Local Counsel Texas

Texas Local Counsel Experience

Our trial attorneys have represented a number of out-of-state plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts in Texas.  We have significant experience with patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and business/commercial litigation as local counsel Texas including:

• Filing motions to dismiss or transfer based on a lack of venue or personal jurisdiction

• Joint venturing intellectual property (IP) cases

• Handing patent claim construction proceedings (Markman)

• Navigating local rules including local patent rules in the federal courts for the Northern District of Texas, Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas

• Handling trademark infringement proceedings

• Obtaining and resisting ex parte temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions/preliminary injunctions.

• Second chairing civil litigation trials as local counsel

 We also have significant experience with covenants not to compete, unfair competition, misappropriation, and other trade secret cases as well as business/commercial litigation disputes.  

Patent Local Counsel Assistance - Texas Local Patent Rules

If you have a patent case in the Eastern District of Texas or the Northern District of Texas, see our white papers Eastern District Texas Patent Rules: Diagram & Checklist, Southern District of Texas Patent Rules: Checklist, and Texas Patent Rules Northern District: Diagram & Checklist for more detail on Texas Local Patent Rules as well as a diagram of each set of rules and a downloadable checklist.  For the local patent rules, see the following pages - Eastern District of Texas Local Patent Rules, Northern District of Texas Local Patent Rules, Western District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas Local Patent Rules.  

Pro Hac Vice Admission Requirements Texas Courts

The pro hac vice admission requirements for Texas federal courts along with pro hac vice applications can be found at Local Counsel Requirements - Northern District of Texas, Local Counsel Requirements - Eastern District of Texas, Local Counsel Requirements - Western District of Texas, and Local Counsel Requirements - Southern District of Texas.  We encourage all referring lawyers to read the Texas Lawyer's Creed as well as the Dondi opinion, both of which can be found on our website.  Note - review and compliance with the Dondi opinion is a requirement for admission pro hac vice for the Northern District of Texas.  

Texas Local Counsel Services

Federal Court Litigation Practice

The local counsel services provided by our trial attorneys include complex litigation and trial representation in both federal and state courts in Dallas and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex as well as in the Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, and Southern District of Texas.  We assist with substantive pre-trial motion and briefing practice, and preparing, filing, and arguing preliminary motions and filings (e.g. removal petitions, motions to remand, motions to dismiss, and motions to transfer venue).  In addition, our local counsel attorneys assist out-of-state attorneys with the pro hac vice admission process and with other general litigation needs.

Personal Jurisdiction and Venue Challenges

Our trial attorneys can also assist with filing motions to challenge personal jurisdiction and venue as well as assisting with transferring cases filed in Texas to foreign jurisdictions.  

Litigation and Trial

Our IP and business trial attorneys are experienced handling intellectual property cases and commercial litigation from initial case filing through trial before a court or jury.  Our trial attorneys can assist with all aspects of civil trial practice, including:

• Drafting and filing original pleadings

• Filing and setting hearings

• Obtaining pre-judgment injunctive relief

• Motions pro hac vice for out-of-state attorneys

• Substantive motion and briefing practice, including Markman hearings

• Discovery practice, including written discovery, depositions, and site inspections

• Attendance at hearings and trial

• Filing or resisting motions for temporary restraining orders, temporary and preliminary injunctions, and other equitable relief

Arbitrations and Mediations

Our trial attorneys are experienced with arbitration proceedings and can assist clients and referring attorneys with all aspects of arbitration practice, including initial arbitration case evaluation and strategy, selection of arbitrators, representing clients through the entire arbitration process, and post-arbitration matters.  We also have significant experience mediating cases in Dallas, and can recommend mediators appropriate for a particular dispute or litigation.  

Pre-Trial Strategy and Evaluation

Our trial attorneys provide a broad range of important pretrial assistance to clients and referring attorneys, including claim and case evaluation, pre-trial case strategy, and in-depth venue and jurisdictional analyses.

Local Counsel Expectations, Referral Commitments, and Service Goals

Because we take our local counsel responsibility seriously and want to assure that our working relationship is effective and cost-efficient, we have developed Local Counsel Expectations that we require all clients and referring counsel to agree before we begin an engagement.  Please see our Referral Commitments and Joint Venture Referrals pages for a discussion of our commitments to referring attorneys as well as our Service Goals to all clients.  

Ideate — Texas Intellectual Property Law Blog

Our Ideate blog discusses the latest developments in intellectual property, technology, social media, and Internet law.  It provides deeper analysis of legal developments in the area of intellectual property, litigation, and transactional law and includes articles, white papers, presentations, podcasts, videos, and infographics.