With a legal career,that's spanned nearly 50 years, Al Ellis is known for his leadership, integrity and service to the community. As Of Counsel at Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, L.L.P., his practice focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice litigation and mediation. Board Certified in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Mr. Ellis is a vigorous advocate for those he represents. Over his career, he's tried more than 175 jury trials to verdict.
Mr. Ellis serves as; Community Outreach Facilitator of the UNT Dallas College of Law. He is an active member in several prestigious legal organizations, including the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Dallas Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Ellis also strives to give back to the community, having participated in organizations such as Dallas Council on Alcoholism, Dallas All Sports Association, Law Focused Education, Inc., Legal Services of North Texas, Dallas Legal Hospice, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, Carter Work Project Habitat for Humanity International and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas.
In 2019, Mr. Ellis received the honor of being named a DTLA Legal Legend, the first year DTLA has given this award. The 2019 Legends have been in practice for more than 40 years and have dedicated their careers to achieving justice for those who have been harmed.
After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington, Mr. Ellis served as a U.S. Army Airborne Infantry officer in Vietnam, When he returned home, he attended Southern Methodist University, where he received his Juris Doctor. While there, Mr. Ellis was Student Chief Counsel for the SMU Legal Clinic and a member of the Board of Editors for the Journal of Air Law and Commerce. Mr. Ellis is licensed to practice in Texas, as well as the United States District courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western districts of Texas. He is also licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
Education
BA— University of Texas at Arlington
JD — Southern Methodist University
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Affiliations and Memberships
Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Past Board Member
Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline (1999-2005)
State Bar of Texas, Past Board Member
College of the State Bar of Texas
Law Focused Education, Inc., Past President and Board Member
Legal Services of North Texas, Past Board Member
Dallas Legal Hospice, Past Board Member
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, Past Board Member
Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, Past Chair William "Mac" Taylor Inn of Court Dallas Bar Association, Past President
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, Past President
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Past President
American Board of Trial Advocates, Dallas Chapter, Past President Salesmanship Club of Dallas
Dallas Council on Alcoholism, Past President
Dallas All Sports Association, Past President
International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Awards
DTLA Legal Legend, 2019
Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Board Certified, Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who Nation's Top American Lawyers
National Association of Distinguished Counsel
Lawyers of Distinction (Top 10%)
Best Lawyers in America, 2003 to the present by Woodward White, Inc.
Super Lawyers, 2003 to the present by Thomson Reuters
D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas — Mediation, 2015
Dallas Bar Association Morris Harrell Professionalism Award, 2016 Dallas Habitat for Humanity Mary Brock Award (2013)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Award, 2013 by the Dallas Bar Association UTA Department of Military Science Hall of Honor, inducted in 2013
UTA Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011 by the University of Texas at Arlington Justinian Award, 2010 by the Dallas Lawyers Auxiliary
C.B. Bunkley Community Service Award, 2009 by the J.L. Turner Legal Association Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award, 2009 by the Texas Bar College
Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award, 2003 by the Texas Bar Foundation DAYL Foundation Excellence in Profession Award (2004)
Nancy Garms Memorial Award, Outstanding Contributions to Law Focused Education, 1996 by the State Bar of Texas
Leon Jaworski Award for Teaching Excellence in Law Focused Education, 1995 by the State Bar of Texas Distinguished Service Award, 1993 by the Dallas All Sports Association