The law firm of Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to announce the expansion of its Trial Practice Group. Patrick F. McManemin joins Thompson & Knight as a Partner, and J. Thomas Gilbert, Michael Tristan, and John P. Vacalis join as Counsel.

“McManemin and this team bring impressive litigation experience spanning a broad range of industries, including real estate and construction, energy, securities, finance, and banking,” said Emily A. Parker, Thompson & Knight’s Managing Partner. “Their collective litigation expertise will directly benefit our clients and facilitate continued growth across many areas of the Firm. For example, the synergies they bring to our strong Real Estate Capital Markets Practice and Oil and Gas Practice will enable us to increase our market share in these spaces.”

McManemin has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in jury trials and commercial arbitrations in a wide range of industries. He has tried cases in state and federal courts in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Texas, and other states throughout the country. McManemin focuses his trial practice on reorganizations and workouts of troubled and distressed companies in industries such as investment banking, financial services, insurance, real estate (including affordable housing and tax credit projects, and lender liability), banking, structured finance, securities, and oil and gas (including lease disputes, condemnation, JOA and governance disputes, contracts, and gas curtailment disputes). He also has significant expertise in advising senior management and board members on corporate governance and compliance issues, and avoidance or resolution of significant disputes in advance of litigation or mediation. Prior to joining Thompson & Knight, McManemin was Co-Chair of the Commercial Litigation and Antitrust Practice Group at Patton Boggs.

“Thompson & Knight is an excellent platform from which we can serve our current and future clients,” said McManemin. “While our practice will continue to encompass an array of industries, we look forward to collaborating with the Real Estate Capital Markets Practice Group, which represents the top six commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) special servicers in the U.S. In addition to being a trendsetter in the real estate industry, the Firm has been named “Law Firm of the Year” in Oil & Gas Law for the past two years by Best Law Firms – evidence of Thompson & Knight’s strong energy capabilities. By joining the Firm, we and our clients will share in the Firm’s competitive advantages.”

Gilbert, who will be based in the Firm’s Los Angeles office, focuses his trial practice on lawsuits involving complex financial and commercial transactions. With more than 25 years of experience, Gilbert is licensed in Texas, California, and New York, and has also represented clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts in Illinois, Florida, and other jurisdictions around the country. In addition to commercial litigation, he has extensive experience with insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, energy and natural resources, real estate development, and construction. Gilbert has tried cases for insured and uninsured defendants in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and product liability matters.

Tristan, who will be based in the Firm’s Dallas office, focuses his practice on litigation matters involving complex commercial transactions. He has represented clients in state and federal courts in Texas, New York, Illinois, and other jurisdictions across the country. Tristan represents clients in a wide variety of matters, with a distinct emphasis on litigation involving the energy and financial services industries.

Vacalis, who will be based in the Firm’s Austin office, focuses his practice on complex business, mortgage banking, and commercial litigation matters. He represents clients in a wide range of areas, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) development and financing, loan servicing, wrongful foreclosures, construction, DTPA claims, employment, federal takings actions, tort, and contract.

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