Dale Wainwright

Dale Wainwright, Co-Chair of the firm’s National Appeals & Legal Issues Group and Chair of the Texas Appellate Practice, has more than three decades of experience. He has substantial experience in high-risk, precedent-setting appeals, representing clients in complex commercial, energy, personal injury, health care, and administrative disputes in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Dale handles briefing and oral argument in trial and appellate courts, structures appeals and mandamus proceedings for success and counsels clients on litigation strategy, error preservation at trial, jury charge preparation, post-verdict proceedings, and analysis of the trial record for appellate potential.

Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Dale served on the Texas Supreme Court for 10 years, authoring more than 125 opinions. Elected to the Supreme Court in 2002, he was the third-longest-serving member of the court at the time of his return to private practice. Dale began his judicial career in 1999 when he was appointed by Governor George W. Bush to preside over the 334th Civil District Court in Houston, Texas. As judge of the 334th District Court, he resolved 3,000 cases and presided over more than 100 trials.

Concentrations

•Complex commercial and personal-injury
•Pharmaceutical, medical device and health care litigation
•Products liability and mass torts
•Energy and infrastructure
•Administrative

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Team Member, a Law360 “Environmental Practice Group of the Year,” 2022
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2012, 2015, and 2020-2025
•'Recognized Practitioner,' 2016
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States
•Dispute Resolution - Appellate: Court of Appeals, 2020-2024
•'Recommended Lawyer,' 2023
•Dispute Resolution - Appellate: Supreme Courts (States and Federal), 2020-2024
•'Recommended Lawyer,' 2023
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States
•Litigation: Supreme Court and Appellate, 2014-2015, and 2018-2019
•Listed, Thomson-Reuters, 'Stand-Out Lawyers,' 2022
•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
•Appellate Practice, 2020-2026
•Oil and Gas Law, 2023-2026
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Texas Super Lawyers, 2014-2025
•Listed, Austin Monthly Magazine, 'Top Attorneys in Austin,' 2022
•Appeals & Legal Issues Practice named to The National Law Journal’s Appellate Hot List, 2021, 2022 (for exemplary handling of appellate matters and 'impressive' overall appellate track record)
•Selected, The National Black Lawyers (NBL), 'Top 100 in Texas,' 2022
•Recipient, Austin Black Business, 'Top 10 Central Texas Super Lawyer Awards,' 2019
•Recipient, Prevent Blindness Texas, Person of Vision Award
•Recipient, National Bar Association, Humanitarian Award
•Recipient, National Black Prosecutors Association, Trail Blazer Award
•Recipient, NAACP, Legal Excellence Award