Daniel L. Bates

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Loves Jury Trials

Shareholder
Commercial Litigation
  • Mr. Bates has successfully won jury verdicts in cases involving:

      • wrongful death and personal injury;
      • products liability;
      • breach of warranty;
      • construction defects;
      • contracts and commercial transactions;
      • oil and gas;
      • professional negligence, and
      • toxic torts including chemical exposure.
Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Mr. Bates successfully won the largest trademark infringement jury verdict and judgment in Texas history ($56.3 million) involving fraudulent procurement and registration of his client’s trademark in water works industry.

Appeals
  • Mr. Bates has presented oral arguments before the Supreme Court of Texas on behalf of a royalty owner against the owner of the executive rights and oil & gas operator in 2014. This was his third oral argument before the Texas Supreme Court.

    Mr. Bates argued two cases in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  One case involved toxic tort case involving chemical (formaldehyde) exposure. The second case involved a license agreement concerning the Dickies® brand of work clothes and related products.

BIO

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.

  • Court Admissions
    • Supreme Court of Texas, (1978)
    • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, (1979)
    • United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, (1983)
    • The Supreme Court of the United States, (1985)
    • United States District Court, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas, (1986)
    • United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, (1986)
  • Education
    • Wabash College and Southern Methodist University, (B.F.A., 1975)
    • Texas Tech University, (J.D., 1978)
  • Awards & Recognition
    • “Best Lawyers in America” by The Best Lawyers in America (2023 – 2024)
    • “Top Attorney – Litigation” by 360 West Magazine (2022 – 2024)
    • “Super Lawyers – Civil Litigation Defense” by Thomson Reuters, (2011 – 2024)
    • “Super Lawyers – Corporate Counsel” by Thomson Reuters, (2010)
    • “Super Lawyers” by Thomson Reuters, (2003 – 2010)
    • “Top Attorneys” by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, (2001 –  2023)
    • “Attorneys of Excellence” by Fort Worth Business Press, (2003)
  • Memberships
    • State Bar of Texas, Member, Litigation Section
    • College of State Bar of Texas
    • Tarrant County Bar Association
    • Member Phi Delta Phi (Honors Fraternity)
    • Colonial Country Club
    • Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
    • Beta Theta Pi
  • Board Certification

    Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1987

  • Experience
    • Served as Briefing Attorney to Senior Associate Justice Joe Spurlock, 2nd Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, 1978-1980.
    • Argued two cases in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  One case involved toxic tort case involving chemical (formaldehyde) exposure. The second case involved a license agreement concerning the Dickies® brand of work clothes and related products.
Daniel Bates and Cessna Dan Bates flying to cut a jury and take a verdict. Circa 1990 something.

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