Practice Description

Mr. Smith represents clients in a variety of litigation matters including commercial and personal injury disputes. Primary focus is complex insurance litigation including coverage disputes, insurance “bad faith” litigation and first party property claims as well as the defense of insureds in a variety of business and personal injury disputes.

His practice also includes professional liability cases, including the defense of attorneys, insurance agents/brokers and other professionals. Although primarily on the defense side, practice includes representation of plaintiffs in complex commercial and insurance litigation.

Representative Experience

Has represented clients in a variety of litigation matters, including commercial and personal injury disputes.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

United National Ins. Co. v. Mundell Terminal Services, Inc., 740 F.3d 1022 (5th Cir. 2014)

Dyess v. Harris — S.W.3d —-, 2009 WL 3462053 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2009, review denied)

Universal Underwriters Ins. Co. v. New Braunfels Trans, Inc., 2006 WL 2707003 (Tex. App.-Austin, September 20, 2006)

Bergenholtz v. Cannata, 200 S.W.3d 287 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2006)

El Dorado Motors, Inc. v. Koch, 168 S.W.3d 360 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2005)

Prieto v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, et al., 132 F. Supp. 3D 506. Aff’d 35 Fed Appor. 390 (5th Cr. 2002).

“ Spoliation of Evidence” – Texas Independent Insurance Adjusters’ Association, Annual Meeting (November, 1999).

“ Inverse Condemnation Based on ‘Bad Faith’ Delay”, Defending Governmental Entities symposium (December, 1995).

Awards & Honors

“Texas Super Lawyers” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2004-2010, 2012)

“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wallstreet Journal, 2013)

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Practice Description

Mr. Salazar represents owners, contractors, subcontractors and surety companies in all phases of the construction contracting process on private and public works projects. This includes the drafting and negotiation of complex construction agreements, contract award controversies, performance related disputes and contract claims.

He also advises clients in disputed matters in state and federal courts, board of contract appeals, arbitrations and mediations.

Representative Experience

Past Senior V.P. and General Counsel of large international structural steel company involved in the construction of major commercial, industrial and bridge projects including major stadiums, airports, arenas, hospitals, court buildings and power plants.

Past Chairman of DBA Construction Law Section – 1999

Past Chairman of the City of Dallas Building Code Advisory and Appeals Board

Former U.S. Army JAGC officer and procurement law attorney in Office of General Counsel for National Security Agency

Frequent Lecturer to Construction Industry, including presentations to the Associated General Contractors, AISC North American Steel Construction Conference, and Steel Erectors Association of America

Author of various legal articles and publications regarding the construction industry, including:
The Texas chapter of “50 States Public Construction Contracting Laws”; “Framing the Options in School Construction” in Texas Lawyer; “Statutes Affecting Federal Construction” at the 1989 Annual Texas Construction Law Conference, “Construction Issues for Public Owners and Contractors on Public Works in Texas” presented to the Cambridge Institute Seminar in Dallas, Texas in 1991.

Selected Published Cases

El Paso County Lower Valley Water District v. Oscar Renda Contracting, Inc., 2004 WL 1637990

Awards & Honors

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Practice Description

Mr. Pickelman advises clients in complex commercial litigation, in addition to the defense and prosecution of cases involving professional negligence, catastrophic injury, transportation, premises liability, construction, products liability and insurance, both coverage and bad faith on behalf of insurers and policyholders.

Representative Experience

Successfully handled numerous matters ranging from personal injury to complex commercial disputes on behalf of both defendants and plaintiffs, in state, federal and bankruptcy courts in Texas and states throughout the United States.

Diverse practice has led to success in representing clients at both trial and appeal, as well as in arbitrations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Warsaw Convention Revisited for the Last Time? 64 J. AIR L. & COM. 273 (1998)

Evett v. Consolidated Freightways Corp., 110 F.Supp.2d 510 (E.D.Tex. 2000)

Mt. Hawley Ins. Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 110 Fed. Appx. 371 (5th Cir. 2004)

Ferguson v. Mt. Hawley Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 2:03-CV-381 (E.D.Tex. 2004)

TIG Ins. Co. v. North America Van Lines, 170 S.W.3d 264 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2005, no pet.)

Universal Insurance Exchange v. Overland Underwriting Managers, Case No. 04-82393-bjh7 (N.D.Tex. Bank. 2005)(Opinion March 28, 2005)

Connaway v. Village Farms, L.P., 200 S.W.3d 353 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2006, no pet.)

Bergenholtz v. Cannata, 200 S.W.3d 287, (Tex.App.-Dallas 2006, no pet.)

Pierre v. Newman, Davenport & Epstein, P.C., 2006 WL 1522613 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2006, pet. denied).

Diamond H. Recognition LP v. King of Fans, Inc., 589 F.Supp.2d 772 (N.D. Tex. 2008)

West American Ins. Co. v. RLI Ins. Co., 2009 WL 3327203 (W.D. Mo. 2009)

Hanson v. Greystar Development & Const., LP, 317 S.W.3d 850 (Tex. App. – Fort Worth 2010, pet. denied)

Awards & Honors

“Top Lawyers in Dallas under 40” (D Magazine 2006)
“Texas Super Lawyers — Rising Stars” (2004-2013)
“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wallstreet Journal, 2013)
Order of the Coif — NOTE — top 10 in SMU law graduation class
Beta Gamma Sigma — NOTE — business degree equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa
SMU Law Review

Practice Description

Mr. Lownds represents clients in complex litigation regarding banking, construction, fraud, corporate control, real estate, trademark infringement, commodities trading, deceptive trade practices and contract disputes. His consistent success in court has been based on his unique ability to condense and theme complex transactions and facts into simple and persuasive presentations.

Representative Experience

Appointed to American Arbitration Association, Commercial and Construction Panels, in 1991. Served as arbitrator over more than 100 arbitrations. Appointed to American Arbitration National Mass Claims Panel in 1998.

Served as lead appellate counsel in cases before the Courts of Appeal in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Amarillo, and Corpus Christi, as well as the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits.

Served as lead trial counsel with litigation team in over 50 trials and arbitrations involving commercial and business disputes. Trials and arbitrations range from a few days to over 4 months. Cases tried are diverse including disputes regarding construction delays in construction of petrochemical plants and retractable roof sports facility, business fraud, defective design of air separation facility, global freight forwarding contracts, trade secret and noncompetes, securities fraud, real estate, and the design, operation and warranty of industrial equipment.

Handled one of first “paperless” trials in Federal District Court in Dallas in 1995. For past 15 years has consistently taken advantage of the latest advancements in document management and presentation technology in discovery and the courtroom to provide the most effective advocacy for clients while keeping costs in line with the clients’ ultimate objectives.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Formosa Plastics Corp., USA v. Kajima International, Inc., 216 S.W.3d 436 (Tex.App.- Corpus Christi, 2006, pet. denied)

Bulko v. Morgan Stanley DW, Inc., 2004 WL 2973760 (N.D.Tex. Dec. 20, 2004) (Sanders, J.)

Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation v. Cribbs, 918 F.2d 557

Campbell v. C.D. Payne and Geldermann Securities, Inc., 894 S.W.2d 411

Hirschfeld Steel Co., Inc. v. Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc., 201 S.W.3d 272 (Tex.App.- Houston [14 Dist.],2006)

American Fidelity Fire Inc. Co. v. Pixley, 687 S.W.2d 50 (Tex. App. -Houston [14 Dist]., 1985)

Shamrock Roofing Supply, Inc. v. Mercantile Nat. Bank at Dallas, 703 S.W.2d 256 (Tex. App. –Dallas, 1985)

Deer Creek Limited v. North American Mortgage Company, 792 S.W.2d 198

In re Kajima International, 139 S.W.3d 107 (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi, 2004)

Kajima International, Inc., v. Formosa Plastics Corporation, USA, 15 S.W.3d 289

Brown v. Capital Bank, N.A., 703 S.W.2d 231

Bulko v. Morgan Stanley DW, Inc., 450 F.3d 622 (5th Cir.2006)

Awards & Honors

“Texas Super Lawyers” (Texas Monthly magazine, 2004-2013)

“Texas Top-Rated Lawyers” (Dallas Morning News & The Wallstreet Journal, 2012)

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating

Practice Description

Mr. Feiler helps clients in a variety of litigation matters including commercial and construction disputes, along with complex insurance litigation, coverage disputes and rescission actions (especially involving fidelity and surety bonds), and the defense of insureds in a variety of business, property, and personal injury claims. Although primarily on the defense side, his practice includes representation of plaintiffs in complex insurance and commercial litigation, and employment-related claims.

Representative Experience

Representation primarily on defensive side, but also represents plaintiff-insurers in coverage disputes.

Speaker at national programs related to fidelity and surety law.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

Timing is Everything, Except When it Isn’t: The Notice/Prejudice Rule and Its Effect on Fidelity Bond Claims, American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee (author and speaker)
(New York, Jan. 27, 2012).

You Can’t Ask That! Asserting Work Product Protection for Deposition Preparation Materials,
20 The Brief, No. 2 (ABA Winter 2011).

Co-Author, When is a Material Change Really Material?, 13th Annual Gulfcoast Fidelity & Surety Institute
(Boca Grande, June 2-5, 2011).

Ponzi Schemes: Claims, Coverage Issues and Quantification of Losses, Surety Claims Institute (author and speaker)
(Cape Cod, MA, June 24-26, 2009).

Contributing Author, The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrines – The Boundaries of Protected Communications Held By Insureds and Insurers, XIV Fidelity Law Journal
(Michael Keeley and Martha L. Perkins, eds. October 2008).

Co-Author, Voiding A Policy Obtained By Fraud, Other Than Through Normal Rescission, 10th Annual Gulf Coast Fidelity and Surety Institute (May 29 – June 1, 2008).

Contributing Author, Loan Loss Coverage Under Insuring Agreement (A), in Loan Loss Coverage Under Financial Institution Bonds (Gilbert J. Schroeder and John J. Tomaine, eds., ABA 2008).

Co-author, Construction and Surety Law, Annual Survey, 61 SMU Law Review 705 (2008).

Thornburg Insulation, Inc. v. J.W. Terrill, Inc., The Missouri Court of Appeals Correctly Interprets Standard-Form
Commercial Crime Policy Definition of “Occurrence”, Fidelity Law Assoc. Newsletter (Jan./Feb. 2008).

Co-author, Construction and Surety Law, Annual Survey, 60 SMU Law Review 839 (2007).

Co-author, Construction and Surety Law, Annual Survey, 59 SMU Law Review 1079 (2006).

Practice Description

Mr. Carlton’s business and litigation practice currently focuses on providing consultation and representation to insurance carriers and policy-holders in numerous areas of insurance coverage; and defending insurers, self-insureds and third-party administrators against claims of insurance bad faith. He also maintains a commercial litigation practice representing self-insured employers, construction companies, contractors, and other business entities.

Representative Experience

Provided insurance coverage opinions, counsel and representation in disputes and litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, commercial property, environmental, workers’ compensation/employers’ liability and commercial umbrella liability policies.

Represented national primary and excess insurance carriers and third-party administrators in high exposure coverage and extra-contractual “bad faith” litigation.

Represented business clients in disputes involving insurance brokers, agents, carriers, third-party administrators, claims representatives and self-insureds.

Defended national construction companies, contractors and professional employer organizations in suits involving alleged construction defects and catastrophic damages and injuries.

Selected Publications, Seminars and Cases

The Challenge of Integrated Data and Information Management when Splitting the Claim File, Insurance Bad Faith & Coverage Conference, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, New York, New York (2014).

To Split or Not to Split: Avoiding Bad Faith when Defense and Coverage Collide, Annual Conference, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Boca Raton, Florida (2014).

Preparing the Company Witness for a Bad Faith Deposition, Insurance and Bad Faith Coverage Conference, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Atlanta, Georgia (2014).

Proven Methods to Avoid “Wasting” a Policy When There are Multiple Investigations and Competing Demands, American Conference Institute’s 25th National Advanced Forum on Bad Faith Litigation, San Francisco, CA (2013)

Claim Manuals and Training Materials: How to Address Them During Discovery and Trial, Insurance Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Liability, DRI, Boston, MA (2013)

Insurance Bad Faith – Getting Lean in Big Litigation: A New Way to Workout, Annual Conference, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, San Antonio, TX (2013)

SIR’s, Settlement in Excess of Verdicts: When the Finger Pointing Starts, Fraud-Bad Faith-Coverage Conference, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Orlando, FL (2013)

Avoiding Bad Faith When Litigating Questionable Coverage: Reservation of Rights, Declaratory Judgement Actions, Partially Covered Claims and Additional Insured Issues, American Conference Institute’s 23rd Annual National Forum on Bad Faith Litigation, Orlando, FL (Nov. 2012)

The Insurer’s Right to Intervene – And other Problems When the Insured Assigns its Bad Faith Claims, Insurance and Bad Faith Coverage Conference, Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Boston, MA (2012)

Duty of Good Faith: Insurance Claims Practices, Gallhager Basset, Sedgwick, Tri-Star, Travelers, Broadspire (2010)

Shifting the Risks: Selected Avenues of Risk Management in Texas Contractual Relationships, Texas Association of Defense Counsel (2010)

Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing: Insurance Claims Practices, Hartford Ins., ESIS (2009)

Fundamentals of Litigation Management, Counsel on Litigation Management (2009)

Case Assessment and Evaluation, Council on Litigation Management (2009)

Duty of Good Faith/Insurance Code Litigation: A Utilization Review Perspective, Hartford Ins. (2009)

Duty of Good Faith/Texas Insurance Code Litigation: Case Development, Hartford Ins. (2008)

Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; A Claims Handling Perspective. Gallagher Basset (2007)

Defending Non-Subscriber Cases, Workers’ Comp Publication Seminar (2006)

Coverage Issues in Nursing Home Claims, DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute (2006)

Twin City Fire Insurance Company v. Davis, 904 S.W.2d 663 (Tex. 1995)

Community Involvement, Affiliations and Memberships

Member, Defense Research Institute (Insurance Law Committee, 2003-present; SIU/Fraud Subcommittee Co-Chair, 2014; Board of Directors, 2014) (Commercial Litigation Committee, 2006-present)

Member, Texas Association of Defense Counsel (Board of Directors, 1999-2005;
Dallas Area Vice-President, 2002-2005)

Member, State Bar of Texas (Tort and Insurance Law Committee)

Member, Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (2010-2012)

Member, Counsel for Litigation Management (Bad Faith Committee, 2009-present; eDiscovery & ESI Committee, 2013-present)

Awards & Honors

AV ® PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell rating