Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 512-474-9124
- Fax: 512-474-8582
- E-Mail: info@chmc-law.com
- Website: www.chmc-law.com
Established: 1984
- Practice Areas
- About Us
- Additional Locations
- Client Information
- Personnel
- High Profile Cases
- Additional Links
- Service Areas
Practice Areas
- Insurance Defense
- Litigation
- General Liability
- Product Liability
- Employment Law
- Commercial Law
- Medical Liability
- Health Care
- Professional Liability
- Environmental Law
- Casualty
- Coverage Issues
- Automobile
- Bad Faith
- Subrogation
- Arbitration
- Mediation
- Administrative Law
- Business and Real Estate Transactions
- Personal Injury
- Business Litigation
- Appellate Litigation
- Oil and Gas Litigation
About Us
Chamberlain McHaney is a litigation firm of experienced attorneys with broad and deep expertise in civil trial and appellate law. The firm’s senior attorneys are all AV rated, indicating the highest professional and ethical standards as determined by peer ratings, and they include a Chair of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, a Chair of the State Bar of Texas Insurance Trust, a 2005-2016 Super Lawyer, a partner who has been honored as The Outstanding Defense Bar Leader in the nation by DRI (the largest association of defense lawyers in the world), and two members of the prestigious, invitation only American Board of Trial Advocates.
Our firm is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers).
We represent clients, including Fortune 500 companies and major insurers, in all areas of litigation. In particular, we represent manufacturers and retailers in cases involving product liability and negligence; oil and gas litigation; environmental pollution litigation; health care providers in medical malpractice claims; public and private employers in disputes in employment litigation, including class actions and cases involving Title VII, Section 1983, the ADEA and the ADA; public and private land owners and occupiers and general and subcontractors in premises liability and construction site accident cases; trucking and transportation litigation; state administrative law claims; professionals in malpractice cases; and we represent individuals, business corporations and partnerships in disputes involving contract claims and business torts.
Additional Locations
- San Antonio, Texas
- 310 South St. Mary's, Suite 1815
- San Antonio, Texas 78205
- Telephone: 210-227-3331
- Fax: 210-227-3334
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- Ascension Health
- Burlington Insurance Group
- Central Mutual Insurance Company
- Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's
- Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Cincinnati Insurance Company
- Florists' Insurance Company
- Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.
- GHS Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- GuideOne Insurance
- Hanover Insurance Company
- Hartford Insurance Company
- The Horace Mann Companies
- Mid-Continent Casualty Company
- National Interstate Insurance Company
- Professional Risk Management
- ProPoint Claim Services, LLC
- Sedgwick Claims Management
- Seton Healthcare Network
- Specialty Risk Services, Inc. (SRS)
- Texas Association of School Boards
- USA Managed Care Organization, Inc.
- York Risk Services Group, Inc.
- Zurich Insurance Company
Non-Insurance Clients
- Carr Development Inc.
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
- Doucet & Associates, Inc.
- Flying J, Inc.
- Gift-Neuhaus Properties, Inc.
- HMI Financial
- Innovative Risk Management, Inc.
- Jakel Incorporated
- La Hacienda Markets
- Mid-Continent Homebuilders, Inc.
- Regal-Beloit Corporation
- TRT Holdings, Inc.
- Wellington Financial Services, Inc.
Personnel Information
Partners
David E. Chamberlain
Senior Partner
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: dchamberlain@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 43
Admitted
- Texas, 1978
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 1979
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1998
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 1999
Additional Biographical Details:
Named Outstanding Defense Bar Leader in Nation by DRI, the Largest International Association of Defense Lawyers, 2006; Best Lawyers in America (2012-present); Texas Super Lawyer (2004-present); National Super Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Edition (2008-present), Texas Monthly Magazine; Course Director: 2013 & 2014 Business Disputes Law Course, 2014 Advanced Civil Trial Law Course, and 2007 Texas Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, State Bar of Texas
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas (Chair of the Board of Directors, 2015-2016; Executive Committee 2014-2017; Frequent Speaker, Course Director, and Planning Committee Member; 2014 Standing Ovation Award; 2014 Presidential Citation)
- Austin Bar Association (President, 2012; Outstanding Board Director, 2008)
- American Board of Trial Advocates (President, Texas Chapters 2014-2015); President, Austin Chapter 2016-present)
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel (President, 2005; Founder's Award, 2009)
- Defense Research Institute (National Board of Directors, 2009-2011)
- Austin Bar Foundation (President, 2013)
- State Bar Insurance Trust (Chair, 2014-2016)
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
Certifications:
- Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (over 10 years)
Education:
- The University of Texas at Arlington, B.A., 1975
- Oxford University, England
- St. Mary's University, J.D. (with distinction), 1978
J. Gordon McHaney
Managing Partner
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: gmchaney@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 35
Admitted
- Texas, 1986
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, 2005
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2005
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating)
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Austin Bar Association
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Certifications:
- Certified Mediator
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1983
- St. Mary's University, J.D., 1986
Born: 1960
Non-Equity Partners
Catherine L. Kyle
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: ckyle@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 35
Admitted
- Texas, 1986
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1990
Additional Biographical Details:
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Austin Bar Association (Director, 1998-2000)
- Texas Bar Foundation
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Austin Young Lawyers Association (Director, 1990-1993; Treasurer, 1991-1993; Fellows Founding Member, Secretary, 1995-1999)
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- Travis County Women Lawyers Association (Liaison to TWLA 2012)
- Texas Women Lawyers Association
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (Plan II Honors), 1983
- Baylor Law School, J.D. (with honors), 1986
Honors:
National Merit Scholar; Phi Eta Sigma
Born: 1963
Erin Westendorf
Austin, TX
Years of Experience: 18
Admitted
- Texas, 2003
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, 2005
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Austin Bar Association
- Austin Young Lawyers Association
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1998
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. (with honors), 2003
Born: 1976
Veronica R. Gibson
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: vgibson@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 12
Admitted
- Texas, 2009
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 2010
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2014
Memberships:
- Austin Bar Association
- Austin Young Lawyers Association
- Travis County Women Lawyers Association
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., 2006
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 2009
Born: 1984
Associates
Siena P. Magallanes
Austin, TX
Years of Experience: 6
Admitted
- Texas, 2015
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (Dean's List), 2011
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 2015
Born: 1989
Stanford Parrish
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: sparrish@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 1
Admitted
- Texas, 2022
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Austin Bar Association
- Austin Young Lawyers Association
Education:
- University of North Texas, B.S., 2015
- Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2021
Born: 1992
Sean B. Swords
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: sswords@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 5
Admitted
- Texas, 2016
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 2017
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 2020
Education:
- Texas Tech University, B.B.A. (summa cum laude), 2013
- Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, J.D., 2016
Born: 1990
Justin R. Vatter
Austin, TX
- Web Site: jvatter@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 3
Admitted
- Texas, 2019
Certifications:
- Certified Paralegal and Advanced Paralegal, NALA-The Paralegal Association
Education:
- Texas State University, B.A. Political Science, 2003
- Texas State University, M.A., 2010
- University of North Texas, J.D., 2019
Born: 1980
Senior Trial Attorneys
Christopher J. Deeves
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: cdeeves@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 28
Admitted
- Texas, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Ninth Circuits
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- San Antonio Bar Association
Certifications:
- Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Education:
- Rice University, B.A. (cum laude), 1991
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 1996
Born: 1968
Lauren Mistretta
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: lmistretta@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 12
Admitted
- California, 2009
- Texas, 2020
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2011
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 2021
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Austin Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- California State University, Sacramento, B.S., 2003
- Lincoln Law School of Sacramento, J.D., 2007
Born: 1978
Of Counsel
Joseph Loiacono, II
Austin, TX
- E-Mail: jloiacono@chmc-law.com
Years of Experience: 20
Admitted
- Texas, 1991
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, 1991
Education:
- University of Dallas, B.A. Economics (magna cum laude), 1988
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1991
Born: 1966
Additional Links
High Profile Cases
Graper v. Mid-Continent Casualty Co.; Petroleum Solutions, Inc. v Head Enterprises; Materials Evaluation and Technology Corp. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co.; Mid-Continent Casualty Co. v. Global Enercom Mgmt.; Ramirez v. Fifth Club, Inc., 196 S.W.3d 788
Service Areas
Georgetown, Texas, USA 27 miles
San Marcos, Texas, USA 25 miles
(This firm also appears in the Subrogation section of this publication)
Contact Our Team | About Best's Insurance Professional Resources | FAQs | Qualification Guidelines | Important Notice