CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
J. Mark Davis has been practicing law for more than 20 years. His primary focus is law in Texas although he also maintains a license that would enable him to practice in the District of Columbia.
Mark joined Hughes Watters Askanase in September 2010 to support the Business Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation Practice Areas. He welcomed the opportunity to join the firm because of positive work experiences with David Askanase, one of the firm's founding partners, and Janet Northrup, an Of Counsel attorney with HWA. He is currently working on a major case on behalf of the trustee of a large oil and gas exploration and production company that is continuing to operate under Chapter 7 bankruptcy guidelines. He also will prosecute causes of action in support of the firm's bankruptcy trustees.
Mark has extensive experience with civil and commercial law, including bankruptcy representation. He has historically focused his practice on assisting small and mid-sized businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations with legal, financial, business development and transactional needs. Mark's client service philosophy of practical and efficient representation is demonstrated in a broad range of cases -- including state and federal transactional matters, insolvencies, litigation and estate probate cases.
Following graduation from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1980, Mark served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert J. Yock, a federal judge serving on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, in Washington, D.C. In this role, he served as a liason between the court and litigants, assisted the court in the pretrial and trial of tax cases, Indian claims cases, military claims, and other claims against the United States government within the Court's jurisdiction. It was during this year-long judicial clerkship that Mark honed his legal draftsmanship skills and developed an effective courtroom presence. In 1989, Mark became a founding partner of Martin & Davis, a Houston firm focused on civil and commercial legal practice. In 1993, Mark moved to Washington, D.C. to serve in an Of Counsel role with Silver, Freedman & Taff in the firm's corporate and tax department. He returned to Houston in 1995 where he became a partner with Minor & Davis PLLC. Mark formed the Law Offices of J. Mark Davis in Houston in 1997.
CLIENT EXPERIENCE
Mark's practice has focused on civil and commercial litigation. His experience includes:
- Achieving a summary judgment dismissal of a $500,000 civil action in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (aff'd per curium 4th Cir. 1995)
- First and second chair jury trial experience
- Negotiating out-of-court settlements on behalf of small retail businesses with potential insolvency; debtor-creditor litigation and workouts; landlord tenant dispute resolution; menchanic's and materialmen's lien claims
- Chapter 7, 11, 13 bankruptcy filings for debtors; counseling and assisting clients to avoid bankruptcy case filings; and creditor and trustee representation
- Successful resolution of claim under accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy arising from alleged hydrocodone overdose
- Probate with independent administrations, insolvency issues and contested matters
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in history and business, University of Kentucky, 1976
- Juris Doctorate, Vanderbilt University Law School, 1980
AWARDS AND HONORS
- “2000 Best Random Act of Kindness Award” recipient from Houston Press
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Member, board of directors, Moeller-Foltz American Inns of Court (bankruptcy)
- Executive Committee, Moeller-Foltz AIOC, 2005 to 2008; treasurer, 2005 and 2006
- Member, College of the State Bar of Texas, 2008 to present
- Member, State Bar of Texas, 1982 to present
- Member, Houston Bar Association - Commercial and Consumer Law, Bankruptcy, Probate, Trusts and Estate sections
- Member, The District of Columbia Bar Association (inactive)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
- Pro bono counsel for The Branch School in Houston, 1989 to present
- Member, board of directors, for The Branch School, 1989 to 1990; chairman of the board from 1996 to 1998
- Pro bono counsel and member of the board of directors for Col Canto Inc. (a Houston-based non-profit organization committed to art, song, chamber music education and performances) 2006 through 2010
HOBBIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS
Mark enjoys sports, including kayaking and golf. He is in the process of qualifying for his private pilot's license. He devotes much of his free time volunteering for various charities and community activities as well as spending family time with his two daughters who teach high school and college mathematics.
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