Dale Jefferson
Mr. Jefferson is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with extensive experience in complex commercial, professional malpractice, insurance, employment and tort litigation and regularly tries cases as lead counsel in district, county and probate court as well as arbitration. Mr. Jefferson has tried to verdict cases in four different states. He also provides outside general counsel services to a variety of leading business entities and law firms. In the courtroom, he has handled some of the highest profile lawsuits in Texas. Mr. Jefferson has appeared on numerous national television broadcasts, including CNN, Dateline, Good Morning America and the Oprah Winfrey Show. His strengths involve fiduciary litigation, the law of lawyering, insurance law, and coverage issues involving technology, copyright, intellectual property, and the media, employment law, tort law and real estate and construction law. In 2008, Mr. Jefferson was elected into membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization that certifies only experienced first-chair jury trial attorneys into membership.
Professional Affiliations
State Bar of Texas (Litigation, Probate, Intellectual Property and Insurance sections)
Houston Bar Association
American Bar Association
Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
Honors & Awards
Elected Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Named to the Texas Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, as featured in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers magazines (2004-2018)
Best Lawyers in America Commercial Litigation, 2015 - 2018
South Texas College of Law Distinguished Alumni Recipient, 2011
Outstanding Lawyers of America
Adjunct Professor South Texas College of Law, 1987 – 2003
News
- The John M. O'Quinn Estate and Foundation Announce Lawsuit SettlementJanuary 5, 2012
- J.R. Smith Lawsuit Called Off After Nuggets Guard Delivers Money In HoustonJanuary 27, 2010
- Former ambassador Arthur Schechter prevails in his court case, wins more than $3.5 millionMay 14, 2008
- July 13, 2007
- April 9, 2004
Publications
Mr. Jefferson has been a much sought after CLE speaker for over a decade. Mr. Jefferson has written articles and delivered speeches at seminars across Texas and in other states on a variety of legal topics. His articles cover the spectrum of civil litigation issues, including legal malpractice, insurance coverage, trial and litigation skills and tactics, employment, media, real estate and tort issues. Starting in 2006, Mr. Jefferson was invited to be part of the faculty for the Texas College for Judicial Studies, the advanced legal education course for Texas Judges. Mr. Jefferson has also been accredited by the Texas Real Estate Commission as a certified continuing education instructor for real estate professionals. Mr. Jefferson also served as an adjunct professor of appellate advocacy at South Texas College of Law where he coached 12 national championship teams in his 17 years of teaching.
Practice areas
- Lawyering for Lawyers
- Advertising Liability and Personal Injury
- Appellate Assistance
- Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Bad Faith Litigation
- Business Torts
- Class Actions
- Class Actions and Mass Torts
- Class and Collective Actions
- Commercial General Liability
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Corporate, Partnership, and Securities Litigation
- Counseling on Tilley Conflicts
- Coverage Analysis and Advice
- Directors’ and Officers Liability
- E&O Coverage Problems
- Employment Contracts
- Ethics Opinions
- Fee Disputes
- Hurricane Litigation
- Intellectual Property Litigation/Media Rights
- Labor and Employment
- Law Firm Employment Claims
- Partnership Disputes
- Personal Injury Litigation (Products and Premises Liability)
- Probate and Fiduciary Litigation
- Professional Liability
- Professional Liability (Accountants / Architects / Engineers)
- Professional Liability Claims
- Real Estate Litigation
- Tort, Energy and Commercial Litigation
Admissions
- Texas Supreme Court
- Texas Courts
- United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Education
South Texas College of Law, J.D. 1986
- Order of Barristers
- Recipient, South Texas Outstanding Advocate Award
- National Finalist, ABA Moot Court National Championship, 1985
- Finalist, State Bar Moot Court Cup, 1986
- Regional Champion and top Individual Oralist, National Appellate Advocacy Competition, 1986
- Board of Advocates Director
Houston Baptist University, B.A. with honors, 1983
- Who’s Who Among American College Students
- National Dean’s List
- Captain, University Debate Squad
- Sports Editor, Campus Newspaper
- Kappa Alpha Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior
- College of Humanities Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior
- Numerous Intercollegiate Awards for College Debate