John T. Byrd - Of Counsel
tbyrd@khughesplc.com
D: 713-588-0890

1001 Fannin St., Suite 2450
Houston, TX 77002

John T. Byrd

Tim graduated from University of Texas School of Law as Grand Chancellor in 1980 where he was also the Note Editor for the Texas Law Review. Prior to that, he graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. In 1976 he obtained a Master in Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in American History where he was named a Waddell Fellow.

Tim clerked for Judge Thomas Gibbs Gee, and has worked at numerous firms including Covington and Burling, Miller Bristow and Brown and Smyser, Kaplan and Veselka. During his thirty-eight year career he has handled the following representative cases:

  • Represented director of Canadian environmental services corporation in class action securities fraud case in the Southern District of New York; case settled without any payment by client.
  • Represented four unsuccessful candidates in contests of the Democratic primary election in Zapata County, Texas in lawsuit before state district court. Obtained new elections for two of the four contestants.
  • Secured voluntary dismissal by plaintiff of products liability/wrongful death action filed in state district court against client herbal supplement manufacturer.
  • Successfully settled breach of contract action in federal district court for small employee search firm client against large nationwide competitor.
  • After earlier jury trial, secured multimillion dollar judgment in state district court against defendant promoter in fraud case over investment in tire recycling business.
  • Represented small Texas oil and gas concern in a gross negligence and conversion case in New Mexico state court brought against the operator of an oil well in Lee County, New Mexico. On eve of trial, summary judgment granted against client; appeals were unsuccessful.
  • Represented individual defendant in federal district court in civil RICO, fraud and conversion lawsuit over sales of trucks. Secured “no liability” verdict on RICO and fraud claims, and held damages on conversion claim to less than 5% of alleged damages.
  • Represented individual and his small computer programming company in federal district court lawsuit involving claims of breach of contract, conversion and civil RICO brought by major manufacturer of instrumentation and control systems. Secured no liability, no damages verdict for clients.
  • Defended hospital system in federal Qui Tam case brought by former employee. Case voluntarily dismissed by Relator after close of discovery and filing of motion for summary judgment on defendant’s behalf.
  • Defended law firm in legal malpractice case brought by former clients, several limited partnerships. Case was nonsuited by plaintiffs after deposition of general partner of the plaintiff limited partnerships.
  • Represented individual former employee of credit card processing company, which sued former employee for violation of employment agreement and misappropriation of trade secrets, and prosecuted breach of contract counterclaim against former employer. Case settled before trial.
  • University of Texas School of Law, with High Honors, Grand Chancellor, Order of the Coif, J.D., 1980
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, American History, Waddell Memorial Fellow, M.A. 1976
  • Yale University, American History, cum laude, History, B.A. 1974
  • Solo Practitioner, Sugar Land, Texas, 2015-2017
  • Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P., Houston, Texas, 2004-2015
  • Solo Practitioner, Houston, Texas, 1991 - 2004
  • Miller Bristow & Brown, Houston, Texas, 1986 - 1990
  • Ross Dixon & Masback, Washington, D.C., 1984 - 1986
  • Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C., 1981 - 1984
  • Law Clerk to Judge Thomas Gibbs Gee, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1980 - 1981
  • Antitrust
  • Civil RICO
  • Commercial Torts
  • Contracts
  • Deceptive Trade Practices Act
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Federal Regulatory Law
  • Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith
  • Oil and Gas, Personal Injury
  • Professional Malpractice
  • Qui Tam
  • Securities
  • Member, State Bar of Texas
  • Martindale Hubbell AV Pre-eminent