1970s with the representation of national trucking companies in discrimination litigation. More recently, he successfully defended ExxonMobil in a class ADA action.

Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law

Texas Board of Legal Specialization

LOU STRUBECK

2200 Ross Ave. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-855-8000

214-855-8200 (fax)

lstrubeck@fulbright.com

Firm: FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: BANKRUPTCY & CREDITORS' RIGHTS

Education: B.A., College of Charleston; J.D., Temple Univ.

Strubeck has 17 years of experience representing a broad-client base in complex commercial creditor/debtor rights, bankruptcy matters, and related litigation, both regionally and nationwide. He is a director of the Dallas Boys and Girls Clubs and serves as an elder at Northpark Presbyterian Church. He and his wife, Kay, reside in Lake Highlands with their two children.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PAULA FISETTE SWEENEY

Park Place On Turtle Creek 2911 Turtle Creek Blvd. Ste. 1400 Dallas, Texas 75219

214-523-8800

214-523-8888 (fax)

psweeney@waymark.net

Firm: HOWIE & SWEENEY, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., Univ. of Dallas; J.D., SMU

Sweeney practices exclusively in the area of plaintiffs' medical negligence litigation, obtaining record-setting verdicts for victims of negligent medical care. She has argued cases before the Texas Supreme Court resulting in the reversal of laws that unfairly limited malpractice victims' legal remedies. Sweeney served as president of the Dallas and Texas Trial Lawyers associations, governor of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and director of the State Bar of Texas. She currently serves as president of the Dallas chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been appointed to the Supreme Court rules advisory committee.

Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

WINDLE TURLEY

1000 Turley Law Center 6440 N. Central Expwy. Dallas, Texas 75206

214-691-4025

214-361-5802 (fax)

turley@wturley.com

Firm: WINDLE TURLEY, P.C.

Area of Practice: PERSONAL INJURY

Education: B.A., Oklahoma City Univ.; J.D., SMU

Turley, founder of the firm, directs the firm's attorneys specializing in general negligence, air crashes, product defects, toxic torts, and medical malpractice. Turley has been recognized twice by the The National Law Journal as receiving damage verdicts among the 10 largest in the nation. He is listed in every edition of Woodard/White's The Best Lawyers in America. He was twice named "Best Among Personal Injury Lawyers" by D Magazine, called a "Legal Legend" by Texas Lawyer, and listed as one of the "Top Lawyers in Dallas" by the Dallas Bar. He is a member of American Board of Trial Advocates.

Board Certified, Personal Injury Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PAUL B. UNDERKOFLER

3300 Thanksgiving Tower 1601 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-969-5454

214-969-5902 (fax)

paulu@gucl.com

Firm: GOINS, UNDERKOFLER, CRAWFORD & LANGDON, L.L.P.

Area of Practice: CONSTRUCTION

Education: A.B., Notre Dame; LL.B., Univ. of Virginia

After active duty as chief defense counsel and chief trial counsel of the 1st Marine Division, Underkofler launched his law practice in Dallas with proceeds from the sale of his prized 1962 Corvette and his wife Mary Margaret's teachers' savings account. His service as the initial counsel to the local chapter of the American Subcontractors' Association stimulated his early focus on construction law. He has also served as chairman of the construction section of the Dallas Bar Association. In addition to his representation of developers, contractors, and suppliers, Paul enjoys mediating and arbitrating construction disputes.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Social Competence in this area.

IKE VANDEN EYKEL

2311 Cedar Springs Rd. Ste. 300 Dallas, Texas 75201

214-871-2727

214-871-0196 (fax)

ike@kfvr-law.com

Firm: KOONS, FULLER, VANDEN EYKEL & ROBERTSON, P.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.S., Drake Univ.; J.D., Baylor Univ.

Vanden Eykel, managing partner of the state's largest family law firm, was selected one of the top 10 divorce attorneys in America by Town & Country. He wrote the book on Texas family law, Successful Lone Star Divorce, and is coauthor of West Publishing Company's Texas Family Law Practice Guide, Vanden Eykel is a fellow of the American and International Academies of Matrimonial Lawyers, a diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White. He serves on the board of the Dallas Bar Association and many civic agencies.

Board Certified, Family Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

ROBERT C. WALTERS

3700 Trammell Crow Center Dallas, Texas 75201

214-220-7704

214-999-7704 (fax)

rwalters@velaw.com

Firm: VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL LITIGATION & ANTITRUST

Education: B.A., J.D., UT Austin

Walters represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex business disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. He focuses primarily on antitrust, class action, and technology disputes. Clients include Blockbuster Video; Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst; Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Southwest Airlines: and Belo Corporation. He serves as co-managing partner of the Dallas office and on the management committee of the 780-lawyer firm. He was named by The American Lawyer as one of the nation's "Forty-Five under 45: Rising Stars in the Law" and one of the top 40 lawyers under 40 in the country by The National Law Journal.

Not certified by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization

BRIAN L. WEBB

2730 Maxus Energy Tower 717 N. Harwood St. Dallas, Texas 75201

214-871-2730

214-871-9339 (fax)

Firm: WEBB & ACKELS, P.C.

Area of Practice: FAMILY

Education: B.S., Univ. of New Mexico; J.D., SMU

Webb has specialized in family law for more than 20 years, handling cases involving high-profile leaders in the arts, business, education, fashion, law, law enforcement, medicine, mental health, politics, professional sports, and even the media. A popular lecturer, his published works covering the finer points of family law confirm the respect of his peers. Webb has presided over Texas' three largest statewide family taw organizations and served on the boards of national and international family law groups. A past recipient of the prestigious Judge Sam Emison Award, his reputation is a factor in obtaining favorable results for his clients.

Board Certified, Family Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MARK S. WERBNER

4400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-939-8711

214-939-8787 (fax)

mwerbner@saylid.com

Firm: SAYLES, LIDJI & WERBNER

Area of Practice: BUSINESS LITIGATION

Education: B.A., UT Austin; J.D., SMU

Werbner has earned a reputation as one of Texas' most formidable trial lawyers. Year after year, he has won multimillion-dollar jury verdicts for his clients, who are usually individuals and businesses going up against giant corporations. His latest victory, a $454.5 million jury verdict against CompUSA, earned him international press attention. Werbner is an advocate in the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates and a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America by Woodard/White, and he lectures throughout the country at the invitation of numerous professional groups.

Board Certified, Criminal Law and Civil Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization

KIRK R. WILLIAMS

5400 Renaissance Tower 1201 Elm. St. Dallas, Texas 75270

214-745-5400

214-745-5390 (fax)

kwilliams@winstead.com

Firm: WINSTEAD SECHREST & MINICK P.C.

Area of Practice: ZONING & LAND USE

Education: B.B.A., J.D., Baylor Univ.

A shareholder in Winstead's real estate section, Williams contributes more than two decades of experience representing owners and developers, such as Lincoln Property Company, Exxon/Mobil, and NorthPark, in complex zoning and land use issues. Williams lead Winstead's renowned team of real estate attorneys in obtaining rezoning approvals for the land use development "Lincoln Park" located near NorthPark. As past director of the Real Estate Council, member of the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association, and former member of the urban design advisory committee for the City of Dallas, Williams' extensive real estate experience is of great benefit to his clients.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

ROBERT E. WILSON

901 Main St. Ste. 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202-3789

214-651-5601

214-200-0550 (fax)

wilsonr@haynesboone.com

Firm: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP

Area of Practice: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Education: B.B.A., J.D., SMU

Wilson is a member of Haynes and Boone's executive committee. He has more than 30 years of experience in real estate transactions. He is a member of the US.Japan Business Council, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

MICHAEL D. WORTLEY

3700 Trammell Crow Center Dallas, Texas 75201

214-220-7732

214-999-7732 (fax)

mwortley@velaw.com

Firm: VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.

Area of Practice: CORPORATE & SECURITIES

Education: B.A., J.D., SMU; M.R.P., Univ. of North Carolina

Wortley focuses on mergers and acquisitions and securities transactions. He has helped Vinson & Elkins build the largest leveraged buyout practice in Texas. Clients include prominent telecommunications, high-tech, biotechnology, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing firms. Among them is the Dallas-based private investment firm Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst. Recent projects include the $16 billion merger of AMFM and Clear Channel Communications and the $2 billion acquisition of Walden Residential Properties REIT by Olympus Real Estate. In addition to helping expand Vinson & Elkins' Dallas office, he was instrumental in building the firm's presence in New York and London.

Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area.

Copyright D Magazine May 01, 2001
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