Austin – Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP today announced the addition of a litigation group with over 60 years of combined experience in complex commercial disputes. Mark T. Mitchell, Mark Mayfield, Fred Sultan and Leslie Robnett, previously with Clark, Thomas & Winters, P. C., have joined the Austin office of Gardere. They will team with Ed Burbach, formerly Texas Deputy Attorney General, to enhance Gardere’s firm-wide commitment to a full spectrum of litigation expertise in the State of Texas.
“The addition of this group of top-tier litigators to Gardere’s Austin office furthers our strategy to service our clients’ litigation needs in Austin and the Western District of Texas. Gardere is committed to growth in one of the fastest growing and vibrant cities in the country, and the addition of experienced federal and state court litigators is a special opportunity for our firm”, said Steve Good, Managing Partner of Gardere. “I am proud that Gardere has attracted this caliber of individuals who will further enhance the star line-up of litigators at the Firm.”
Kim Yelkin, Executive Partner of the Austin Office and leader of the Governmental Affairs practice group, which practices before the Legislature and a broad spectrum of State agencies, stated that, “The synergies between our new lawyers and our existing team in Austin will further our ability to service both new and existing clients. It speaks volumes about who we are and what we are trying to accomplish that these great lawyers left a fine firm to join Gardere.”
Mark Mitchell has 30 years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex federal and state court litigation and in binding arbitration both within and without the State of Texas. Additionally, he has successfully argued cases in many of the State’s courts of appeal and the Supreme Courts of Texas and New Mexico. His practice includes cases involving intellectual property, securities, domestic and international commercial transactions, construction, corporate and partnership disputes and creditors’ rights. He has been consistently named a Texas Super Lawyer in business litigation by Law and Politics magazine. He was a founding partner of the Giles & Yeakel law firm before that firm joined Clark Thomas and Winters in 1990, where he led the commercial litigation practice group.
Mark Mayfield is a senior litigator who has significant trial experience in both state and federal courts and administrative agencies, including the Railroad Commission of Texas and the TCEQ. Mayfield represents both publicly and privately held entities, manufacturers, public utilities, financial institutions, oil and gas producers, oilfield service companies and entrepreneurs in contract disputes, securities litigation, intellectual property matters, and other complex litigation matters. Mayfield was named a Texas Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine. He graduated from Baylor Law School and began his legal career at Clark Thomas in 1990.
Fred Sultan was a shareholder at Clark Thomas with a focus representing clients in Texas and throughout the United States in commercial litigation matters including business torts, breach of contract and warranty, employment, trade secrets, securities litigation and arbitration. He also represents clients in both state and federal courts of appeals. Sultan was named a Rising Star in the Texas Super Lawyers and previously served as a briefing attorney for Justice Mack Kidd of the Court of Appeals for the Third District of Texas. Sultan graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1996 with honors.
Leslie Ritchie Robnett joins as an associate after previously having been an associate at Clark Thomas. Robnett served as a briefing attorney to the Honorable Paul W. Green of the Texas Supreme Court and was Chief of Staff to State Representative Phil King. Robnett graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with honors.
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Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm celebrating 100 years in 2009 and one of the Southwest’s largest full-service law firms, has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Mexico City. Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in areas of energy, hospitality, litigation, government affairs, corporate, tax, environmental, labor and employment, intellectual property and financial services.