• David Backus– Schools and Education
• Roger Cox–Real Estate
• Heath Hendricks– Business Litigation
• Cara Kennemer– Construction Litigation
• Jennie Knapp– Appellate
• Ann Manning–Schools and Education
• Mitzi Mayfield– Transportation & Maritime
• Thomas Riney– Civil Litigation
• Richard Schellhammer– Construction Litigation
• Fred Stormer–Schools and Education
• Kelly Utsinger– Civil Litigation
• Christopher Wrampelmeier– Family Law

Underwood Associate, Jarod Russell, served on a panel presenting “Legal Issues that Arise with Divided Boards” at the Texas Council of School Attorneys (CSA) Annual Education Law Conference. CSA provides a statewide forum on practical legal problems faced by local public schools and their attorneys.

Jennie Knapp presented with Justice Dennise Garcia at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial seminar on actions you can take on the trial court while an appeal is pending.

The Texas Association of Defense Counsel published an article by Underwood lawyers Jennie C. Knapp and Taylor C. Holley entitled “How to Avoid Common Summary Judgment Pitfalls” in its summer magazine. The TADC is a professional organization of civil trial attorneys dedicated to promoting excellence in its members, fairness in our judicial system, and preserving the right to jury trial for all citizens.

The Underwood Law Firm is pleased to announce the appointment of new firm president, Dave Goad.

“We are proud to have Dave transition to president of our firm. He is an outstanding lawyer and person. Dave brings a new level of energy to our leadership as we continue beyond 110 years of legal services to our Texas clients,” said Underwood President Gavin Gadberry.

Goad is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and is a member of Amarillo Area, Dallas and American (Tax Section) Bar Associations.

Goad graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science and from Western New England College School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 2001. He also attended Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, where he received a LL.M. in Taxation.

Underwood is pleased to announce that Jason Fenton, Stephanie James and Brad Timms have been selected as 2023 Super Lawyers “Texas Rising Stars.” To be honored as a Rising Star, attorneys must be age 40 or younger, or have practiced fewer than 10 years. Rising Star selections are based on nominations from fellow attorneys who previously were honored in the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list. Only 2.5 percent of the total lawyers in Texas are listed as “Rising Stars.”

Jason Fenton – Jason Fenton practices civil litigation with a focus on commercial disputes, real estate, construction, personal injury defense and banking. In his practice he represents individuals and non-profits, as well as multi-billion-dollar companies. 

Stephanie James – Stephanie James’ practice consists of a wide variety of civil litigation, healthcare and employment matters. She represents clients in personal injury litigation, nonsubscriber litigation, healthcare litigation, commercial litigation, construction disputes, employment disputes, and general civil litigation.

Brad Timms – Brad Timms has experience representing a wide range of clients, from individuals and small businesses to large publicly-traded corporations, in a variety of business and commercial cases in state and federal court. His practice focuses on construction, business and insurance litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, Brad also assists clients with preparation of contracts and business-related negotiations. 

Underwood attorneys Richard Schellhammer and Brad Timms recently achieved a significant victory in the Austin Court of Appeals on behalf of their client, a national title agency. The court of appeals affirmed a take-nothing summary judgment as to all claims in favor of Underwood’s client. At the trial-court level, plaintiffs sought significant monetary damages related to real-estate transaction involving a forged deed. Plaintiff asserted claims ranging from breach of contract to violation of the Texas Insurance Code. On appeal, with a thorough analysis, the court affirmed summary judgment, holding that plaintiff take nothing from Underwood’s client while ordering that plaintiff pay all costs at the trial and appellate court.

Taylor Holley is the first-place winner of the 2023 Scribes Brief-Writing Award. Scribes – the American Society of Legal Writers – considers submissions of moot court briefs that have won first place in a national or regional moot court competition during the previous academic year. The Brief Award Committee then selects the best briefs from all the winning briefs submitted. Taylor’s brief addressed a commercial website’s compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Underwood shareholder Jennie Knapp recently spoke to the Montgomery County Bar Association on summary judgments. Jennie is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice includes complex litigation and appellate matters in state and federal courts.