Previous Law Firm Name

• Jeffrey R. Gilbert, P.C.

Law Firm Overview

A native of Angleton, Texas in Brazoria County, Jeff Gilbert is a 6th generation Texan with deep roots to his community. Graduating from Angleton High School in 1978, Mr. Gilbert attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he was involved in the leadership of many campus service and social organizations. Upon completion of his business degree (BBA) in 1982, Mr. Gilbert returned to Brazoria County going to work for the First Freeport National Bank in Freeport, Texas. Mr. Gilbert later returned to Baylor where he enrolled in the graduate school of business obtaining his degree (MBA) while working as the night manager of the Baylor Student Union.

Upon graduation, Mr. Gilbert began a career in banking and corporate investments before entering South Texas College of Law at the age of 27. While in law school, Jeff participated in many intramural moot court and mock trial competitions and most importantly met and married his wife, Melba Havard Gilbert. Interestingly and of note, Jeff tried and won his first jury trial while in law school serving as an intern with the Harris County District Attorney's office before receiving his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in December 1989.

Mr. Gilbert then accepted a position in the Trial Bureau of the Harris County District Attorney's office in Houston, Texas where he tried multiple jury and non-jury cases as a juvenile, misdemeanor and then felony prosecutor. In 1993, Mr. Gilbert left the District Attorney's office to join a prestigious Houston based civil litigation firm. Since that time, his practice has concentrated on civil litigation, including medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and toxic tort litigation with firms in Houston, Angleton and Dallas, Texas. In January 2006, Mr. Gilbert began a Brazoria County based practice and formed Jeffrey R. Gilbert, P.C.

Mr. Gilbert is a member of The State Bar of Texas (Member, Criminal Justice, Juvenile Law, Family Law, Real Estate, Probate and Trust, and Litigation Sections).

• The Brazoria County Bar Association (President, May 2008 - present; Board Member, May 2007 - present);
• Member, Houston Bar Association;
• Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation.
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel;
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Fellow, Trial Advocacy Institute of the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.

He is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of Texas and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

His practice is focused on representation of individuals and corporations charged by the state with alleged criminal conduct, family law, guardianship (contested and uncontested), probate and probate litigation, general litigation and commercial matters. He also has an active general and family law mediation practice.

Mr. Gilbert was honored to serve two terms (1996 through 1998) as a special judge of the Harris County Criminal Courts at Law. This appointment was made by the 15 county criminal court at law judges of Harris County. Mr. Gilbert presided over hundreds of case dispositions and numerous trials in this position.

Active in his community, he currently serves on the following:

• Brazoria County Bar Association, President (5/2008 - present), Board Member (5/2007 - present);
• Planning Commission, City of Lake Jackson (6/2007 - present, Secretary: 6/2008 - present);
• Helping Hands & Hearts Hospice, Charter Board (11/2007 - present);
• Brazosport Symphony Orchestra Council, Board Member (6/2008 - present);
• Brazoswood Band Booster Club, President and Board Member (5/2008 - present);
• Capital Improvements Exploratory Committee, Brazosport Independent School District (7/2008 - present)

He is a past president and former board member of the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club, and has been a delegate to every Senate District (1996 and 1998, SD #7; 2000, SD #8; and 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 SD #17) and State Republican convention since 1996.

Mr. Gilbert and his family are proud to trace their Texas roots to John Bradbury Follett who settled in Texas on Follett Island near San Luis Pass in Brazoria County. Accordingly, Mr. Gilbert is a proud member of the Stephen F. Austin Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Mr. Gilbert attends BrazosPointe Fellowship in Lake Jackson, where he serves as an usher, greeter, has previously led an adult "Home Team" and has been active in its children's ministries.

Mr. Gilbert lives in Lake Jackson, Texas with his wife, Melba Havard Gilbert, a Brazoswood high school teacher and their two children, Will and Morgan. Mr. Gilbert is the son of the late Ralph W. Gilbert, a long-time Angleton attorney, and Fannie Mae Follett Gilbert a life-long resident of Brazoria County.

Special Training and experience-

• Trained Mediator - AA White Dispute Resolution Institute; University of Houston Law Center; Certified for Approval of Court-Ordered Mediations;
• Trained Family Law Mediator - Travis County Dispute Resolution Center; Certified for Approval of Court-Ordered Family Law Mediations;
• Trained Ad Litem - Harris County Civil Court Ad Litem Training Course, 1998, 2005;
• Trained Guardianship Attorney Ad Litem - Completed Training Required by Texas Probate Code for service as Attorney Ad Litem in State Courts, April 2006. Recertified 2008

Areas of Practice

• Mediation
• Banking & Finance Law
• Business & Commercial Law
• Contracts
• Business Organizations
• Sexual Harassment
• Construction Law
• Criminal Law
• DUI/DWI
• Guardianships & Conservatorships
• Trusts
• Wills
• Family Law
• Adoption
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce
• Juvenile Law
• Social Security -- Disability
• Nursing Home
• Insurance Law
• Litigation & Appeals
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Natural Resources Law
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Products Liability Law
• Medical Malpractice
• Railroad Worker Injury/FELA
• Real Estate Law
• Toxic Torts

Honors and Awards

• Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
• Fellow, Trial Advocacy Institute
• Member, BrazosPoint Fellowship

West Practice Categories

Mediation, Banking & Finance Law, Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Business Organizations, Sexual Harassment, Construction Law, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Trusts, Wills, Family Law, Adoption, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Juvenile Law, Social Security -- Disability, Nursing Home, Insurance Law, Litigation & Appeals, Mergers & Acquisitions, Natural Resources Law, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Products Liability Law, Medical Malpractice, Railroad Worker Injury/FELA, Real Estate Law, Toxic Torts