Stephen E. McConnico
Steve joined the firm in 1981. He has tried over 200 cases to jury verdict. Cases tried include: breach of fiduciary duty, theft of trade secrets, probate, breach of contract, environmental, election law, class action, business tort, oil and gas, personal injury, and professional malpractice defense. He represented Fortune 500 Corporations, the Governor of Texas, some of Texas’s largest law firms, the Senior Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, family owned businesses, and individuals who just need a trial lawyer. Steve McConnico is committed to being a very good trial lawyer for his clients.
Recognitions & Awards
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Fellow, International Society of Barristers
Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
President, Austin Chapter of ABOTA, 1993-1995
President, Tex-ABOTA, 1997
Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award by Texas Bar Foundation, 2012
Baylor Lawyer of the Year, 2011
Selected for The Best Lawyers in America in Bet-The-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law, a Woodward/White, Inc. publication, 2007-2011
100 Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, 2003 - 2009
Texas Top Notch Lawyer, Commercial Litigation, a Thomson Reuters business, 2010 - 2012
National Law Journal Who’s Who of the Legal Malpractice Bar
Board Certified in Personal Injury and Civil Trial, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1982
Editor in Chief, Baylor Law Review, 1975-1976
Representative Matters
BREACH OF CONTRACT:
54 Broadcasting, Inc. v. LIN Television (Civil Action No. 1:08-CV-30) — Successful defense of a breach of contract case alleging the wrongful assignment of F.C.C. television license. Jury found the assignment valid.
LEGAL MALPRACTICE:
Catherman v. First State Bank of Smithville (796 S.W.2d 799) — Successful trial court and appellate rulings that federal and state Fair Debt Acts do not apply to Texas attorneys.
Geo-Chevron v. Woodworth, et al (Cause No. 2004CVF000431D2; In the 111th Judicial District Court of Webb County, Texas); Michels v. Zeifman (Cause No. D-1-GN-07-004188; In the 261st Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas); Henderson v. Chambers (208 S.W.3d 546, 2006 WL 821297) — Successful trial and appellate rulings that plaintiffs suing former attorneys do not have claims as a matter of law.
TECHNOLOGY:
B. Randall Jean, et al v. Thermo Electron Corporation, et al, (Case No. 99-0632) — Successful defense in a seven week arbitration involving microwave technology before AAA arbitration panel. There were 120 witnesses and 1600 exhibits. Arbitrators awarded what defense offered in settlement.
Bar Admissions & Activities
Admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Southern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Admitted to practice for specific cases in California, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana and Nevada.
Member, State Bar of Texas Court Administration Taskforce, 2007 - 2008
Member, State Bar of Texas Referral Fee Taskforce, 2004 - 2006
Chairman, Litigation Section, State Bar of Texas, 1992 - 1993
Life Member, Texas Bar Foundation
Member, American Bar Association
Life Member, American Bar Foundation
Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, 1984 - 1993
President, Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, 2005
President, Baylor Law School Alumni Association, 2003 - 2004
Education
Baylor University, J.D. with honors, 1976
Briefing Attorney to Justice Jack Pope, Texas Supreme Court, 1976-1977
Associate Professor at Baylor University School of Law for Practice Court, 2006
Associate Professor at the University of Texas Law School for Professional Responsibility, 2002
Articles & Presentations
Stephen E. McConnico, Jennifer Knauth & Robyn Bigelow, Unresolved Problems in Texas Legal Malpractice Law, 36 St. Mary's L.J. 989 (2005)
Steve E. McConnico, Christopher Fuller, and Samuel J. Johnson, Failed Financial Institution Litigation: The Expanding Scope of Liability, 12 The Review of Litigation 537 (1993)
Steve McConnico and Daniel Bishop, Practicing Law with the 1984 Rules: Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Amendments Effective April 1, 1984, 36 Baylor Law Rev. 73 (1984)
Steve McConnico and Jack Pope, Practicing Law with the 1981 Texas Rules, 32 Baylor Law Rev. 457 (1980)
Steve McConnico and Jack Pope, Texas Civil Procedure Rule Making, 30 Baylor Law Rev. 5 (1978)
Steve has given over 150 Continuing Legal Education presentations.
Selected Reported Cases
Hall v. Pedernales Elec. Co-Op., Inc., 278 S.W.3d 536 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009, no pet.)
In Re Graham, 251 S.W.3d 844 (Tex. App.—Austin 2008, orig. proceeding)
Henderson v. Chambers, 208 S.W.3d 546 (Tex. App.—Austin 2006, no pet.)
