Jonathan R. Childers

Jonathan Childers maintains a diverse business litigation and trial practice in the state and federal courts of Texas, and beyond. He focuses primarily on complex commercial, energy, and employment litigation, and represents both plaintiffs and defendants. Jonathan regularly handles business disputes involving the financial services (including private equity), oil and gas, commercial real estate and construction, and employment search industries, and also has experience representing clients in the retail, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare industries. Jonathan served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sam A. Lindsay, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, where he acquired experience in trial and motion practice, actions for injunctive relief, business torts, and employment disputes.

Jonathan believes that providing service to the community is part of his privilege of being a business trial lawyer. When he is not working, he spends significant time helping young lawyers and assisting Southern Methodist University's young alumni program.

Commercial Litigation

• Successfully prosecuted a substantial finder's fee dispute concerning the introduction of M&A targets, including the defense of counterclaims for alleged securities violations.
• Favorable defense of an LLC and majority member in dispute involving a major mixed-use development project in north Texas; obtained an order cancelling lis pendens.
• Successfully prosecuted significant commercial real estate fraud litigation involving numerous parties and cross-claims.
• Obtained successful settlement of restrictive covenant dispute for major Dallas real estate developer.
• Favorable defense of national retailer in contract and bailment dispute.
• Handles contract litigation for large Texas-based employment search firm.
• Pursues negotiable instrument litigation for national REIT; obtained numerous judgments on behalf of client.

Energy Litigation

• Developing a practice involving catastrophic oil and gas matters, including blowouts.
• Represents an international oilfield services company in indemnity disputes.
• Successful defense of offshore operator concerning an ownership and insurance proceeds dispute; involved litigation in three federal forums.

Employment Litigation

• Successfully represented employee against affiliated entities of major investment bank, involving Sarbanes-Oxley and Sabine Pilot issues.
• Represented digital graphics industry CEO in litigation over an employment agreement; successfully collected compensation from foreign company.
• Defended international employer against claims of negligent hiring and wrongful death; obtained favorable settlement.

Intellectual Property

• Represented energy supplier in federal copyright, trademark, and trade dress matter; achieved result at preliminary injunction stage.
• Represented auto-finance company pursuing a federal cybersquatting and trademark infringement action.

Trial Experience

• Assisted lead counsel in two week trial of negligence and civil assault action to verdict.

Pro Bono

• Obtained writ of sequestration and repossessed automobile for client, through the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program.

• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2009-Present
  • Secretary, 2011
  • Volunteer Committee Co-Chair, Leadership Class, 2006
  • Co-Chair, Judicial Intern Committee, 2005-present
  • Fellow, DAYL Foundation
• SMU National Young Alumni Association
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2008-present
  • Chair, 2010-2011
• SMU Alumni Board
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2010
• Dallas Bar Association
  • Business Litigation and Trial Skills Sections
• American Bar Association
  • Litigation Section
• Associate, Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court, 2006-2007
• The Dallas Opera, Amici di Opera
• Highland Park Presbyterian Church

Honors and Awards

• Designated as "Rising Star" by Texas Monthly and Law and Politics magazines, 2010-2012