Trial & Appellate Litigation

Jackson Walker is the “go-to” trial firm for many clients in complex or bet-the-company cases in Texas and across the U.S. Clients often tell us, “We hire you for the difficult ones.” Our trial attorneys are known for advocacy, judgment, and responsiveness. Listening, understanding and believing in the goals of our clients are our guideposts in delivering results at the courthouse.

Jackson Walker’s trial group is one of the Southwest’s largest, encompassing about 30 percent of the firm’s approximately 500 attorneys. Our diverse experience covers multiple industry sectors and specialty practice areas and takes us into courthouses across the Lone Star State, from the major markets of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley, East and West Texas, and the Gulf Coast. Our trial practice also spans the U.S., as we have litigated cases in nearly every state in the union.

We remind ourselves every day of the privilege we enjoy representing outstanding clients in important cases demanding the best we can offer.

  • Results: We are known for our expertise in bet-the-company and high-profile cases in Texas, nationally and internationally. Yet, we bring a client- and results-oriented focus to all cases, regardless of size or amount in controversy.
  • Preparation: We prepare each case as if it were going to trial, which increases the opportunity for an early, favorable pre-trial resolution. If the case must be tried, we’re ready.
  • Efficiency: We zealously represent our clients in litigation with a steady eye on the bottom line in terms of costs and desired results. We use best practices in project management to ensure predictability and cost control for our clients, and we adapt our fee structure to client needs, from traditional hourly billing at competitive rates to alternative fee arrangements.
  • Technology: Here’s how Texas Lawyer described one of our partners in a high-profile trial. He “didn’t just tell the (Court) what he intended to prove, he used his timeline and PowerPoint presentation to prove his case.” Our innovative use of graphics and video exemplifies a commitment to excellence in the courtroom.
  • Alternatives: Our attorneys are thoroughly experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.

Juan M. Alcala

Juan M. Alcala

Partner, Austin
512.236.2076

Stacy Allen

Stacy Allen

Partner, Austin
512.236.2090

Allison Allman

Allison Allman

Associate, Fort Worth
817.334.7206

Adam Aston

Adam Aston

Senior Counsel, Austin
512.236.2056

Amy L. Baird

Amy L. Baird

Partner, Houston
713.752.4525

West Bakke

West Bakke

Associate, San Antonio
210.228.2471

Chris Bankler

Chris Bankler

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6053

Gabriela Barake

Gabriela Barake

Associate, Houston
713.752.4427

Kelly Beam

Kelly Beam

Research Attorney, Houston
713.752.4573

Nolan Bedward

Nolan Bedward

Associate, Austin
512.236.2054

Robert M. Biedrzycki

Robert M. Biedrzycki

Associate, San Antonio
210.978.7756

Cooper Bradbury

Cooper Bradbury

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5638

Autumn R. Brehon

Autumn R. Brehon

Associate, Houston
713.752.4482

Marilyn Brown

Marilyn Brown

Partner, Austin
512.236.2379

S. Brad Brown

S. Brad Brown

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5819

Ryan Bruck

Ryan Bruck

Associate, Dallas
214.953.6151

Jennifer A. Bryant

Jennifer A. Bryant

Senior Counsel, Houston
713.752.4211

Georgina Buckley-Graham

Georgina Buckley-Graham

Associate, San Antonio
210.978.7716

Edwin Buffmire

Edwin Buffmire

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5939

Christa Bunce

Christa Bunce

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5657

Amanda L. Bush

Amanda L. Bush

Of Counsel, Austin
512.236.2015

Lauren Bush

Lauren Bush

Associate, Austin
512.236.2018

Clinton Butler

Clinton Butler

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7708

Carl C. Butzer

Carl C. Butzer

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5902

Stephen Calhoun

Stephen Calhoun

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7713

Emily Carlton

Emily Carlton

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5675

Lauren Ceckowski

Lauren Ceckowski

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5938

Robert M. Cohan

Robert M. Cohan

Retired Partner, Dallas
214.953.6000

Demi Williams Coles

Demi Williams Coles

Senior Counsel, Dallas
214.953.6121

C. Wade Cooper

C. Wade Cooper

Partner, Austin
512.236.2220

Matthew C. Corboy

Matthew C. Corboy

Associate, Dallas
214-953-5762

Amanda N. Crouch

Amanda N. Crouch

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7784

Tim Davis

Tim Davis

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7270

Ivan De Leon

Ivan De Leon

Associate, Houston
713.752.4207

Jared DeFelice

Jared DeFelice

Associate, San Antonio
210.228.2430

Rob Deloit

Rob Deloit

Associate, Dallas
214.953.6168

Anne Derrig

Anne Derrig

Associate, Austin
512.236.2279

Carter Dickson

Carter Dickson

Associate, Houston
713.752.4331

Shannon Dugan

Shannon Dugan

Associate, Fort Worth
817.334.7261

John K. Edwards

John K. Edwards

Partner, Houston
713.752.4319

Tori Emery

Tori Emery

Associate, Houston
713.752.4428

Jennifer Freel

Jennifer Freel

Partner, Austin
512.236.2330

Marc Fuller

Marc Fuller

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5793

Sean F. Gallagher

Sean F. Gallagher

Associate, Austin
512.236.2014

Noah M. Galton

Noah M. Galton

Partner, Austin
512.236.2026

Gracie Garcia

Gracie Garcia

Associate, Fort Worth
817.334.7217

Richard G. Garza

Richard G. Garza

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7734

Erica Benites Giese

Erica Benites Giese

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7791

Luke J. Gilman

Luke J. Gilman

Partner, Houston
713.752.4350

Jeffrey R. Gilmore

Jeffrey R. Gilmore

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7285

Joel R. Glover

Joel R. Glover

Partner, Houston
713.752.4226

Javier Gonzalez

Javier Gonzalez

Associate, Houston
713.752.4453

Jeffrey Grable

Jeffrey Grable

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7259

Peter C. Hansen

Peter C. Hansen

Senior Counsel, Austin
512.236.2319

Sara K. Harris

Sara K. Harris

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6074

Breck Harrison

Breck Harrison

Partner, Austin
512.236.2315

Jeff T. Harvey

Jeff T. Harvey

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7715

Dawn S. Holiday

Dawn S. Holiday

Partner, Houston
713.752.4273

Baker Howry

Baker Howry

Associate, Houston
713.752.4486

Gary L. Ingram

Gary L. Ingram

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7245

William R. Jenkins

William R. Jenkins

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7214

Jalen Johnson

Jalen Johnson

Associate, Houston
713.752.4266

Gavin B. Justiss

Gavin B. Justiss

Research Attorney, Dallas
214.953.6033

Andy Keetch

Andy Keetch

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7289

Connor Kidd

Connor Kidd

Associate, Austin
512.236.2384

Lindsay Killeen

Lindsay Killeen

Associate, Austin
512.236.2370

Bailey King

Bailey King

Associate, Fort Worth
817.334.7254

John A. Koepke

John A. Koepke

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6005

Caleb Kunde

Caleb Kunde

Associate, San Antonio
210.228.7717

Brett Kutnick

Brett Kutnick

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6174

J. Davis LaBarre

J. Davis LaBarre

Associate, Houston
713.752.4591

Abby Lahvis

Abby Lahvis

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5660

Justin V. Lee

Justin V. Lee

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6072

Caren Zentner Luckie

Caren Zentner Luckie

Research Attorney, Houston
713.752.4479

Joe Magliolo

Joe Magliolo

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6007

Emily Mann

Emily Mann

Associate, San Antonio
210.978.7728

Julia W. Mann

Julia W. Mann

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7761

Reagan M. Marble

Reagan M. Marble

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7770

Dyana Mardon

Dyana Mardon

Associate, San Antonio
210.978.7740

Cody A. Martinez

Cody A. Martinez

Associate, Dallas
214.953.6149

Blake Mattingly

Blake Mattingly

Associate, San Antonio

Patrick McCarthy

Patrick McCarthy

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5968

Danica L. Milios

Danica L. Milios

Senior Counsel, Austin
512.236.2346

Mark H. Miller

Mark H. Miller

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7751

David T. Moran

David T. Moran

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6051

Mitchell Murphy

Mitchell Murphy

Partner, Houston
713.752.4435

Michael Murtha

Michael Murtha

Associate, Dallas
214.953.6187

David C. Myers

David C. Myers

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6036

James H. Nye

James H. Nye

Partner, Houston
713.752.4398

Brian H. Oates

Brian H. Oates

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5935

Trevor Paul

Trevor Paul

Associate, Fort Worth
817.334.7291

Jack Pew, Jr.

Jack Pew, Jr.

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6096

Adam L. Plumbley

Adam L. Plumbley

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7284

Wasif Qureshi

Wasif Qureshi

Partner, Houston
713.752.4521

Joseph P. Regan

Joseph P. Regan

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7271

Samuel R. Richards

Samuel R. Richards

Staff Attorney, Austin
512.236.2042

Duncan Robinson

Duncan Robinson

Associate, Houston
713.752.4207

Brittani Rollen

Brittani Rollen

Senior Counsel, Fort Worth
817.334.7236

Melissa Ruiz

Melissa Ruiz

Associate, Austin
512.236.2301

Jay K. Rutherford

Jay K. Rutherford

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7246

Joe R. Savoie

Joe R. Savoie

Senior Counsel, Houston
713.752.4363

Andrew Schafer

Andrew Schafer

Associate, Austin
512.236.2389

Cameron A. Secord

Cameron A. Secord

Associate, Houston
713.752.4362

Jack E. Skaggs

Jack E. Skaggs

Partner, Austin
512.236.2343

Jocelyn Thibodaux Slater

Jocelyn Thibodaux Slater

Senior Counsel, Houston
713.752.4312

Katherine Soley

Katherine Soley

Research Attorney, Fort Worth
817.334.7265

Robert L. Soza, Jr.

Robert L. Soza, Jr.

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7718

Sarah Starr

Sarah Starr

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5686

Shane Stout

Shane Stout

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5652

Frederick Sultan

Frederick Sultan

Senior Counsel, Austin
512.236.2049

Matthew J. Swantner

Matthew J. Swantner

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7782

R. Conor Tomalty

R. Conor Tomalty

Associate, Houston
713.752.4460

Cody Lee Vaughn

Cody Lee Vaughn

Associate, Austin
512.236.2222

Len A. Wade

Len A. Wade

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7263

Ryan Watkins

Ryan Watkins

Associate, Dallas
214.953.5692

Paul C. Watler

Paul C. Watler

Partner, Dallas
214.953.6069

Scott A. Wheatley

Scott A. Wheatley

Partner, Fort Worth
817.334.7224

Ben Whitehead

Ben Whitehead

Associate, Austin
512.236.2060

Schuyler Whiting

Schuyler Whiting

Associate, Austin
512.236.2010

Ali Williams

Ali Williams

Associate, Fort Worth
817.334.7292

Shannon Wright

Shannon Wright

Associate, Houston
713.752.4496

Austin Yancy

Austin Yancy

Associate, Houston
713.752.4346

Zach Zurek

Zach Zurek

Partner, San Antonio
210.978.7757

US Supreme Court building statue

December 18, 2025
Insights

The Spizzirri Dilemma: Supreme Court Review of The Tangled Web of Federal Court Jurisdiction to Review Arbitration Awards | Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

In this article featured in Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Lionel M. Schooler examines the Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in Adrian Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties, which directly presents whether a federal court that properly exercised jurisdiction and stayed a case pending arbitration retains authority to hear post-award applications to confirm or vacate under FAA §§ 9 or 10.

Allison Allman

December 16, 2025
Attorney News

Allison Allman Appointed to Texas State Bar Professional Ethics Committee

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Allison Allman has been appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to a three-year term on the Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas.

December 5, 2025
Attorney News

American College of Coverage Counsel Elects Christopher Thompson as a Fellow

Jackson Walker proudly congratulates Christopher A. Thompson on his election as a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC).

December 3, 2025
Insights

CIPA Claims Surge: What Every Company with a California-Facing Website Must Know

By John M. Jackson and Shannon Wright

Data privacy and compliance professionals navigate an increasing number of U.S. and international regulations related to consumer data privacy and data security. Nearly 20 U.S. states now have comprehensive consumer data privacy laws, with three more states’ laws set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

 

Nathaniel "Nate" St. Clair II

November 19, 2025
Attorney News

‘D CEO’ Features Nathaniel St. Clair Among Dallas 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders

In the 2026 Dallas 500 edition of D CEO Magazine, Jackson Walker partner Nate St. Clair has been recognized among the most powerful business leaders in Business & IP Litigation in North Texas.

Texas State Capitol building-Texas Supreme Court in Austin

November 18, 2025
Insights

Texas Supreme Court Reinforces Limits on Individual Shareholder Claims

By Chris Bankler

The Texas Supreme Court issued a significant clarification on when shareholders may sue individually rather than derivatively for breach of fiduciary duty. In its opinion issued on November 14, 2025, in In re UMTH General Services, L.P., the Texas Supreme Court resoundingly rejected efforts by shareholders to transform fiduciary duties owed to the company into individual shareholder claims for breach of fiduciary duty.

November 12, 2025
Spotlight

‘Benchmark Litigation’ Recognizes Jackson Walker’s Trial & Appellate Litigation Attorneys in 2026 Rankings

Benchmark Litigation, a global guide focused exclusively on litigation, has ranked Jackson Walker as a recommended firm for dispute resolution in the United States. Additionally, Charles L. Babcock, John K. Edwards, Retta A. Miller, Jeffrey Oldham, and Paul Watler were recognized as “Litigation Stars.”

November 11, 2025
Insights

Texas Business Court Rejects Delaware-Style Veil Piercing, Enforces Texas’ Statutory Standard

By Chris Bankler

The Texas Business Court continues to show it will enforce statutory limits on entity liability and scrutinize early pleadings under Rule 91a. Judge Brian Stagner’s opinion in Lensabl hits three issues that frequently arise: (1) veil piercing, (2) attempts to impose personal contract liability on an owner, and (3) fraud based on pre-closing representations.

November 6, 2025
Attorney News

Frederick Sultan Joins Dual Leadership Roles in National and Texas Bar Organizations

Jackson Walker proudly congratulates Senior Counsel Frederick Sultan on his appointment to two significant leadership positions that reflect his steadfast commitment to advancing inclusion, equity, and engagement within the legal profession.

More Trial & Appellate Litigation News