Al Ellis, Of Counsel, is known in legal circles for his leadership and integrity in the practice of law, as well as his service to the community. At Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, L.L.P., he focuses his practice on personal injury, products liability, dram shop, medical malpractice litigation and mediation/arbitration.
Al vigorously advocates for his clients, having tried more than 175 jury trials. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all federal and state courts in Texas.
Al is an active member in numerous prestigious legal societies, including the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Dallas and Texas Bar Associations, and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Al also enjoys using his legal skills to give back to the community, having participated in organizations such as Law Focused Education, Inc., Legal Services of North Texas, Dallas Legal Hospice, and currently Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas.
Al recently received the honor of being named a 2019 DTLA Legal Legend. This is the first year DTLA has given this award. The 2019 Legends have 40+ years in practice and have dedicated their careers to achieving justice for those who have been harmed. The Dallas Bar honored Al by establishing the Al Ellis Community Involvement Award. Al was the first recipient.
Following graduation from the University of Texas at Arlington and a tour of duty in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Airborne infantry officer, Al obtained his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University. While attending SMU, Al 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.
SERVICES
ADMISSIONS
- State Bar of Texas, 1972
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1972
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1972
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1972
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1972
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1972
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1972
EDUCATION
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, J.D., 1971
- University of Texas at Arlington
HONORS AND AWARDS
- 2023 Texas Bar Foundation Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer Award
- 2020 Dallas Trial Lawyers Association “Al Ellis” ListServer Award
- 2019 DTLA Legal Legend
- 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
- Nation’s Top American Lawyers National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- Lawyers of Distinction (Top 10%)
- Best Lawyers in America, 2003 – present by Woodward White, Inc.
- Super Lawyers, 2003 – present by Thomson Reuters
- D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas – Mediation, 2015; Personal Injury 2021
- Dallas Bar Association Morris Harrell Professionalism Award, 2016
- Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Award, 2013 by the Dallas Bar Association
- UTA Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011 by the University of Texas at Arlington
- Justinian Award, 2010 by Dallas Lawyers Auxiliary
- UTA Department of Military Science Hall of Honor, inducted in 2013
- C.B. Bunkley Community Service Award, 2009 by the J.L. Turner Legal Association
- Jim D. Bowmer Professionalism Award, 2009 by the Texas Bar College
- 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
- Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award, 2003 by the Texas Bar Foundation
- Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Dallas Bar Association, Past President
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, Past President
- ABOTA (Dallas), Past President
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Past Board Member
- State Bar of Texas, Past Board Member
- College of State Bar of Texas, Past Board Member
- 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
CLASSES AND SEMINARS
- Frequent speaker on ethics and professionalism