| Publications | The Jury Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation; Compelling Communication Through Audio Visual Technology, August 2008
The Jury Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation; Demonstrative Evidence & Courtroom Technology on a Reasonable Budget, August 2007
The Jury Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation; Demonstrative Evidence & Courtroom Technology on a Reasonable Budget, August 2006
Tort Reform and Insurance Law: 2003 Legislative Session, University of Houston Law Foundation; The Offer of Settlement Pursuant to House Bill 4, August 2003
Litigation and Trial Tactics, University of Houston Law Foundation-Continuing Legal Education; Settlement Negotiations and Mediation Strategies, June 2002
National Hispanic Nurses Association Convention; Responding to the Realities of Nursing Shortages Through Empowerment, May 2002
Medical Malpractice, Medical Device & Pharmaceutical, University of Houston Law Center-Continuing Legal Education; Proving Difficult Damages, April 2001
Practicing Law in the Era of NAFTA: Mastering the New Global Marketplace, The American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution and St. Mary’s University School of Law; A Case Study in the Obstacles to the Enforcement of Foreign Judgments, San Antonio, Texas, March 18-19, 1999
Civil Discovery Under the New Rules, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Evidence Law Update, Dallas, Texas, January 21-22, 1999, Houston, Texas January 28-29, 1999, Dallas, Texas, February 11-12, 1999
Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Analysis of Legal Issues, Pharmaceutical Cases, Pt. II: Over-the-Counter Medication and Drug Samples, January 1994, January 1998
Advanced Business Litigation, Choosing Contingency Fee Cases, September 1995
General Practice Institute-Winter, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Handling Insurance and Tort Claims–Contingency Fee Cases: Factors in Deciding Which to Take, September 1993; January 1994, August 1995
General Practice Institute–Winter, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Negotiating and Settling Claims, December 4, 1992
U.S.-Mexico Judicial Conference; Anatomy of a Civil Suit, May 7, 1992, Puebla, Mexico
National Hispanic Bar Association Convention, Emerging Issues in Driver’s Safety September 13, 1991, San Antonio, Texas
Admiralty Section Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Convention, Maritime Wrongful Death Damages, July 22, 1991, Toronto, Canada
General Practice Institute, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Negotiating and Settling Tort Claims, December 13, 1990, Houston, Texas
Advanced Civil Discovery Short Course, 1990, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Rule Changes and Recent Developments, June 7, 1990, Dallas, Texas
State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education; Discovery and Proof in Punitive Damage Cases, Plaintiffs’ Perspective, March 9, 1990, Tyler, Texas, March 15, 1990, Austin, Texas, March 16, 1990, Houston, Texas, March 21, 1990, Dallas, Texas, March 22, 1990, San Antonio, Texas, March 29, 1990, Fort Worth, Texas
Discovery, Part I, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Scope, Relevance, Privileges, March 8, 1990, Houston, Texas, March 15, 1990, Houston, Texas
Advanced Personal Injury Short Course, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Statutory Causes of Action, October 6, 1989, Dallas, Texas
Insurance Litigation, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Negotiations and Settlement Techniques, August 18, 1989, Dallas, Texas, August 25, 1989, Houston, Texas
Advanced Civil Discovery Seminar, University of Houston Law Center-Continuing Legal Education, Rule Changes and Recent Developments, June 1, 1989, Houston, Texas, June 8, 1989, Dallas, Texas
Advanced Civil Litigation Course, University of Houston Law Center; Discovery, Part I: Scope, Relevance, Privileges, March 16, 1989, San Antonio, Texas; March 23, 1989, Houston, Texas
Houston Seamen’s Center Seminar, Seafarer’s Rights Seminar; Recent Developments in Maritime Law, February, 1989
Seamen’s Church Institute Center for Seafarer’s Rights, Attorney Orientation, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1988, New Orleans, Louisiana
Houston International Seamen’s Center, Port Chaplains Training School, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1988, Houston, Texas
Advanced Personal Injury Short Course, University of Houston Law Center, Discovery Developments, Including Impact of the New Rules, October 21, 1988
First Annual Economic Conference, Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s First Annual Economic Conference, The Port of Houston Gateway, October 7, 1988
Houston Inter-American Chamber of Commerce, Houston: Gateway to Latin America, September, 1988
Advanced Civil Discovery Seminar, University of Houston–Continuing Legal Education; Rule Changes and Recent Developments, Emphasizing New Rules, June 9, 1988, Dallas, Texas; June 16, 1988, Houston, Texas
Seamen’s Church Institute Center for Seafarer’s Rights, Attorney Orientation, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1987, San Diego, California
Houston International Seamen’s Center, Port Chaplains Training School, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1986, Houston, Texas
International Council of Seafarers Agencies, International Conference, Gulf Coast Shrimpers, 1985, Corpus Christi, Texas
Cameron County Legal Secretaries Association, An Introduction to Admiralty Law, 1984, Harlingen, Texas
Conference of Gulf Coast Regional Seamen’s Agencies, Compendium of Foreign Wage Claims, 1983
Hon. Judge Anthony P. Ferris Seminar on Civil Trial Advocacy, Time is of the Essence, 1983, Houston, Texas
Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey/United Seamen’s Service, Compilation of Wages Pursuant to the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation Collective Bargaining Agreement, Workshop Coordinator; 1982, New York, New York |
| Additional Bio Details | J. Michael Solar is the founder and Managing Partner of Solar & Associates L.L.P. Over the course of his 29 year career he has provided counseling, investigation and litigation services to numerous Fortune 500 firms, civic and religious organizations, foreign governments and working families.
Mr. Solar has been involved in complex multiparty litigation spanning the spectrum of domestic and international actions including: business disputes, fraudulent transactions, maritime, products liability, catastrophic injuries, wrongful deaths, pharmaceutical products liability, and medical malpractice. He is a frequent writer, lecturer, and is often the subject of local, national and international interviews regarding questions of law and his litigation.
Mr. Solar’s international, labor and trade experience was founded upon his early work in the maritime law arena and representation of the U.S. National Maritime Union, the Pan-Hellenic Seaman’s Federation of Greece and the London based International Trade Federation. Mr. Solar was appointed to three terms as Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and 150-plus private facilities and is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in total U.S. tonnage. More than 200 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2006. The latest figures from a 2006 Economic Impact Study show the port's public and private marine terminals generate $117.6 billion and 785,049 jobs in the State of Texas.
He has served as legal counsel to foreign consulates and has participated in numerous multi national initiatives, including passage of the historic North American Free Trade Agreement. He was subsequently designated Legal Counsel to the Republic of Mexico by its Republic of Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
His international affiliations include: Fellow, “The British American Project”; Founder, “The Americas Project” (a collaborative venture uniting the resources and expertise of the Greater Houston Partnership, Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and the Organization of American States); Inter-American Bar Association and Founder of the Hispanic Bar Association.
Among his economic and financial credentials, Mr. Solar has served as Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Houston for three terms; Regional Advisory Board Member of J. P. Morgan Bank and its predecessor Texas Commerce Bank, for over 18 years; Finance Council Member of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Trustee of numerous foundations.
Mr. Solar has been a leader in the Houston business and professional community as evidenced by his service at the Greater Houston Partnership and other business organizations. The Partnership is the primary advocate of Houston's business and professional community and is dedicated to building Southwestern U.S. regional economic prosperity. Founded in 1989, the Partnership emerged from a merger of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Houston Economic Development Council and the Houston World Trade Center.
With more than 60 committees, councils and task forces, the Partnership tackles a variety of issues like health care, education, air quality, economic development, transportation and world trade.
Mr. Solar is also actively involved in the private and public healthcare arena. The Texas Medical Center, with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research of any location, is the largest medical district in the world. The center is located in Houston, Texas, USA. The center contains 45 medicine-related institutions, including 13 hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and other health-related practices. All 45 institutions are not-for-profit.
His service includes membership on the Executive Committee of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; the Menninger Clinic; The University of Houston Health Law & Policy Institute; and National board member and Texas State Chairman of the Children’s Defense Fund where he has actively worked to expand healthcare for indigent children.
Mr. Solar has been recognized for his leadership in promoting public and private education and has served in various capacities to implement education reforms. His service includes local, state and national committees, boards and foundations including CHESS (Concerned Houston Encouraging Superior Schools); Member, Texas Commission on Higher Education Reform; National Director, Teach For America.
Mr. Solar has also been recognized for his pro bono legal work and civic leadership. He is a champion of human and civil rights, health, education and children’s issues. |