Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler L.L.P.

Personal Injury Attorneys | Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, L.L.P.

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LOCAL PHONE: (214) 720-0720 – DALLAS

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Laura Benitez Geisler

toll free : (800) 900-5373
local : (214) 720-0720
fax : (214) 720-0184

CONTACT LAURA

Leader in the Courtroom and Leader in the Community

Laura Benitez Geisler, a Corpus Christi native, is a partner at Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, L.L.P.  After graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Laura earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1997.

Driven by a passion to help others, Laura’s practice for the past 23 years has focused on representing individuals and families in a variety of personal injury and wrongful death claims.  Her empathy for her clients’ problems and desire to seek justice on their behalf has resulted in multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements.  Laura has been named in numerous “Best Lawyer” lists in the field of personal injury including “Best Lawyers in America,” “Best Attorneys in Texas,” and “Best Lawyers in Dallas” and Texas “Super Lawyers.”  In 2011, the Hispanic National Bar Association honored her with its “Top Lawyer Under 40” award.  She was named by the National Diversity Council as a Top 50 Multicultural Lawyer (Dallas) and Top 50 Women Lawyers (Dallas).

Throughout her career, Laura has served in significant leadership roles in the Dallas legal community.  In 2019 she served as the 110th President of the Dallas Bar Association, the first Hispanic member to assume the role, having served on its board of directors since 2006 and as Chair of the Board in 2015.  Laura is a past president of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and Dallas Women Lawyers Association. As Co-Chair for the 2014-2015 Equal Access to Justice Campaign benefitting the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, Laura helped raise over 1.1 million dollars to provide pro bono legal services to low income Dallas County residents.

Attorney at Law Magazine

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Personal Injury
  • Civil Trial Matters

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

  • Texas
  • U. S. District Court Northern District of Texas
  • U. S. District Court Western District of Texas

EDUCATION

  • Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas, D. – 1997
    • Law Review: Southern Methodist University Law Review, Articles Editor, 1996 – 1997
    • Law Review: Southern Methodist University Law Review, Staff Member, 1995 – 1996
  •  University of Texas at San Antonio, A. – 1997, Major: Criminal Justice

PUBLICATIONS

  • “The Impact of ‘Obergefell’ on Wrongful Death Claims,” Texas Lawyer(January 25, 2016)
  • “A Win for Plaintiffs: Chapter 95 Interpretation Narrowed,” Texas Lawyer(June 25, 2014)
  • “Current Issues in Premises Liability Claims Governed by Statute,” presented to College for Judicial Studies (April 2013).
  • “Daycare Injuries and Litigation,” presented to American Association of Justice (Miami, February 2013)
  • “Expert Issues Arising During Trial: Effectively Communicating Complex Concepts to Jurors,”17 Security Journal 31 (2004).
  • “Friend, Follower or Foe: Ethics and ‘Informal’ Social Media Discovery,” Texas Lawyer(Oct. 10, 2011)

 PRESENTATIONS

  •  “Pearls of Wisdom,” HNBA Latina Leadership Conference (Oct. 2017)
  • “Precision Advocacy: Reinventing Motion Practice to Win,” ABA Section of Litigation (April 2017)
  • “Deposing Uncooperative Witnesses,” Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (Aug. 2015)
  • “Latina Style Entrepreneurs Roundtable”(March 2015)
  • “Civility Matters”, Dallas Bar Association (Oct. 2013)
  • “Current Issues in Premises Liability Claims Governed by Statute,” Texas College for Judicial Studies (April 2013)
  • “Daycare Injuries and Litigation”, American Association of Justice 2013 Winter Conference –(Miami, Feb. 2013)
  • “War of the Worlds – When Attorneys and Financial Experts Collide”, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (February 2013)
  • “Ethical Pitfalls in Discovery,” Dallas Bar Association (Oct. 2012)
  • “Starting Your Own Law Practice,” Dallas Bar Association (Feb. 2012)
  • “Networking Skills”, Texas Wesleyan School of Law (Oct. 2012)
  • “Ethical Pitfalls in Informal Social Media Discovery,” Dallas Bar Association (Oct. 2011)
  • “Attracting and Retaining Clients,” Dallas Bar Association (July 2011)
  • “What Every Young Lawyer Should Know About Initial Pleadings,” Dallas Association of Young Lawyers(March 2009)
  • “Effective Networking Skills for Young Lawyers,” SMU Dedman School of Law (Sept. 2011, Sept. 2010, Oct. 2007, Oct. 2006)
  • “Publicly Disparaging the Opposing Party, the Opposing Counsel and the Judge and the Manipulation of Public Opinion”, Dallas Bar Association (Oct. 2008)
  • “Opening and Managing a Small Firm,” State Bar of Texas (Webinar, July 2008)
  • “The Personal Injury Case from the Plaintiff and Defense Perspective,” Dallas Bar Association (Minority Attorney Business Development Initiative Workshop)(June 2006, June 2008)
  • “Secrets to Associate Success,” Dallas Bar Association/DAYL (June 2007)
  • “Alternatives to Big Firm Practice,” SMU Dedman School of Law (2007, 2006)
  • “Can You Handle the Truth: Balancing Work and Play,” Dallas Bar Association/DAYL (May 2006)
  • “Discovery Tools for Paralegals, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar”  (Sept. 2006)

 HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2019, 2023)
  • Top 50 Multicultural Lawyer (Dallas), Top 50 Women Lawyers (Dallas)– National Diversity Council
  • Texas Super Lawyer (Personal Injury)– (Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers 2015-2018)
  • Dallas Bar Association– Presidential Citation (2015, 2016)
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers – The National Trial Lawyers
  • Latino Leaders of the Future Dallas – Latino Leaders
  • “Best Lawyers in America” (Personal Injury)
  • “Best Lawyers” (2020, 2021)
  • “Top Hispanic Lawyer Under 40”– Hispanic National Bar Association (2011)
  • “National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40” –(2011)
  • “Best Lawyers in Dallas” – D Magazine(May 2007, 2008)
  • “Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas”– D Magazine (May 2004; May 2006)
  • “Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star” – Texas Monthly (2004-2011)
  • “Emerging Hispanic Leader”– Al Dia (Oct. 2008)
  • Dallas Community Television –Award of Excellence for Outstanding Community Contributions(July 2006)

ASSOCIATIONS

Leadership Positions

 Dallas Bar Association

  • President (2019)
  • President-Elect (2018)
  • First Vice-President (2017)
  • Second Vice-President (2016)
  • Chair, Board of Directors (2015)
  • Director (2006-2015)

Equal Access to Justice Campaign Co-Chair (2014-2015)

Dallas Bar Association Community Service Fund

  • President (2017)
  • Vice-President (2016)
  • Director (2010-2015)

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers

  • President (2007)
  • President-Elect (2006)
  • Treasurer (2005)
  • Secretary (2004)
  • Director (2001-2003)

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Leadership Class

  • Class Facilitator (2012-2015)
  • Class Member (1997)

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation

  • Trustee (2014-2017)
  • Trustee (2004-2007)

 Committee for a Qualified Judiciary

  • Board of Directors (2009-2015)

 Texas Trial Lawyers Association

  • Board of Directors (2013-2014)

 Dallas Women Lawyers Association

  • President (2003)
  • President-Elect (2002)
  • Secretary (2000-2001)
  • Director (1999-2001)
  • Advisory Board (2005-2007)

 Dallas Hispanic Bar Association

  • Executive Committee (2004)
  • Secretary (2001-2002)

 OTHER PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS/FELLOWSHIPS

  • National Institute Trial Advocacy– Deposition Skills Faculty
  • Litigation Counsel of America– Fellow
  • Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court, Barrister
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, Life Sustaining Fellow
  • Dallas Bar Foundation, Life Sustaining Fellow
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow; Fellows District 6 Nominating Committee (2007)