Lance has probably sued and deposed more attorneys than any other single lawyer in Texas. Lance’s career into legal malpractice began more than 20 years ago. During law school, Lance served as Editor-in-Chief of the law review and had the distinction of interning for the Texas Supreme Court and the First Court of Appeals. After graduating from law school with honors, Lance served as Briefing Attorney for the First Court of Appeals. The First Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to review cases from the state district and county courts from 14 counties in and around Harris County. There, Lance reviewed appeals and prepared draft and final opinions with the justices assigned to the cases. These cases encompassed every aspect of Texas State law including legal malpractice. Lance had the opportunity to review trial court error, as well as errors made by lawyers handling cases at the trial court level. Subsequently, Lance left the Court of Appeals to enter private practice in Houston, Texas, where he concentrates solely on plaintiffs’ legal malpractice cases. Lance has personally handled and worked on well over 2,000 legal malpractice cases and has handled numerous appeals involving legal malpractice issues. Lance has represented clients from all over the nation, including Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Virginia and, of course, Texas. Lance has spoken at a number of legal seminars and writes articles involving various aspects of legal malpractice and legal ethics. Though not every case is a multi-million dollar legal malpractice case, Lance has handled many such cases and maintains a consistent record of success, some of which are located here https://kassab.law/news/. Lance is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in Legal Professional Liability. Professional liability falls within the umbrella of Legal Malpractice. The Diplomate designation is about competence, character and commitment; three terms that define professionalism and exemplify the high standards the ABPLA sets for all of it Diplomates. Lance has been given an “AV” rating from his peers and the judiciary on Martindale-Hubbell, which means he was deemed as having the highest ethical standards and preeminent legal ability. Lance is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which are two of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorney’s who have won a million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 5,000 members throughout the country. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. Lance is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is licensed to practice before all Texas state courts and various federal courts, including the United State District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the United State Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

David was born in Houston and raised in the Northwest. After high school, David enlisted in the military with the Army National Guard. Prior to his junior year of college, David was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait in Operation Iraqi Freedom III with Task Force Liberty of the 42nd Infantry Division. While deployed, David completed eighteen college credits and was able to sustain a 4.0-grade point average during this period, ultimately earning him academic honors for his personal scholarly endeavor as well as an Army Achievement Medal for his logistical support in the war. After returning state-side and completing his undergrad, David returned to Texas and was admitted into South Texas College of Law Houston. While attending law school, David clerked full-time at The Kassab Law Firm, gaining extensive experience in civil litigation, while focusing almost exclusively in legal malpractice, attorney breach of fiduciary duty claims and legal ethics. During his third year of law school, David obtained his Temporary Trial Card and argued several motions and hearings in court while under the supervision of an attorney. After graduating law school and passing the Texas Bar Exam in 2010, David continued his employment with The Kassab Law Firm as a licensed attorney. Here, David combines his prior military experience with his formal legal and business training, allowing him to work efficiently and effectively under pressure, all in an effort to better serve our clients. While clerking for the Kassab Law firm and since his licensure, David has assisted in the resolution of several high-dollar legal malpractice cases, and has successfully litigated these legal malpractice cases to their resolution against some of Texas’ largest and most prestigious law firms. David has handled legal malpractice cases in Texas State and Federal Courts and has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association. David is licensed to practice law in all Texas courts as well as the federal courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas. David is also licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri. David belongs to several professional organizations and is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, and Houston Young Lawyers Association. David is a published author in the American Bar Association’s Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct, writing on the effects and impact of mandatory legal malpractice insurance link: https://www.bna.com/avoiding-accountability-rise-n57982093773/.

Valerie is Southeast Texas born and raised and is a proud alumni of All Saints Episcopal School (c/o 2000), West Brook High School (c/o 2004), Rice University (c/o 2008), and Tulane University Law School School (c/o 2014). Before law school, she spent one year teaching English in rural France. She subsequently served two years as a Teach For America Corps Member in Northern California, where she taught seventh grade English as part of Teach For America’s mission to make excellent education equitable for all children and fought for an uncompromising belief in every child. Valerie’s advocacy skills also carry into her volunteer efforts in the Southeast Texas community, where she has served on the Boards of Directors of the Junior League of Beaumont, the Michelle M. Mehaffy Inn of Court, the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and the Foundation for Southeast Texas.

Toby F. Nash is a native of Beaumont, Texas who began his legal career at Germer in 2005. He graduated magna cum laude from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting in 2002. Toby graduated in the top two percent of his Texas Tech Law School class, receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, summa cum laude. While in law school, he served as Comment Editor on the Texas Tech Law Review and was the recipient of the Lamar University/Texas Tech University School of Law Presidential Scholarship. Toby was initiated into the Order of the Coif and the legal honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Delta Phi. In November 2005 he was admitted to the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before Texas state courts and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Toby is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Jefferson County Bar Association, Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, and Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Toby practices in the areas of Appellate Law, Class Action, Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Maritime Law, Personal Injury Defense, Rail Transportation/Railroad, and Transportation and Trucking Litigation.

Troy A. Williams represents a wide variety of clients and companies who are based locally, nationally, and internationally, and whose industries include retailers (premises liability, general negligence, premises security, products, DTPA), oil and gas (employment, personal injury, OCSLA, DOHSA), construction liability (worksite accidents, contractual indemnity, OSHA), products liability (manufacturing defects, design defects, marketing defects, DTPA, warranty, distribution), property management companies / owners, and restaurants. Troy has achieved an AV Preeminent Martindale Rating while representing three nationally known retailers in hundreds of cases over the course of the last twenty years. Additionally, he handles general liability cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises incidents, wrongful death, survival, dram shop, construction defect, statutory violations, deceptive trade practices, and contractual disputes. After receiving his Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army, Troy graduated from the University of Houston (BBA ’90) and South Texas College of Law (JD ’93). Troy’s biography includes: Board of Advocates; Order of the Barristers; Order of the Lytae. National Champion: Craven National Moot Court Invitational, Chapel Hill, N.C. (1992). National Champion and Best Brief: John Marshall National Moot Court Invitational, Chicago, IL (1993). Brief For Petitioner, The Eleventh Annual John Marshall National Moot Court Houston Young Lawyers Association, Competition in Information and Privacy Law, VI Software l.J. 115, 1993; Representative cases include Shell Oil Company v. Khan, 138 S.W.3d 288 (Tex. 2004); Allstate Insurance Co. v. Spellings, 2012 WL 2452051, No. 01-11-01065- CV (Tex. App. – Hou [1st Dist] June 28, 2012); Rehabilitative Care Sys. v. Davis, 43 S.W.3d 649 (Tex. App. – Texarkana, 2001); Lampasas v. Spring Center, 1999 WL 161008 (Tex. App. – Houston (14th Dist.) 1999); Member of Houston Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Defense Research Institute, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Texas Bar Foundation, and Houston Bar Foundation.

Since 1988, J.C. Bailey has provided strategic legal solutions in Business and Probate Law. A graduate of Abilene Christian University and Baylor Law School, he is a member of the Order of Barristers, the State Bar of Texas, and the Tarrant County Bar Association. J.C. prioritizes constructive, professional advocacy, aiming for resolution through mediation and arbitration when possible, but he is also a respected trial attorney. Based in the Bedford office, he serves businesses, families, and even Texas Lottery winners with expertise and dedication.

Kim Smith has been advocating for injured workers in Texas since 2000. After earning her law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, she began her career in Workers’ Compensation law, eventually managing her own firm. In 2013, she merged her practice with Bailey & Galyen, where she now leads the Workers’ Compensation Department in the Arlington office. A proud mother of six, Kim balances her passion for family with her dedication to protecting the rights of injured workers across Texas.

With decades of legal and leadership experience, Steve has built a distinguished career in personal injury, consumer protection, and commercial litigation. A seasoned trial attorney, he has handled over 100 jury trials, earning recognition as a Texas Super Lawyer (2004–2018) and Fort Worth Texas Top Attorney (2003–2017). Steve has served as President of the Tarrant County Bar Association, the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Fort Worth Jaycees. His dedication to the legal community and public service extends to his tenure as an elected director of the State Bar of Texas and Chairman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. Respected for his professionalism and advocacy, Steve continues to make a lasting impact in the courtroom and beyond.

Kern Lewis joined Bailey & Galyen in 2020, bringing extensive experience in brain injury cases. He understands the devastating impact that a brain injury can have on someone’s life, and he has dedicated his career to fighting against the negligence of others. “There is hardly any injury more devastating than a traumatic brain injury. An injury to a person’s back, arms or legs is terrible – but a brain injury is an injury to the very core of who a person is,” says Lewis. “A brain injury impacts their memory, their personality, and their ability to think.” In a recent traumatic brain injury case – Lewis lived with his client for several days to be able to completely understand and experience the impact the injury had on her life. “When I told her story to the jury at trial – I was able to do so as someone who experienced it – not just heard about it. It makes a huge difference.” His client received the largest jury verdict ever awarded in that court. But even after the trial and the money was paid, he continued to work with that client and her family members to make sure she was taken care of. Lewis’ skills as a trial lawyer have earned him local and national recognition. He is double board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Consumer and Commercial Law, a distinction only 15 lawyers have obtained. Lewis has also been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) with the rank of Associate and has an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level of professional excellence. He has been repeatedly named to the Texas Super Lawyers list, which is an honor less than 5 percent of lawyers obtain. In 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018 he was named a “Top 100” Trial Lawyer in Texas by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He was also named to the National Trial Lawyer’s list of Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyers in 2018.

Mr. Pierret attended the University of Dallas on full academic scholarship, obtaining a degree in Philosophy, and went straight to law school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. His first job as an attorney brought him to Fort Worth as a briefing attorney for Justices Clyde Ashworth and David Farris on the Fort Worth Court of Appeals, and he has remained in Tarrant County for the past 35 years. Mr. Pierret’s practice has always revolved around tort law, both plaintiff and defense, and he has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 1991 and Personal Injury Law since 1998. He received a Top 10 Attorney Award in 2020 from the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, and he will devote his time at Bailey & Galyen to representing those who have been injured by someone else’s negligence.