Our firm provides the full spectrum of litigation proceedings (jury trials, bench trials, binding arbitrations, mediations, alternative dispute resolution, writs and appeals). Whether in state or federal trial and appellate courts, our litigators bring a substantial depth of expertise and dedicated, results-oriented service to our commercial clients. We best serve our clients' interests by exploring resolution early in litigation. However, if an effective settlement is not possible, we aggressively take cases to trial. Our commercial litigation practice includes: Commercial contract disputes, business torts, breach of warranty, fraud, tortuous interference, Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Residential Liability Act issues.

Our attorneys have experience in defending professional malpractice cases involving medical, legal, insurance, corporate errors, omissions, and architects and engineering liability. Our attorneys have strong ties within the medical and legal communities, enabling us to find and retain the qualified experts needed in these cases.

The firm has a long history of successfully representing clients in a wide array of both residential and commercial construction matters. Our attorneys regularly litigate, mediate and arbitrate claims relating to cost issues, construction defects, design errors and contract disputes. We represent owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, engineers and design professionals and, in each case, leverage our experience to provide aggressive representation focused on an efficient and cost-effective resolution.

Our firm recognizes that its top priority is to protect the integrity of our clients’ products and reputations. Working closely with local, national and international manufacturers, sellers and suppliers, we develop sound strategies to present complex and technical issues in a manner that juries can fully understand that our clients’ products are designed, manufactured and marketed consistent with industry standards. By integrating the experience and abilities of our attorneys with the most modern technology, our attorneys provide sophisticated, efficient and effective defense for clients facing product liability cases of every type and size.

Our attorneys defend landlords, tenants and property owners from tort claims including rape, drowning, murder, criminal assaults, slip and falls, and construction defects, including foundation defects and mold litigation. Premises liability is a rapidly evolving area of the law and our firm stays abreast of these developments. In fact, we have established important law in this field. Our goal is the most cost-effective use of resources and law to defend clients.

Jack McKinley has three decades of experience writing coverage opinions about the spectrum of property and casualty risks. His expertise includes issues across CGL, auto, directors and officers, maritime, professional liability and specialty insurance policies. The firm’s coverage opinions are distinguished by an extremely high quality of work. Clients value our distinguishable attributes:

We give straight answers to tough questions, we are not fence-sitters.

We explain in understandable English our view about your issues and opinions for handling them.

We objectively identify and logically analyze what matters.

We offer computerized research on a national level and do not charge access fees.

We routinely draft reservation of rights and denial letters, letters to opposing counsel and other documents.

Our firm objectively assesses the basis and need for, and at client’s direction will initiate, a declaratory judgment lawsuit on any issue across the full spectrum of property and casualty risks. Declaratory judgment lawsuits are often unnecessary or impossible before judgment. We know when you can sue. Shareholder Jack McKinley has prevailed in many such lawsuits for insurers, sometimes making law to do so.

Our firm defends insureds for a large number of insurance companies in a wide variety of personal injury and property damage cases. Our lawyers are experienced in handling cases ranging from minor automobile collisions to serious accidents involving catastrophic injuries and death.

Additionally, our lawyers practice extensively in the field of transportation law and represent transportation companies nationwide in lawsuits involving collisions, cargo losses, and environmental contamination. Our firm has vast experience and keeps up-to-date with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, as well as evidentiary issues involving the Safety Measurement System’s ratings for motor carriers.

We understand that catastrophic accidents require an immediate investigative responses. Evidence must be gathered, privileges preserved, and defensive strategies need to be developed. To meet those client goals and time-sensitive actions, we have access to accident reconstruction experts, photographers, and other experts to make a first response to accident scenes.

Jill has practiced commercial litigation, civil litigation, employment law and insurance defense since 1993. She joined our firm in 2003, bringing with her a broad background of defense litigation. Jill has tried numerous cases and has received favorable verdicts in state and federal court. Jill is also a Certified Mediator.

Bob has defended a variety of high-dollar exposure lawsuits over the past 30 years, from simple automobile cases to wrongful death trucking accidents, products liability, dental malpractice, medical malpractice, toxic torts, commercial disputes, premises liability and sexual assaults and has taken more than 200 jury verdicts.

In addition to being a seasoned trial lawyer, Bob is fluent in Spanish and lived in Mexico City for 10 years.

Jack has practiced almost exclusively in the areas of coverage and appellate law since 1990, except for the occasional foray into civil rights defense or commercial litigation. He is a 1979 graduate of the University of Texas School of law and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas. Jack is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Jack joined the firm in 2000, having been a longstanding partner with Brian Chandler since 1981 at a prior law firm.

Jack was a board certified personal injury trial lawyer in the 1980s, including maritime and civil rights lawsuits, but left that field in 1990 for an insurance coverage and appellate practice. Jack’s work since 1990 has consisted of writing coverage opinions, litigating coverage and extra-contractual lawsuits, and handling appeals. His extra-contractual lawsuits are primarily third party—defending an insurer in a dispute over the existence of liability coverage. Jack has tried at least 30 lawsuits, handled almost 50 appeals, and written or edited more than 1,000 coverage opinions. He seeks to avoid trial via summary judgment yet—unlike many coverage lawyers—he has extensive and successful trial experience.