Biography
Len A. Wade is a partner in Jackson Walker’s Litigation group. He has a prominent practice focused on complex litigation, mediation, and arbitration. Len has been an accomplished mediator for over 20 years. He trained with Attorney-Mediators Institute in Dallas and is a member of the Association of Attorney Mediators. He also holds membership in the commercial panel of neutrals for the American Arbitration Association and has been a Barrister of the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, a member of the Business Torts Subcommittee of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association and a member of the planning board for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the ABA.
Len served as judge of the 141st District Court of the State of Texas from January of 2003 through February of 2009, during which he presided over numerous jury trials, nonjury trials, and contested hearings. Before taking the seat as a district judge, he represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court litigation, including business torts, contract claims, employment matters, and insurance coverage disputes.
Education
B.A., summa cum laude, Abilene Christian University
J.D., cum laude, Baylor University School of Law
- Baylor Law Review, Executive Editor
- President’s Award
- 1985 TYLA Moot Court Team
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1987
Court Admissions
United States District Courts for the Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas
Spotlight
Shari Waldrop, et al. v. Magnablend (Ellis County District Court). First chair trial counsel for manufacturing company in a six week trial resulting in a favorable outcome.
- Presided over numerous complex trials and pretrial disputes as judge of the 141st District Court from 2003-2009
- Mediated over 500 cases, including commercial, employment and personal injury disputes
- Successfully arbitrated numerous commercial, construction and employment disputes
- Nearburg Exploration Co. v. COG Operating, LLC (New Mexico State Court). Lead counsel for Defendant in two parallel state court proceedings resolved on favorable terms after significant pretrial activity.
- Next Generation Technologies, Inc. v. TechPlan, Inc. (Tarrant County District Court). Lead counsel for Defendant in multimillion dollar antitrust and breach of contract case. Obtained summary judgment which was affirmed on appeal.
- Kevin Hopfel v. Chesapeake Energy (Johnson County District Court). Co-counsel in successful defense of oil field injury claim.
- Zimmerer Kubota v. U-Haul (Tarrant County District Court). Co-counsel for Plaintiff who obtained a favorable judgment for landowner client in easement dispute with neighboring property owner.
- TV Host, Inc. v. TV Listing, Inc, et al. (Tarrant County District Court). Lead counsel for Plaintiff in dispute with departing officer who started a competing business. Case resolved in a favorable manner after injunction hearing.
- Penguin Leasing Company v. James Larussa (Dallas County District Court). Lead counsel for Plaintiff who prevailed on breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims.
- Pension Planning Associates v. Owen Schmidt (Tarrant County Court at Law). Lead counsel for Plaintiff who prevailed in claims against former employee who started a competing business in violation of various agreements.
- Tandy Corporation v. American International Group, Inc., et al. (United States District Court, Northern District of Texas). Co-counsel in successful first-party insurance claim based upon damages arising from plant riots in Masan, South Korea.
Len has represented a cross-section of individuals and companies in pursuing and defending a variety of claims in complex matters, including:
- Defending an energy company in a title dispute in two parallel New Mexico state court cases;
- Representing specialty physicians in a derivative suit and fraud suit against the managing partner of the practice in American Health Lawyers Association arbitration;
- Defending a manufacturing company in nuisance suits arising from a plant explosion;
- Representing a landowner in litigation with an adjacent property owner in an easement dispute;
- Serving as trial counsel for appellate matters in major trials (significant motions, expert challenges, charge-related issues and post-verdict motion practice);
- Representing employers and employees in various types of employment matters; and
- Representing financial institutions in various types of disputes.
- “Top Attorneys” List – Arbitration and Mediation, 360 West, 2017-2021
- “Top Attorneys” List – Alternative Dispute Resolution, Fort Worth Magazine, 2012-2013, 2017, 2019-2020
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Arbitration, 2019-2022
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2020-2021
- Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell “Peer Review Rated”
- Listed in Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers prior to judicial election
Publications
- “Do the Eyes Have It? Psychological Testimony Regarding Eyewitness Accuracy”, 38 Baylor L. Rev. 169, 1986
Speeches
- “Challenging Experts in Texas State Courts,” Austin College – 2010 Law Symposium, Sherman, February 2010
- “Getting the Charge You Want, and Arguing It to the Jury,” Texas Bar CLE Trial of a Fiduciary Litigation Case Course, Fredericksburg, December 2009
- “Discrimination and Retaliation Claims,” Tarrant County Bar Association Employment Section, August 2009
- Speeches to Tarrant County Bar Association Employment Section, Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, and Dallas Bar Association Business Litigation Section, 2004-2007
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Judicial Evaluation Committee, Member, 2019-2022
- Business Litigation Section, Program Director, 2019
- Association of Attorney Mediators
- Abilene Christian University, Board of Visitors and University Council
- Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, Former Barrister
- Fort Worth Christian School, Trustee
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Adjunct Professor