I earned my law degree in 1999. After a stint in a white-shoe law firm, I knew I wanted to represent people with real, life-altering problems. My greatest regret is that I usually cannot solve my clients’ problems. I can only try to extract some small measure of justice on their behalf. The majority of my clients just want to make sure that what happened to them never happens to anyone else in the future. They do not want vengeance; they want to ensure that their voice is heard.
Trey Branham
Partner
Background & Motivation
I am the first Branham to graduate college. I am the stepson of the greatest man I have ever known who taught me the meaning of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and to live without regret. My family and my adopted family appreciated and instilled in me the ideals of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment. My mother raised three kids as a single mother and she taught me what a work ethic was. When I was sick, I would sleep under her desk at work because the job had to get done. My family was fortunate that she had an employer who cared about making sure that her family was taken care of and did things the right way. Not all of my clients are so fortunate. Far too often I see employers who favor only profits at the expense of their people and companies who are more interested in the profits generated by their products than ensuring the products are, or were, safe to use.
Giving my clients a voice and ensuring that their peers hear that voice is what gives meaning to my legal career. Ensuring a better world for my son drives me each day. I am grateful each time clients offer me the opportunity to represent them.
Education
University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1999
Associate Articles Editor, South Carolina Law Review
Florida State University, B.S., Political Science, 1992
Admissions
State Bar of Texas, 1999
U.S. Supreme Court, 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals – Fourth Circuit, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit, 2014
U.S. Court of Appeals – Sixth Circuit, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals – Eleventh Circuit, 2012
US District Court of Texas – Northern District, 1999
US District Court of Texas – Eastern District, 2008
US District Court of Texas – Western District, 2010
US District Court of Texas – Southern District, 2010
Honors & Professional Affiliations
Texas Super Lawyers Honoree: 2011 – 2012, 2014 – 2022
Texas Rising Stars Honoree: 2007 – 2010
Publications, Presentations, & Reported Decisions
Publications:
It Couldn’t Happen Here: The English Rule — But Not in South Carolina, 49 S.C.L.Rev.971 (1998)
Control the Story: Get ahead of the defendant’s ‘story’ by pushing to exclude the testimony of any corporate witness who lacks personal knowledge. — American Association for Justice Trial Magazine, July 2022
Presentations:
“Accessing Chronic Legacy Liability Policies of Defunct Companies”, Perrin National Asbestos Conference, Charleston, SC, September 14, 2022
“Defendants Can’t Lie Without Personal Knowledge: Eliminating Corporate Hearsay”, South Carolina Association for Justice, August 5, 2022
“Chronic Legacy Liabilities”, Perrin Insurance Conference, Philadelphia, May 11, 2022
“Turnovers and Receiverships, Collections 101”, Texas Bar CLE, May 15, 2015
“Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Unexpected Liabilities for D&O Insurers”, Professional Liability Underwriting Society 2010 Conference, San Antonio, Texas
“A Geographic Shift in Asbestos Litigation?”, Mealey’s Asbestos Conference, Boston, 2007
Reported decisions:
In Re Ward, 585 B.R. 806 (N.D. Tex 2018)
Hayden v. 3M Company, et al., 211 So.3d 528 (La. App. 2017)
Yaquinto v. Ward, 2017 WL 377947 (N.D. Tex. Bankry. 2017)
Hayden v. 3M Company, 2016 WL 7636025 (La. December 16, 2016)
Hayden v. 3M Company, 2015 WL 4730741 (E.D. La 2015)
Williams v. Rowell Investments, 2015 WL 12533010 (N.D. Tex. 2015)
Grimm v. Moore, 2015 WL 2405362 (E.D. Tex. 2015)
Williams v. Rowell Investments, Inc., 2015 WL 12533010 (N.D. Tex. 2015)
Mirakay v. Dakota Growers Pasta Company, 2014 WL 12621243 (D. N.J. 2014)
Kessel v. Glenmark Generics, Inc. USA, 2014 WL 2558942 (Ohio App. 9, June 4, 2014)
Ward v. Hawkins, 2013 WL 6578766 (Tex. App.–Dallas, December 16, 2013)
Parker v. ABC Debt Relief, Ltd. Co., 2013 WL 371573 (N.D. Tex. 2013)
Schippers v. U.S., 715 F.3d 879 (11th Cir. 2013)
Freisner v. Anover, Inc., 2013 WL 12125981 (E.D. Tex. 2013)
Adair v. Moody International, 2010 WL 11531263 (E.D. Tex. 2010)