Overview
The ever changing legal landscape concerning increased liability of those in fiduciary positions of trust has not spared lawyers. Law firms are now exposed to significant financial and reputational damages from malpractice claims. At MDJW, we provide “law of lawyering” services to assist practitioners with litigation support, ethics opinions and trial assistance in order to provide both additional fire power as well as prevent malpractice claims before they occur.
However, should a malpractice suit or grievance arise, MDJW is positioned to handle the inevitable allegations and charges inherent in such claims. The firm takes great pride in the fact that some of the most famous, high profile lawyers have retained us to advocate on behalf of both their clients and themselves. Indeed, while the firm is on most approved insurance company lists, more than 95% of our malpractice defense cases are direct hires and not as the result of being appointed by a carrier. Nevertheless, our broad insurance coverage expertise allows the firm to either resolve initial coverage denials or afford the lawyer accused the right to select counsel in the event of an issuance of a reservation of rights.
As trial lawyers, we share a bond with our law firm clients that results in a cohesive and cost-effective approach to defending a claim. By recognizing our clients’ own legal talents, we embrace their institutional knowledge and invite them to actively participate in their own defense. In turn, both lawyer and client benefit from mutual strategic planning while simultaneously reducing the clients’ legal costs.
As opposed to rhetoric, the firm has an empirical track record of winning trials, arbitrations and motions for summary judgment for lawyers. Our lawyers also have a proven knack for transforming the unsettleable case into a posture of win-win resolution. Simply stated, our lawyers solve other lawyers’ problems. As we like to say, we can be out-numbered but we won't be out-lawyered.
Moreover, Mr. Jefferson is regularly asked to speak on the subjects of legal malpractice, fiduciary litigation and related trial topics. Mr. Jefferson has spoken at a variety of State Bar of Texas programs including the Advanced Evidence and Discovery Seminar, the Advanced Personal Injury Seminar and the Fiduciary Litigation Course. In 2016, Mr. Jefferson was selected to be the course director of the program. Mr. Jefferson has also spoken on these topics at various law school sponsored CLE programs and for the Texas College of Judicial Studies. This year, Mr. Jefferson was awarded Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Houston, TX for Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants (2024).
