Life’s Work

I consider being a lawyer more of a calling than a career. Even as a child I remember hating seeing other kids bullied and finding myself intervening to stand up for people who were being treated unfairly.

Since launching my career as a lawyer in 1989, my purpose has been to represent people against the powerful. I work directly with clients to understand the full impact of the harm they have suffered and the struggles and challenges they face. The first thing I do is listen instead of talk. I listen to their stories. Then I work hard to understand their needs. I do this so I can support them as they deal with the emotional, financial, and physical impact of their injuries or loss. As their lawyer, I focus on their interests, not mine. My hope is that I can help them achieve some peace of mind, find a way to heal from their loss, and move forward with their lives. Standing up for people who have been unfairly and wrongly harmed is how I seek to lead a life of purpose.


Focus Areas

I focus my law practice on life-changing injuries and wrongful death cases that resulted from misconduct or negligence. These cases generally involve complex medical, scientific, and legal discovery. They include mesothelioma (asbestos-related cancer), dangerous pharmaceutical drugs and medications, severe vehicle collisions, harmful products and medical devices, toxic and chemical exposure, and police misconduct cases.  

I know that effective negotiation strategies and skilled advocacy are a powerful combination that can lead to exceptional results for our clients. I leverage these tools along with my education and legal experience to create meaningful change so our clients can build brighter futures.


Family-focused, Community-minded

Outside of the office, I spend time with my wife Lulu, our pets, and a network of friends I consider part of our extended family. Together Lulu and I support our community through involvement in several organizations.

I was previously the Vice President of the Rothko Chapel Board of Directors in Houston, Texas, an International Human Rights organization founded around the principles of the spiritual and physical space that is the Rothko Chapel. Mark Rothko, Phillip Johnson, and the De Menils envisioned the Chapel to promote education and discourse around human rights. I was also the co-founder and past President of Save Town Lake in Austin, Texas, formed to preserve open spaces around the iconic centerpiece of Austin, Texas—Lady Bird Lake. I am a member of Rotary International through my membership in the Downtown Rotary Club of Austin. And I serve on committees within the American Association of Justice and the American Bar Association as part of my membership in both organizations.

An adventurer and explorer by nature, I seek new experiences through adventure travel, SCUBA diving, mountain climbing, skiing and pursuing new challenges.

 

Honors And Affiliations

  • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2004
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Member since 2022
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ) (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America-ATLA), Leaders’ Forum 2009-Present
    Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Founding Advocates Board Member 1993
  • Public Justice Foundation Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, 1992
  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert Porter, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 1989-1990
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Law and Commerce, University of Pittsburgh, 1987-1988
  • Good Guy Award, National Women’s Political Caucus, 2003
  • Texas Watch Champion of Justice Award, 2000
  • Lecturer in The Honorable Calvin Botley Distinguished Lecture Series, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University, April 7, 2000
  • Pro Bono Achievement Award, Advancement in Animal Law (2013) Animal Legal Defense Fund
  • Licensed to practice law in Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Mexico

Education

  • Trial Lawyers’ College, 2019
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy, National Program, 1996, 2002, 2003
  • Harvard Negotiation Project’s Program for Lawyers 1996
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D. with Honors, 1988
  • International Human Rights Law & Policy, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, San Jose, Costa Rica, 1983
  • Inter-Disciplinary Course in Human Rights, Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, 1983
  • Conversa Linguistica Spanish language immersion course, Santa Ana, Costa Rica, 1983
  • University of Pittsburgh, Bachelor of Arts in History, 1982
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