Thomas, Richard Gary

Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

For over 35 years, Richard Thomas has practiced commercial construction law.  He consults industry clients to help clients resolve disputes without litigation, but when necessary, he zealously represents them in jury trials, non-jury trials, mediation, arbitration and appeals.  Richard Thomas also drafts contracts for all segments of the industry.  Mr. Thomas has vast experience in all types of construction disputes ranging from complex delay and labor impact claims to mechanic's lien foreclosures.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and has served the construction industry and legal profession by holding leadership positions in the American Bar Association's Forum on the Construction Industry, State Bar of Texas' Construction Law Section, the Construction Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, and the Associated Building Contractors Association.  Mr. Thomas is General Counsel for statewide and local construction trade associations, and has been so for over 22 years.  He is a primary or contributing author of at least eight Texas statutes involving the construction industry.  He is also a frequent speaker and author to professional and industry groups on construction law topics.

Areas of Practice

• Construction Law
• Complex Litigation, Arbitration & Appeals

West Practice Categories

Arbitration, Mediation, Uniform Commercial Code, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Housing & Construction Defects, Government Construction Contracts, State & Municipal Contracts, Commercial Insurance, Fidelity, Guarantee & Surety, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US Supreme Court

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 1972
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Fellow: American College of Construction Lawyers, 2011
• American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry (Chairman, Specialty Contractors & Suppliers Division 1997-1999)
• American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Construction Law Committee, Subcommittee on Expert Witnesses of the Construction Industry (Subcommittee Chair 2000-2001)
• State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section (Charter Member; Legislative Affairs Liaison, 2004, Governing Council, 2005-2008)
• Dallas Bar Association, Construction Law Section (Charter Member; Governing Council, 1986-1989)
• Texas Construction Association, 1998 - Present (General Counsel)
• American Subcontractors Association (Member, National Attorney's Council (Chair 1994-1995))
• Drywall & Accoustical Association of Dallas, Inc., 2008 - Present (General Counsel)
• Associated Builders & Contractors of Texas, Inc., 1995 - 1999 (Member, Board of Directors)
• Associated Builders & Contractors of North Texas, 1992 - 1994 (Chairman, Legislative Committee)
• American Subcontractor's Association, North Texas Chapter, 1990 - Present (General Counsel)
• American Subcontractor's Association of Texas, 1990 - Present (General Counsel)

Classes and Seminars

• 2011 Texas Legislative Session - Indemnity, Retainage Lien, and Lien Waiver Form Statutes, Texas Construction Association
• Revising and Negotiating Subcontracts, Mason Contractors Association of America, 2008
• Subcontracts and Purchase Orders - Beyond The Basics, Construction Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2007
• Ethics: When Is Enough, Enough, Construction Law Section State Bar of Texas, 2004
• How to Collect Payment Bond Claims, American Subcontractors Association, Inc., 1999
• Construction Lawyering on the Internet, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, 1998
• The Art of Negotiation, American Subcontractors Association, Inc., 1997
• Collecting Your Money, American Subcontractors Association, Inc., 1996
• Changes: The Owner's Point of View, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, 1996
• Killer Subcontract Clauses, ASA, North Texas Chapter; ASA of Houston; ABC, North Texas Chapter; National Electric Contractors Association; Construction Finance Managers Associaton; Texas Glass Association, 1990 - Present
• Perfecting Lien & Bond Claims, ASA, North Texas Chapt.; ASA, Rio Grande Valley Chapter; ABC, North Texas Chapter; ASA of Houston, 1990 - Present
• Ethical Dilemmas in Construction Law Practice, Construction Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 1988

Education

• St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas
  J.D.
  Law Review: St. Mary's Law Journal, Associate Editor, 1971 - 1972
• Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
  B.A.

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Gamma Delta

Published Works

• How To Beat a No Damage For Delay Clause (Co-Author), 9 The Construction Lawyer, 17, 1989
• Construction Law: Annual Survey of Texas Law (Co-Author), 44 S.W.L.J. 2101 (1990)
• Comment, The Texas Aeronautics Commission And Its Rate Regulating Function, 3 St. Mary's L.J. 1266 (1971).

Address

9400 North Central Expy.
Suite 900
Dallas, TX 75231

Phones

(214) 369-3008

Faxes

(214) 369-8393

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.tfandw.com