Trial Attorney Dick Sayles Joins Bradley Law Firm to Open Dallas Office

Texas trial attorney Richard A. “Dick” Sayles has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP to lead the firm’s new Dallas office. Sayles, along with eight members of the Sayles Werbner team, will make up the firm’s first office in North Texas.

It is the firm’s 10th location nationally and second in Texas.

“We could not have asked for a better attorney to help introduce Bradley to North Texas,” said Jonathan M. Skeeters, Bradley’s Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner. “Dick Sayles is a legendary trial attorney with impeccable courtroom skills. We are excited to add him and his team of experienced trial lawyers and look forward to a collaboration that will greatly benefit our clients.”

Sayles co-founded Sayles Werbner in 1994, building the firm into one of the most honored and respected litigation boutiques in the nation and compiling an impressive list of verdicts and settlements for its business, commercial, personal injury and patent litigation clients. Eight Sayles Werbner attorneys are joining Mr. Sayles at Bradley.

“Bradley’s core values of client service, ethics and professional excellence align with those I have always had for my practice.” says Sayles. “The firm will make us stronger and better and, as far as I’m concerned, the sky is the limit. I’m excited that so many of my colleagues with whom I’ve worked for so long are joining me in this move.”

Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Sayles has tried more than 150 jury trials, 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, Sayles has also 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, Sayles was featured in the Texas Lawbook 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.

Joining Sayles as founding members of Bradley’s Dallas office are former Sayles Werbner attorneys William S. Snyder, Mark E. Torian, Shawn C. Long, Robert L. Sayles, Sawyer Neely, Mark D. Strachan, Samuel T. Acker and Stacy D. Simon.

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.

ncluded in The Best Lawyers in America and named a Texas Super Lawyer for 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.

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.

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 in The Best Lawyers in America listing for 2018 and 2019, and in D Magazine’s list 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 officrs claiming billions of dollars in back pay. Mr. Sayles has been included in the Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list since 2012 and the 2017 edition of D Magazine’s list of Best Lawyers in Dallas.

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. Neely also guides businesses with independent internal investigations regarding workplace safety, sexual, gender or racial discrimination and/or harassment and environmental compliance. Neely is regularly named to the list of Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars and to D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas.

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 in Texas Super Lawyers for IP litigation since 2011, 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.

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.

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.