MEMBERS OF FIRM
David E. Chamberlain (Member) admitted to bar, 1978, Texas; 1979, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 1988, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 1990, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1998, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: University of Texas at Arlington (B.A., 1975); St. Mary's University of San Antonio (J.D., with distinction, 1978). Phi Delta Phi (Vice-President, 1978; Outstanding Law Graduate, 1978). Harlan Honor Society. Note and Comment Editor, St. Mary's Law Journal, 1977-1978. Author: Texas Legislative Update (State Bar Advanced Personal Injury Course, 2007, 2006, 2008, 2009 and Austin Bar Association, 2007, 2009); Insurance Coverage Update (State Bar Advanced Insurance Law Course, 2007, 2008); Insurance Issues in Construction Defect Litigation (San Antonio 2007); Texas Legislative Update, Texas Bar Journal, January, 2007; Tort Trends (State Bar, 2006); Texas Legislative Update (State Bar, Advanced Civil Law Trial Course, 2005); Texas Tort Reform (2003 and 2004); Trying Tough Cases in Tough Venues (TADC, 2004); Mold Litigation (2002); Daubert Overview (State Bar, Advanced Civil Law Trial Course, 2000); Negligence Update (1999); Texas Summary Judgments (1997); Government Liability (1998); Insurance Coverage of Employment Claims (Austin Bar Association, 1997); Editor in Chief -Texas Update (2002); "Governmental Liability," 1998; "The Diminishing Role Of Negligence In Manufacturer's Liability For Unavoidable Unsafe Drugs and Cosmetics," 9 St. Mary's Law Journal 102, 1977 (reprinted, Practicing Law Institute, 1978); Note, "Texas Appellate Procedure Rule 21c," 8 St. Mary's Law Journal 550, 1976. Briefing Attorney to Associate Justice Sears McGee, Texas Supreme Court, 1978-1979. Member: Texas Association of Defense Counsel (President, 2005; President-Elect, 2004; Executive Vice-President, 2002-2003; Secretary/Treasurer, 2000-2001; President's Award, 1991 and 1999; Vice-President 1990-1999; Chairman, Ethics and Professionalism Committee, 1998-2000); Austin Bar Association (Secretary, 2009; Treasurer, 2008-2009; Outstanding Director, 2008); Defense Research Institute (Named The Outstanding Defense Bar Leader in the United States, Fred Sievert Award, 2006; Texas State Representative, 2006-2009; Member, National Membership Committee, 2008-2009; Regional Marketing Chair, 2006-2009); State Bar of Texas (Course Director, Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, 2007; Planning Committee, 2005-2009; Texas Business Torts Planning Committee, 2009; Advanced Insurance Law Planning Committee 2008; Member, Select Committee on SB 1204; Court Reorganization, 2007; Chairman, State Bar Jury Project, 2005-2006; Court Rules Committee, 1997-2000; Sunset Committee, 2002-2003; Planning Committee, Advanced Evidence and Discovery Seminar, 1999-2000); Bar Association for the Fifth Circuit; Austin Young Lawyers Association (President, 1987-1988); International Association of Defense Counsel; Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; Texas Civil Justice League (Board of Directors, 2004); Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (Nominating Chairman, 2000-2001); Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel; Texas Supreme Court Historical Society; United States Supreme Court Historical Society (Member, 1998); St. Mary's University School of Law Alumni Association (Director, 1990-1993); College of State Bar (Member, 2005). Fellow: Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (1990; Fellow and Board Director, Austin Bar Foundation (2004). (Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense; Medical Malpractice Defense; Products Liability; Environmental/Pollution; Oil and Gas; Insurance Coverage; Mediation; Business Dispute Resolutions; Negligence; Title VII and Civil Rights Claims; Governmental Liability; Employment Law.Email: David E. Chamberlain
Gordon McHaney (Member) admitted to bar, 1986, Texas; 1997, U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Texas (B.A., 1983); St. Mary's University (J.D., 1986). Teaching Assistant, Legal Research and Writing, St. Mary's University, 1985-1986. Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation. Member: Austin Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Defense Research Institute; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; College of the State Bar of Texas; National Association of Subrogation Professionals. Practice Areas: Civil Trial and Appellate Litigation; Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage; Products and Professional Liability; Commercial Litigation; Premises Liability; Mediation; Business Dispute Resolution; Subrogation.Email: Gordon McHaney
ASSOCIATES
Dennis C. Postiglione (Associate) born December 4, 1971; admitted to bar, 2003, Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., English, 1993); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 2003). Phi Delta Phi. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards in: Contracts; Employment Law. Member, South Texas Law Review. Member: State Bar of Texas; American Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association; Texas Young Lawyers Association; Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense; Products Liability; Personal Injury.
Erin Westendorf (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Texas; U.S. District Court, Western and Southern Districts of Texas; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., with honors, 1998; J.D., with honors, 2003). Member: Austin Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Austin Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Medical Malpractice; Consumer Litigation; Probate; Family Law.
OF COUNSEL
William C. Davidson (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1963, Texas, U.S. District Court, Western, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U. S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: University of Texas (B.A., (Plan II), 1960; LL.B, 1963). Phi Kappa Alpha. Attorney-Mediator's Institute, 1997. Member: Austin Bar Association (Member, Real Estate Section), Federal (Member, Real Estate Section) Bar Association; State Bar of Texas (Member, Real Estate Section); Bar Association for the Fifth Circuit. Practice Areas: Federal and State Court Litigation; Real Estate; Bankruptcy; Commercial Litigation; Commercial Law.
W. Richard Ellis, III (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1973, Texas; U.S. District Court, Western, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Illinois (B.A., 1970); University of Texas (J.D., 1973). Past Dean, Alumni Senate of Delta Theta Phi. Member, International Law Journal, University of Texas, 1972-1973. Associate Editor, Law School Yearbook, 1972-1973. Dean, Sam Houston Senate, 1972-1973. Recipient, AmJur Award, Research, 1970, University of Texas Law School. Certified Birkman Consultant, Birkman International, Inc.; Attorney Mediation Institute, Dallas, 1992. Member: Austin Bar Association; State Bar of Texas. Fellow: State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association. [M.P Corps, Captain, 1972-1981, U.S. Army Reserve]. (Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Personal Injury Defense(50%); Civil Practice(25%); Insurance Defense(25%).Email: W. Richard Ellis, III
Catherine L. Kyle (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1986, Texas; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., with honors, 1983); Baylor University School of Law (J.D., 1986). Phi Eta Sigma. National Merit Scholar. Member, City of Austin Ethics Review Commission, 2004. Member: Austin Bar Association (Member: Board of Directors, 1998-2000; TCBA Annual Meeting Committee, 2001; Law and Medicine Committee, 1997; Adult Education Committee, 1996; Bar and Grill Committee, 1991-1999; Bench-Bar Committee, 1994 and Co-Chair, 1997; Children and the Law Committee, 1997); State Bar of Texas; Austin Young Lawyers Association (Director, 1990-1993; Treasurer, 1991-1993; Chair, Community Service Committee, 1989-1990; Member: Street Law Committee, 1993; Social Committee, 1987-1990; Mentor Committee, 1989); Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; College of the State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Employment Law; Products Liability.Email: Catherine L. Kyle
Ranelle M. Meroney (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1980, Texas; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Colorado (B.A., with distinction, 1977), Phi Beta Kappa; University of Texas (J.D., 1979). Member: State Bar of Texas (Member, Litigation Section); Austin Bar Association; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; College of the State Bar of Texas; American Board of Trial Advocates. (Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Personal Injury; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Consumer Litigation; First Party Insurance Defense.Email: Ranelle M. Meroney
Tim Poteet (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas; U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit. Education: University of Texas (B.A., with high honors, 1981; J.D., 1984). Substantial experience in complex construction litigation, jury trials, and appellate practice before the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Courts of Appeal; Writes and speaks on construction, insurance and litigation topics. Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation. Member: Austin Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute. Reported Cases: Walter Young Martin III v. Gehan Homes Ltd., NO. 03-06-00584-CV, 2008 Tex. App. LEXIS 4111 (Tex.App.Austin 2008); Ramirez v. Fifth Club, Inc., 196 S.W.3d 788 (Tex. 2006); MRO Southwest, Inc. v. Target Corporation, No. 04-07-00078-CV, S.W.3d (Tex.App.San Antonio 2007); Emerson Electric Co. v. Panatrol, Inc., 163 S.W.3d 182 (Tex.App.San Antonio 2005, pet. denied); Cappadonna Electric Mgmt. v. Cameron County, 180 S.W.3d 364 (Tex.App.Corpus Christi 2005); Wade & Sons, Inc. v. Am. Std., Inc., 127 S.W.3d 814, 818 (Tex. App.San Antonio 2003, writ denied); TAC Americas, Inc. v. Boothe, 94 S.W.3d 315 (Tex.App.Austin, 2002); Codner v. Arellano, 40 S.W.3d 666 (Tex.App.Austin 2001, no pet.); McCarthy Bros. Co. v. Continental Lloyds Ins. Co., 7 S.W.3d 725 (Tex.App.Austin, 1999); Howard v. Fiesta Texas Show Park, Inc., 980 S.W.2d 716 (Tex.App.San Antonio 1998, pet. denied); Burlington Ins. Co. v. Mexican American Unity Counsel, Inc., 905 S.W.2d 359 (Tex.App.San Antonio, 1995, no writ). Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Construction Law; Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense.Email: Tim Poteet