Matthews, Shiels, Knott, Eden, Davis & Beanland, L.L.P. - Dallas, TX

Matthews, Shiels, Knott, Eden, Davis & Beanland, L.L.P. is a law firm that handles legal matters throughout Texas and the Southwest. The Firm provides representation in a variety of areas, including business and corporate, real estate, landlord/tenant, labor and employment, tort defense pursuant to CGL, D&O and other types of insurance policies, business litigation, creditor's rights, construction litigation, insurance coverage disputes, commercial, surety bonds, mechanic's and materialman's liens, and bankruptcy.

The Firm was founded by Tom D. Matthews, Sr. in the 1930s. Since that time, the Firm has established a reputation of providing superior legal representation at a reasonable cost. Members of the Firm have contributed to the legal and civic community through leadership positions in the state and local bar associations, professional publications, speeches, law school teaching and charitable volunteer work.

Representative Clients

The Firm has a diverse and substantial client base ranging from Fortune 500 companies to local businesses and municipalities. Representative clients include: Bituminous Insurance Companies, EMC Insurance Companies, Union Standard Insurance Company, Alliance Residential Management, Anterra Management Corporation, Arrow Fabricated Tubing, Bratton Steel Co., Cable & Connector Warehouse, Inc., Cafeteria Operators, L.P., Collin County, Claim Services Resource Group, Inc., Dealers Electrical Supply Company, Denny's, Inc., Hajoca Corporation, d.b.a. Easter & Sons Supply, General Electric Company, Hanson Pipe & Products, Inc., Hepfner, Smith, Airhart & Day, Inc., IBEW-NECA Southwestern Health and Benefit Fund, City of Irving, The Lofland Company, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., Metroplex Lighting and Electric, Inc., Morrison Supply Co., National Electrical Benefit Fund, Parrish-Hare Electrical Supply Corporation, Quest Asset Management, Inc., Rinker Materials Hydro Conduit/Texas, Rinker Materials Poly Pipe, Inc., Robertson Ceco Corporation, Spec Roofers Wholesale Supply, Summers Electric Company, TAD Technical Corporation, TD Industries, Inc., Texas Carpenters Health Benefit Fund, Texas Association of Counties, Texas Association of School Boards, Texas Municipal League, Intergovernmental Risk Pool, United Mechanical, and Utility Industrial Supply, Inc.

Construction Law

The Firm provides a variety of services to clients in the field of construction law and construction litigation, including contract negotiation, construction lien/bond claims, construction litigation and the innumerable issues that arise within the context of the construction industry. The Firm's representation has included suppliers, general contractors, owners and subcontractors of many sizes, from small family businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

Insurance Practice

In the insurance area, the Firm provides defense for insureds in third party actions in state and federal court, in cases ranging from bodily injury, property damage, advertising injury and personal injury matters, in virtually all sectors and industries, including notably construction, transportation and premises liability. The Firm also handles products liability cases, environmental matters, and employment issues. On the first party side, the Firm acts as coverage counsel, and provides defense against first party litigation claims.

Business Litigation

The Firm handles a wide variety of business and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts, including personal injury, contract disputes, deceptive trade practices, commercial, landlord/tenant disputes, secured and unsecured creditor's rights, including foreclosures, sequestration, garnishment and bankruptcy matters, and labor and employment law matters. In addition, the Firm represents clients involved in computer litigation, business torts and many other areas of business litigation. Finally, the Firm represents a number of school districts, counties and municipalities in a variety of litigation matters.

Business and Corporate Practice

The Firm acts as general counsel to a number of small to mid-size businesses, handling all aspects of legal representation, including entity formation and maintenance, purchase and sale of equity and ownership interests, issuance of debt, drafting and negotiating contracts, and general consultation. As local counsel to larger, national companies, the Firm provides representation in multiple areas focusing on the peculiarities of Texas law.

Labor and Employment Practice

The Firm provides counseling, investigation and litigation services for clients across the entire spectrum of employment law matters. Our practice involves all aspects of wrongful discharges, work place torts and discrimination claims (Title VII, pregnancy, age, disability, etc.). Our attorneys represent clients in administrative proceedings such as Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Texas Commission on Human Rights, and other local and state agencies. The Firm also represents clients in arbitration and litigation in employment disputes. The Firm drafts arbitration agreements, employee handbooks, sexual harassment policies and procedures and other policies tailored to meet the particular needs of a company.

Practice Philosophy

The Firm's primary mission is to provide an economic benefit to the client as a result of the providing of legal services and counsel. Thus, much of what the Firm's practice entails is preventive medicine, providing legal advice to clients in an effort to minimize future disputes and maximize for the client the benefit of prospective transactions and business arrangements. For example, our belief is that a well drafted contract is much less expensive (in terms of legal fees) than the defense or prosecution of a lawsuit arising out of a quickly or poorly drafted contract.

If a dispute arises, the Firm's first effort is to attempt to determine how to most quickly, economically and beneficially resolve the dispute. If that means an appropriate, economically reasonable, settlement at the outset, then that course will be pursued. If a matter of principle, policy or deterrence against future claims is an issue, the Firm will vigorously prosecute or defend the claim, as the case may be. In all litigation matters, the Firm works to identify the client's desires and goals, and then devises a strategy to accomplish those driving motivations. The Firm strives to always serve the client's best interest by providing attentive and effective legal representation at a reasonable cost.