Banks, Olaide A.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Blackwell represents a variety of clients, ranging from general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, insurers, and sureties in construction and labor issues, to companies involved in sales, acquisitions, corporate governance matters, commercial disputes, and other challenges arising in the commercial arena. He has engaged in significant contract negotiation; corporate formation, structuring, and governance matters; sales and acquisitions of assets and ownership interests; contract negotiation and drafting; construction disputes involving delays, terminations for default, payment, asset seizure, fraud, labor and employment issues; and a variety of other disputes that arise during construction. Mr. Blackwell regularly lectures on matters affecting construction clients, on ethics and liability for engineers, and on changes in Louisiana construction law for construction managers. 

Mr. Ferrini has served as lead construction contract writer and negotiator for private, corporate, and institutional projects, ranging from school district facility upgrades to the restoration of historic and iconic buildings, new multiuse developments of up to $500 million, and first-of-their-kind buildings in the New York City area. He has developed novel agreements and strategies to assist owners in moving their projects forward and has resolved complex claims that have paved the way for major new projects in multiple metro locations. Clients benefit from his extensive trial and appellate court experience and his cross-disciplinary approach in addressing their issues. Mr. Ferrini also has extensive dispute-resolution experience, resolving wide-ranging construction disputes in and out of court, including delay, construction defect, change orders, and lien foreclosure claims, as well as issues regarding mistakes, concealed conditions, bid challenges, and design professional malpractice. He taught Construction Law in the LL.M. program at New York Law School and has authored numerous articles on construction and design industry topics. In addition, he serves as a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, an invitation-only construction lawyer honorary society with membership limited to 1,200 practicing fellows from around the world. Mr. Ferrini has his own practice, but is also Of Counsel at Olshan Frome Wolosky, LLP.

Ms. Robinson’s primary areas of practice include construction contracts and litigation, surety law, insurance defense, zoning and planning, trademark prosecution and litigation, and general litigation. Ms. Robinson’s degree in Civil Engineering adds to her technical understanding of these practice areas. She represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, and sureties on a range of construction related issues including: 

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction contracts;
• Advising landowners regarding zoning, permitting, subdivision, and variances;
• The Louisiana Private Works Act and Louisiana Public Works Act;
• Complex construction claims for payment, default, delays, and defective work
• Contractor licensing

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Mr. Abraham leads the Firm’s Complex Litigation practice group, and is a member of the Firm’s Banking & Financial Services, Redevelopment and Life Sciences practice groups.  Equally skilled in the board room and the court room, He counsels his clients in a wide variety of practice areas and across industries.  Banks, pharmaceutical companies, developers and business owners all rely upon Mr. Abraham’s legal advice to solve their most difficult problems.  In the development and redevelopment practice areas, Mr. Abraham draws on a wealth of experience in environmental law, land use law, regulatory/administrative law, and construction law to solve his client’s most pressing problems.  Mr. Abraham’s assignments have included high-profile redevelopment projects in New Jersey’s largest cities, disputes relating to water and sewer resource allocation for new developments, complex construction defect suits, and environmental remediation suits.  He received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law and graduated cum laude.  During law school, he served as an editor of the Seton Hall Law Review.  Mr. Abraham is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Blackwell represents a variety of clients, ranging from general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, insurers, and sureties in construction and labor issues, to companies involved in sales, acquisitions, corporate governance matters, commercial disputes, and other challenges arising in the commercial arena. He has engaged in significant contract negotiation; corporate formation, structuring, and governance matters; sales and acquisitions of assets and ownership interests; contract negotiation and drafting; construction disputes involving delays, terminations for default, payment, asset seizure, fraud, labor and employment issues; and a variety of other disputes that arise during construction. Mr. Blackwell regularly lectures on matters affecting construction clients, on ethics and liability for engineers, and on changes in Louisiana construction law for construction managers. 

Mr. Ferrini has served as lead construction contract writer and negotiator for private, corporate, and institutional projects, ranging from school district facility upgrades to the restoration of historic and iconic buildings, new multiuse developments of up to $500 million, and first-of-their-kind buildings in the New York City area. He has developed novel agreements and strategies to assist owners in moving their projects forward and has resolved complex claims that have paved the way for major new projects in multiple metro locations. Clients benefit from his extensive trial and appellate court experience and his cross-disciplinary approach in addressing their issues. Mr. Ferrini also has extensive dispute-resolution experience, resolving wide-ranging construction disputes in and out of court, including delay, construction defect, change orders, and lien foreclosure claims, as well as issues regarding mistakes, concealed conditions, bid challenges, and design professional malpractice. He taught Construction Law in the LL.M. program at New York Law School and has authored numerous articles on construction and design industry topics. In addition, he serves as a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, an invitation-only construction lawyer honorary society with membership limited to 1,200 practicing fellows from around the world. Mr. Ferrini has his own practice, but is also Of Counsel at Olshan Frome Wolosky, LLP.

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Pasheilich represents clients in environmental litigation and provides counseling as to a wide range of environmental matters, including regulatory compliance and enforcement related to air, water and solid & hazardous waste media.  Gary advises clients regarding environmental due diligence for commercial property transactions, offering advice and strategies for reducing potential liability risks.  Prior to entering private practice, Gary served as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General in the Environmental Enforcement Section, representing the State of Ohio and the Director of Ohio EPA.

Mr. Pempus has been a risk manager for more than 18 years, with experience in architecture, engineering, land use, law and professional liability insurance, and a unique and well-rounded background in the construction industry. Prior to risk management, he had 25 years of experience in the practice of architecture and engineering, and as an adjunct professor teaching professional practice courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the last 35 years. As a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and AIA National Ethics Council 2021 chair, he has demonstrated his impact on architectural profession. He is a licensed architect, attorney and property and casualty insurance agent.

Ms. Skulski has more than 30 years of professional experience as a consultant, instructor, and researcher advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities in parks, recreation, and tourism. She has diverse expertise in the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards specific to recreation facilities and outdoor recreation environments, program access provisions required under Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, accessibility assessments, transition planning, and universal design.  Jennifer is the Principal of Skulski Consulting LLC and the publisher of Accessibility Management News, a monthly e-newsletter focusing on the news, emerging trends, people making access happen, and top things every ADA/504 Coordinator should know to make their job in accessibility management easier.

Ms. Holmok’s experience has centered on stormwater control, weather resiliency, and pedestrian experiences in challenging urban sites. As a Landscape Architect, Ms. Holmok has been designing green & blue elements for over 26 years. Notable projects include design and oversite of ultra-urban green infrastructure elements integrated within the two-mile, six-lane expansion of the City of Philadelphia’s I-95 (Girard) project; Akron’s Citywide Green Infrastructure Toolbox, including design of green and complete Aqueduct Street, and the Kelly (CSO Rack 3) Green Project; one-mile long City of Cleveland’s $9 million dollar Fleet Avenue Complete and Green Street; Cuyahoga River Bank stabilization projects for the National Park Service; and numerous green infrastructure retrofit demonstration projects in the City of Cleveland.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Dr. Dawson is a subject matter expert on planning, programming, design, construction and contract management related to large public and private organizations and institutions nationwide. He recently retired as the Associate Vice President for Administrative Operations at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi where he oversaw facility operations, maintenance, grounds, custodial services, and planning and construction as well as environmental health and safety (EHS) for the “island” campus. Dr. Dawson’s experience spans federal, state, county and local municipality projects including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Department of Defense (DoD) including the Naval Construction Battalion’s at Gulfport and Port Hueneme; Seabees; Navy Civil Engineer Corp; Army Corps of Engineers; Air Force Civil Engineers and RED HORSE units. He has also worked in higher education with the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) University of North Texas System (UNTS) and Tarrant County College District (TCCD). Dr. Dawson has more than 38 years’ experience in urban planning, developmental programming, building and infrastructure design, construction and program management for a wide variety of capital investment programs and unique environments. He is a retired Air Force Civil Engineering officer with experience in the design and construction of numerous facilities supporting major weapon systems and the U.S. electronic security and space programs world-wide. Dr. Dawson is a registered architect in the State of Texas and a certified city planner. He is also a U.S. Green Building Institute Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP) with experience in numerous sustainable projects. Dr. Dawson has specialized mediation and disputes resolution training and experience directly related to the design and construction industry, successfully resolving construction claims based on errors and omissions, defective product or workmanships, scheduling deviations or acts-of-god. Additional skills include preparation of specifications, bidding and construction plans, cost estimates, and bidding services related to federal and state contract requirements and processes.

Mr. Lindborg leads the firm’s construction practice. Lindborg and Mazor acts as general counsel to private entities and as outside counsel to private and public entities. The firm specializes in all facets of real estate and construction, from the negotiating and the documentation stage, through project completion and beyond, including the counseling of clients in claims avoidance and mitigation techniques and the mediation, arbitration and litigation of claims. He has been lead counsel in numerous trials and arbitrations involving the prosecution and defense of multi-million dollar construction and real estate claims. Mr. Lindborg has also represented clients before various state and federal administrative agencies and has appeared in a number of state and federal courts throughout the United States. He is a member of the American, California, New Mexico and Los Angeles County Bar Associations.

Mr. Pempus has been a risk manager for more than 18 years, with experience in architecture, engineering, land use, law and professional liability insurance, and a unique and well-rounded background in the construction industry. Prior to risk management, he had 25 years of experience in the practice of architecture and engineering, and as an adjunct professor teaching professional practice courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the last 35 years. As a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and AIA National Ethics Council 2021 chair, he has demonstrated his impact on architectural profession. He is a licensed architect, attorney and property and casualty insurance agent.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Abadi Accessibility is an accessibility consulting firm that is dedicated to educating the building industry about the laws of accessibility. Ms. Rhoads received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas in Austin and is a registered architect in Texas and an accessibility specialist. She assists the building industry, in part, by performing plan reviews and inspection for Texas Accessibility Standards and producing a monthly newsletter to educate on the best way to apply the standards to architectural projects. Ms. Rhoads is the author of The ADA Companion Guide and Applying the ADA published by John Wiley and Sons.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mary Hazelwood Barkley is a partner at Cantey Hanger LLP, where she has worked for the past 13 years and specializes in real estate litigation, including eminent domain. Ms. Barkley represents both condemning authorities and landowners in easement matters, regulatory takings, inverse condemnation, and statutory condemnation both at trial and on appeal.

Larry W. Johnson Attorney at Cobb Martinez Woodward
Mr. Johnson focuses his practice on the defense of design professionals in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings. He also provides contractual negotiation assistance for his clients, assisting them in managing future risk and providing early resolution of potential legal issues. Mr. Johnson seeks a reasoned approach to litigation that balances strategy and action based on the individual claim and the client’s objectives. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, and Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

Benjamin D. Mathews is an attorney at Mathews & Freeland, LLP in Austin. Mr. Mathews practices in the areas of environmental, natural resources and public utility law. He serves a diverse mix of clients including municipalities, public utilities, land owners and home and ranch owners associations. Mr. Mathews’s representation involves both compliance counseling and litigation before state and federal administrative agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Public Utility Commission of Texas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and before State and federal courts.

Mr. Nicar’s practice is primarily focused on helping architects, engineers, contractors, and owners resolve construction disputes. His approach to dispute resolution is fueled by a blend of important skills. The first is hands-on courtroom experience—and the willingness to stand by his client’s side until the dispute is resolved—through trial, arbitration, or any appeals. The second is his talent for crafting litigation strategies that seek to short-circuit and resolve construction disputes through meticulous research and preparation. Utilizing this combination, Mr. Nicar guides his clients in a way that is both fearless and smart. He helps get the results his clients need, while seeking to minimize the amount of time, effort, and resources required to get there.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Ms. Crowson is originally from Columbia and Camden, South Carolina. She graduated magna cum laude from the College of Charleston in 1997 and from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 2000. After law school, Ms. Crowson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Kaye G. Hearn, former Chief Judge of the S.C. Court of Appeals and former Justice of the S.C. Supreme Court. She is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and Florida, and her prior work experiences also include Howser, Newman & Besley Law Firm, Pennington Law Firm, and Rogers, Lewis, Jackson & Mann Law Firm, all in Columbia, SC and as Assistant State Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Florida. Ms. Crowson is a founding partner of Crowson Walker, LLC, which launched in August 2024. She maintains both a litigation and transactional practice, focusing on condemnation / eminent domain, telecommunications, easement and right-of-way disputes and acquisition (including fiber, utilities, access), lease negotiations, and commercial contract negotiations. In condemnations, easement, and right-of-way disputes, Ms. Crowson primarily represents utility companies seeking to acquire and/or enforce utility easements. In telecommunications matters, she represents wireless carriers, fiber providers, tower companies, utility companies, and business entities, related to telecom towers, colocations, antenna leasing, DAS/IBRD systems, pole attachments, 5G, service agreements, and small cell node networks. Ms. Crowson actively assists clients in negotiating master lease agreements (MLAs) and individual site leases (SLAs) for the deployment of wireless infrastructure and technology across the U.S., as well as the continued evolution of that infrastructure and technology.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Mr. Shissias established the Shissias Law Firm, LLC, where he practices environmental and regulatory law. After graduating from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law and being admitted to practice in 1996, he went to work as a staff attorney at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Over the next six years he represented DHEC’s Solid Waste Section, Bureau of Air Quality, Bureau of Water, Laboratory Certification, and DHEC’s Environmental Health Division. He regularly litigated contested cases involving permitting and enforcement matters involving air quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, stormwater, laboratory certifications, and 401 Water Quality Certifications. Mr. Shissias also advised DHEC’s Office of Criminal Investigations and was appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General to prosecute environmental crimes. He was awarded the 2014 Robert D. Spencer Award for outstanding volunteer advocacy by Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Mr. Shissias has been named as one of the 2020 Legal Elite by Columbia Business Monthly in the Environmental Law category.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Ms. Grove is an experienced and Board Certified Paralegal with a demonstrated history of working in the legal and medical industries. She is skilled in medical record summarization, drafting pleadings and discovery, e-filing, demand preparation, negotiation, subrogation and reductions.

Mr. Mazzola graduated from the University of Houston in 2006 with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus in Sport Administration. While at the University of Houston, He was accepted into the Sales Excellence Institute at the Bauer College of Business and obtained an advanced certificate in Professional Selling. After graduation, he went to work for a major insurance carrier for three years before embarking on law school. In 2012, he obtained a law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. During law school, Mr. Mazzola served as a senator for the Student Bar Association, chair of the Young Alumni-Law Student Chapter, participated in numerous mock trial competitions, and was a member of the External Advocacy Program’s Competition Negotiations team. In addition, Mr. Mazzola was a staff writer on The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race on Social Justice where his article on how the law often criminalized victims of human trafficking received Credit with Honors. Because of his experience as a staff writer, he worked as a TA in the Legal Research and Writing program.

Mr. Ragsdale’s law practice provides legal representation for individuals and families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. In law school, he studied to become the kind of lawyer who made an important difference in the lives of clients. He aspired to stand up to large corporate interests and others that were unwilling to take responsibility for injuries and damages they caused. Mr. Ragsdale now has more than 28 years of experience fighting for individuals and families in state and federal courts in Texas. He has handled thousands of cases and obtained millions of dollars in damages for injured clients. He was recently recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in North Texas. Mr. Ragsdale completed mediator’s training at the SMU Center for dispute resolution and conflict management, and he has have served as a mediator and successfully mediated the settlement of over 50 lawsuits.