View Short Bio
Experience
2006 to Present: Cavazos, Hendricks, Poirot & Smitham, P.C., Of Counsel; March 2005 to December 2006: Solo Practice; April 2004 to March 2005: Trio Industries Group, Inc., Dallas, Texas, General Counsel; August 1967 to March 2004: Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, Dallas, Texas, Associate (1967-1973), Partner (1973-2004); August 1966 to July 1967: Supreme Court of Texas, Austin, Texas, Briefing Attorney.
Attorney with 40 years experience in the fields of corporate, securities and employee benefits law. Proven success at spotting and communicating legal issues, developing creative solutions to difficult or complex legal and business problems, creating consensus and supervising and coordinating the work of other attorneys. Ability to counsel with business owners, corporate executives, and Boards of Directors in business as well as legal matters. Strengths include maturity, experience and sound judgment, in addition to drafting and other technical skills and knowledge of the law.
Education
Southern Methodist University School of Law, LLB, 1966
Leading Articles Editor, Southwestern Law Journal
Order of the Woolsack (currently known as Order of the Coif)
Order of the Barristers
Southern Methodist University, Bachelor of Arts, 1963
Licenses and Certifications
1966 to present: Licensed by Supreme Court of the State of Texas.
1972 to present: Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
Professional Affiliations
(1966 to present) Member of State Bar of Texas
(1971 to present) American Bar Association Federal Regulation of Securities Committee and Chairman or member of numerous subcommittees
(1978 - 1979) Southwest Benefits Association, President
(1975 - 1980) Southwest Benefits Association Board of Directors and speaker
(1986 to present) Member of Dallas Bar Association
(1997 to present) SMU Dedman School of Law, Executive Board
Community Affiliations
(1994 - present) Dallas Theological Seminary, Advisory Board
(1980 - 1987) Dallas Symphony Association, Board of Trustees
(1988 - 1993) Dallas Symphony Association, Board of Governors
(1980 - present) Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Dallas, Founder and Chairman
(1972 - 1977) SMU Alumni Executive Board; Volunteer of the Year (1984)
Law Professionals for Christ, Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Founder
Mission trips to Cuba, Russia, Peru and Mexico
Types Of Matters
Extensive experience handling a broad cross-section of matters for large and small, public and private companies and partnerships.
General Corporate
Advice regarding formation and structure (tax considerations, control and ownership features, foreign entities)
Corporate governance matters, including Sarbanes Oxley compliance
Contract negotiation and drafting
Board of Directors and stockholder meetings
Corporate reorganizations
Insurance and reinsurance company representation (offshore and domestic)
Representation of executive officers (including employment and termination matters)
Representation of majority and minority stockholders (buy-sell agreements and disputes)
Representation of Boards of Directors and individual directors
Representation of Audit and Special Board Committees
Corporate Finance
Public and private offerings (debt and equity)
Tender and exchange offers
Spin-offs and going-private transactions
Mergers and acquisitions
Regulatory and SEC Compliance
SEC and State Blue Sky Law filings
NASD and stock exchange filings
Representation of broker-dealers
Representation of investment bankers
Representation of investment advisors
Representation of mutual funds and hedge funds
Department of Defense compliance
Proprietary school law compliance
Employee Benefits
ERISA compliance
Executive compensation
Formation of 401 (k) plans
Formation of ESOPs
Formation of stock option and stock purchase plans
ESOP transactions (including management buyouts)
