A founder of the firm, Daniel L. Bates pursues excellence in everything.  While chasing excellence on the golf course is exceedingly difficult, he is an accomplished trial lawyer- with over forty years of courtroom experience and countless jury trials.  Mr. Bates is always prepared and never backs down.  His clients know they can count on his preparation and commitment.  His adversaries comment that, while tough, he is always fair and professional.

Mr. Bates loves his wife of almost forty years, Shelli, their three adult children and six grandchildren.  A private pilot since 1985, Mr Bates took pride in earning instrument and multi-engine ratings as matters of aviation professionalism.  He considers it a high calling to have lead students in the Bible Study Fellowship school program for almost thirty years.  Mr. Bates serves the community as past Chairman of the Miss Texas Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors.  He is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Texas Center for Arts + Academics, governing the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, the Texas School of the Arts, the Grammy award-winning Texas Boys Choir, along with other music, dance, and arts conservatories.

Mr. Bates loves people.  He loves the law and its practice because it involves relationships among people.

Mr. Bates relishes the thrilling moment of a loud rap on the jury room door followed by the bailiff approaching the bench, jury verdict in hand.  He considers it a high privilege to be among a very small percentage of lawyers experiencing this with any regularity.