Attorney Profiles – Addison, Texas
R. Jack Ayres, Jr.
rjayres@ayreslawoffice.com
Born in Dallas, Texas, in 1948, Mr. Ayres moved to Richardson in his early years. He attended Richardson High School, where he became a regional and state champion debater. His skills as an advocate earned him a scholarship to Baylor University. At Baylor, Mr. Ayres continued his debate success not only in Texas, but across the country. During his undergraduate career, he was named Attorney General of Baylor University.
Mr. Ayres was given early admission to Baylor Law School and actually earned his B.A. at the end of his first year of law school. He continued at Baylor Law School, earning his J.D. in 1971. While at the Law School, he represented Baylor at state and national moot court competitions and was named the Captain for both teams. He was a member of the Order of Barristers, Harris Honor Society, Dean’s Distinguished Student List, as well as serving on the Editorial Board of Baylor’s Law Review.
After Baylor, Mr. Ayres and his wife, Linda, moved back to Dallas. As a younger lawyer, he worked with several mentoring attorneys, including Arlen “Spider” Bynum and G.H. Kelsoe, Jr.. In the early 1980’s, he opened his own office, where he has focused for over twenty years on representing hundreds of individuals and businesses in civil trials and appeals. During his practice, he has tried over 500 cases and handled over 150 appeals, including major commercial litigation and major personal injury cases.
Mr. Ayres is licensed in all Texas state courts. He is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals, Fifth and District of Columbia Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas.
Mr. Ayres holds three certifications from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization: Personal Injury Trial Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Appellate Law. He is also certified by the National Board of Trial Advocates in Civil Trial Advocacy. He maintains an “AV” rating in Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest ethical and professional rating available for any attorney.
His professional accomplishments have yielded him admission as a member in the American Board of Trial Advocates, the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation, the American College of Legal Medicine, and the American Society of Law and Medicine. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Southwestern Legal Foundation, Dallas Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the newly formed Texans for Civil Justice, which is dedicated to preserving the right to trial by jury.
Mr. Ayres is an adjunct member of the Baylor Law School faculty, in addition to his membership and leadership roles in the alumni and law review associations. He is also a member of the faculty of the American Board of Trial Advocates, where he teaches portions of the “Masters in Trial” series. Mr. Ayres maintains faculty status with the State Bar of Texas and Dallas Bar Associations, where he teaches continuing legal education and professional development programs.
Beyond his legal background, Mr. Ayres has experience and expertise in the areas of health care and law enforcement. He is a licensed peace officer and paramedic in the State of Texas. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical and Health Science Centers in Dallas and maintains a position on the faculty at Parkland Hospital. Mr. Ayres serves as a national consultant and expert witness for plaintiffs and defendants in emergency medical service protocol and procedure.
His unique blend of knowledge has resulted in 23 public service appointments, including selection by Governor Mark White to the Texas Board of Health and various healthcare task forces, as well as appointment as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. He has authored five books, many articles and presentations, and made television appearances, including an interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes.
Mr. Ayres and his wife, Linda, have three children. Their oldest daughter, Jennifer, is a child psychologist in the Los Angeles area, who maintains a private practice in addition to her faculty roles at the Universities of Southern California and Pepperdine, and staff responsibilities at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Their middle child, Laura, lives in New York City and is pursuing her master of music degree in vocal performance at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. Their youngest child, Chris, is an attorney who works with Mr. Ayres.
For further information on Mr. Ayres practice areas click to Personal Injury and Business Litigation.
Christopher S. Ayres
csayres@ayreslawoffice.com
Chris is a native of the Dallas area. He graduated from the Episcopal School of Dallas in 1997. After high school, he attended Vanderbilt and Southern Methodist Universities. He graduated magna cum laude from SMU in 2000, earning a B.A. in Public Policy and Political Science, which he obtained with departmental distinction. While at Vanderbilt and SMU he was inducted to various academic honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary society.
Before he received his degree from SMU, Chris began his studies at Baylor Law School, where he graduated with a J.D. in 2002. While at Baylor, he represented the Law School as part of its interscholastic Mock Trial Team. Chris was a member of Phi Delta Phi, a national academic honorary society, Order of Barristers, and the Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society. Chris was also elected by the student body to serve as Executive President of the Student Bar Association. During his time at Baylor, Chris was recognized by Baylor University as an outstanding student leader and received numerous awards and scholarships at the Law School.
Chris has practiced with his father in the Dallas area since receiving his law license in 2002. He is licensed in all Texas state courts. Chris is admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, as well as United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the newly formed Texans for Civil Justice, which is a group of plaintiffs and defense lawyers dedicated to preserving the constitutional right to a trial by jury.
Since he began practicing law, Chris has tried lawsuits in state and federal court, as well as worked on resulting appeals. While he limits his practice to civil trial and appeals, he assists both plaintiffs and defendants. His trial experience ranges from complex commercial cases to personal injury cases, including wrongful death and cases involving paralyzed clients. Chris has also assisted doctors as personal counsel in litigation, staff privileges matters, and disciplinary proceedings before the Board of Medical Examiners. He has guest lectured at the University of Texas Southwestern Health Sciences Center and spoken to the North Texas Association of Athletic Trainers.
Chris is married to his wife, Kelley, who he has known since the age of twelve. They love spending time together and playing with their dogs, Bonnie and Clyde. Chris enjoys playing basketball and softball, as well as attending Dallas Mavericks’ games, which he has done since the age of seven.
Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.