Denman H. Heard

Houston, Texas

Partner

Phone

(713) 650-1200
(866) 517-9520
(505) 986-0600
(888) 888-6428

Fax

(713) 650-1400

Called one of the country's top trial lawyers by Lawyers Weekly USA, and featured as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine, Denman has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs in commercial litigation, and victims of toxic exposures, occupational disease, and dangerous products. He has tried more than 100 plaintiffs' claims to jury verdict. His courtroom results have been reported in the Houston Chronicle, Austin American Statesmen, The Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Times, The Brownsville Herald, The Valley Morning Star, The American Lawyer, Lawyer's Weekly USA, Texas Monthly and a variety of other publications around the state of Texas and the country. Texas Monthly Magazine has identified Denman as a Super Lawyer in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Denman has risen to the top of his profession by trying cutting edge cases of first impression. The consistency of his track record and his versatility as a trial lawyer speak for themselves. During the last twelve years, he has led trial teams in the first and only Sulzer hip implant defect case in the country; the first foundry respirator defect silicosis case tried in Texas; one of the first combined permanent nuisance, intentional trespass and punitive damage awards in Texas in a groundwater contamination case against a municipal solid waste disposal operation; several occupational disease verdicts; commercial and insurance coverage litigation; and numerous other personal injury, wrongful death and toxic tort verdicts.

Denman is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a Life Fellow in the State Bar of Texas and a current member of the Houston and American Bar Associations, and the Houston Trial Lawyers Association. He is a Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and is a past recipient of the University of Houston Law Center Rising Star Award in recognition of future promise and notable commitment to the legal profession. Denman is a member of American Association for Justice Leaders' Forum.

A featured speaker at continuing legal education seminars on trial tactics in civil litigation, Denman has spoken at seminars sponsored by the Houston Bar Association, South Texas College of Law, Mealey's and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. He has authored papers on toxic tort litigation and recovery of punitive damages.

Denman was born in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Baylor University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center in 1992. During law school, he was selected to the National Order of Barristers and received the Trial Advocacy Institute Excellence in Advocacy Award for two consecutive years. He was the F. Lee Bailey National Moot Court Champion and University of Houston Law Center Mock Trial Champion.

Areas of Practice:

• Commercial Litigation
• Victims of Toxic Exposures
• Occupational Disease
• Dangerous Products

Bar Admissions:

• Texas, 1992
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 1992
  J.D.
  Honors: National Order of Barristers
  Honors: Trial Advocacy Institute Excellence in Advocacy Award
  Honors: F. Lee Bailey National Moot Court Champion
  Honors: University of Houston Law Center Mock Trial Champion
• Baylor University, Waco, Texas, 1989
  B.A.
  Major: Economics

Published Works:

• Papers on Toxic Tort Litigation and Recovery of Punitive Damages

Classes and Seminars Taught:

• Featured Speaker, Trial Tactics in Civil Litigation, Continuing Legal Education Seminars
• Speaker, Houston Bar Association
• Speaker, South Texas College of Law
• Speaker, Mealey's
• Speaker, Texas Trial Lawyers Association

Honors and Awards:

• Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2006
• "Rising Star", 2003
• "Super Lawyer", 2004 - 2008
• Past Recipient of the University of Houston Law Center "Rising Star Award"
• Life Fellow, State Bar of Texas

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• American Board of Trial Advocates
  Member
• Houston Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Houston Trial Lawyers Association
• Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  Director
• American Association for Justice
  Leader's Forum