Richard A. Sayles
Nationally respected law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is expanding with the opening of a new Dallas office, its 10th office nationally and second in Texas. The firm opened its first Texas office in Houston in 2016.
“We are extremely pleased to continue our growth in Texas with this group of outstanding lawyers,” says Jonathan M. Skeeters, Bradley’s Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner. “We believe our expansion into Dallas will provide tremendous opportunities for our clients and for Bradley.”
The Dallas office will be led by legendary Texas litigator and new Bradley partner Richard A. “Dick” Sayles, formerly of the trial boutique Sayles Werbner.Mr. Sayles has tried more than 150 jury trials in his career, earning more than a dozen verdicts in excess of $1 million, including a $1.67 billion patent infringement verdict in 2009. At the time, it was the largest patent verdict in U.S. history. He also has numerous significant defense wins.
Honored as the 2018 Dallas Bar Association Trial Lawyer of the Year,Mr. Sayles has been recognized by Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation and Best Lawyers in America. In addition, he is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers and International Society of Barristers.Recently, Mr. Sayles was featured in theTexas Law book publication, “Lions of the Texas Bar.” His peers have selected him seven times to the list of the Top 10 lawyers in Texas, as named by Texas Super Lawyers.
An Am Law 200 law firm with more than 500 lawyers nationwide, Bradley is consistently recognized by respected legal guides including Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for its construction, mass torts and class-action work. More than 50 Bradley attorneys are licensed in Texas and are currently providing transactional and litigation expertise. The opening of the Dallas office allows the firm to provide a full array of services to clients in Texas.
“Bradley is a respected firm with a hard-earned reputation in and out of the courtroom,” says Mr. Sayles. “For me and my team joining Bradley in Dallas, we will have more resources and practice areas to deliver to our clients. We will be stronger and better with Bradley.”
Joining Mr. Sayles as founding members of Bradley’s Dallas office are former Sayles Werbner attorneys and new Bradley partners William S. Snyder,Mark E. Torian,Shawn C. Long,Robert L. Sayles and E. Sawyer Neely, counsel Mark D. Strachan, and senior attorneys Samuel T. Acker and Stacy D. Simon.
Mr. Snyder has an active practice in state and federal courts and in arbitration. He represents clients in a broad spectrum of business litigation, including prosecuting or defending breach of contract claims, business torts, claims between partners or members of closely held companies, securities fraud claims, legal malpractice claims, and ultra vires claims against officers and directors. Included inThe Best Lawyers in Americaand named aTexas Super Lawyerfor the last 10 consecutive years, Mr. Snyder frequently handles disputes arising from transactions related to securities, asset purchases, private equity investments, real estate, oil & gas, and intellectual property. In addition to his trial court practice, he has argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Texas appellate courts.
Mr. Torian is an experienced litigator who has argued more than 20 criminal and civil lawsuits to verdict. He has successfully represented plaintiffs in a multimillion-dollar business fraud and breach of fiduciary duty and commercial bribery case. His business and white-collar practice includes representing businesses and individuals in disputes over misappropriation of trade secrets, securities violations, civil theft, shareholder derivative rights, partnership breakups, oil and gas disputes, personal injury and wrongful death. Mr. Torian’s white-collar work includes representing clients in state and federal white-collar criminal investigations brought forth by the Texas Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Department of Justice. As a Marine in the United States Marine Corps, he was assigned to Diplomatic Security with the U.S. State Department at U.S. embassies and consulates.
Ms. Long’s practice focuses on a wide range of issues, including defending attorneys and law firms against professional negligence claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims and fee disputes. Honored inThe Best Lawyers in Americalisting for 2018 and 2019, and inD Magazine’slist of Best Lawyers in Dallas for 2017 and 2018, she represents clients in federal and state court for business litigation matters, including energy litigation, complex commercial disputes, product liability, and securities and financial fraud.
Rob Sayles represents plaintiffs and defendants in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability, premises liability, personal injury and wrongful death, and employment. He has earned significant defense wins, including a recent summary judgment on a covenant not to compete claim in which his client faced more than $3.6 million in claims. He also defended the city of Dallas in several high-profile lawsuits filed by firefighters and police officers claiming billions of dollars in back pay. Mr. Sayles has been included in theTexas Super Lawyers Rising Starslist since 2012 and the 2017 edition ofD Magazine’slist of Best Lawyers in Dallas.
Mr. Neely represents businesses and individuals in litigation and arbitration involving complex business disputes, breach of contract, physician and business noncompete agreements, trade secret and copyright, fraudulent transfer, wrongful foreclosure, direct and derivative shareholder and securities claims. Mr. Neely also guides businesses with independent internal investigations regarding workplace safety, sexual, gender or racial discrimination and/or harassment and environmental compliance. Mr. Neely is regularly named to the list ofTexas Super Lawyers Rising StarsandtoD Magazine’sBest Lawyers in Dallas.
Mr. Strachan has 37 years of trial experience with a focus in patent and commercial litigation. His clients include farmers, doctors, engineers, welders, pharmaceutical companies, financial entities, and technology firms. Recognized inTexas Super Lawyersfor IP litigation since 2011, Mr. Strachan has tried patent cases to verdict in the Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas as well as argued at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A native of East Texas, he has served at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, as an adjunct professor. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is an associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Mr. Acker’s practice focuses on business, commercial and securities litigation and arbitration and white-collar criminal defense. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court actions involving contracts, partnership and corporate governance disputes, investment products and securities industry sales practice violations, as well as fraud and breach of fiduciary duty allegations.
Ms. Simon represents business clients in complex commercial disputes in arbitration and in state and federal courts. Her expertise includes antitrust claims, contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims, trade secret and non-competition issues, securities and transactional fraud, FOIA requests, partnership and shareholder disputes, as well as libel defense.
The Dallas office is located at 1201 Elm Street, Suite 4400, in Dallas, Texas.
About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama,Florida,Mississippi,North Carolina,Tennessee,Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm's over 500 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including financial services, health care, life sciences, real estate, construction, technology, energy, insurance, and entertainment.