Al Ellis, Of Counsel

fax : (214) 720-0184

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