Thomas Pickford, a Hoover Slovacek LLC partner, practices in the areas of commercial and employment, and probate litigation practice. Mr. Pickford has practiced civil litigation in Texas Courts for more than 32 years.
Mr. Pickford represents plaintiffs and defendants at every stage of the litigation process. This includes acting for the client by drafting and responding to demand letters; preparation and filing of pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs and responses; and the preparation for and attendance at hearings, depositions, mediations, trials and appellate arguments. Mr. Pickford is able to provide needed experience that allows him to better predict the opposing side’s reaction to a particular strategy during litigation to best represent his clients.
Mr. Pickford has represented clients in JP Courts, County Courts, Texas Probate Courts, Texas State District Courts, the Texas Court of Appeals for the 1st, 4th, 13th and 14th Districts, The Texas Supreme Court, The US District Courts for the Western District of Texas, The US District Courts for the Southern District of Texas and the US Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit. He is a qualified mediator under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 154.052(a) and has participated in, and resolved numerous legal disputes throughout his legal career.
AWARDS:
- Martindale-Hubbell rated AV® Preeminent™ – An AV® certification mark is a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- Houston Bar Association, Member
- CFISD Community Leadership Committee, Member, and past Chairman (2014-2017)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Mr. Pickford has successfully represented through settlement, The Art Institute of Houston, in a commercial construction defect action. Mr. Pickford also recently successfully settled a complex will contest dispute in probate court for his client and obtained a judgment on behalf of Mutual of Omaha Bank for a suit on a debt. Mr. Pickford recently successfully defended his client in an employment discrimination claim in federal court. Mr. Pickford along with Joseph O. Slovacek successfully obtained a judgment against Evander Holyfield and several other Plaintiffs. The final judgment included an award of attorney fees to their client. Mr. Pickford successfully settled litigation on behalf of Central Mortgage Company and procured a summary judgment on behalf of Amegy Bank for a loan default by GB Foods. Inc. Mr. Pickford successfully assisted the defense of a client in severe personal injury lawsuit involving a worker struck by a train. Mr. Pickford also obtained a Dismissal without having to go to trial of a Homeowners Lawsuit brought by sixteen homeowners against a Residential Real Estate Developer. Mr. Pickford successfully handled breach of contract lawsuit for Oil & Gas Prospect Company regarding Oil & Gas lease in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Pickford assisted in the successful negotiation of the purchase of undivided interest in lot involved in tax lawsuit and procured dismissal of tax lawsuit for client. Mr. Pickford has assisted in obtaining successful result for client in defense of California asbestos lawsuit.
Mr. Pickford’s clients include Focus Exploration LLC; Crossland Construction Company; The Art Institute of Houston, Inc.; DC Art Institute of Austin, LLC; and 249 Fireworks LLC. Mr. Pickford’s name appears in numerous published opinions including 7979 Airport Garage v. Dollar Rent A Car, 245 S.W.3d 488 (Tex. App. 2007, review denied); Oldfield v. City of Houston, 15 S.W.3d 219 (Tex. App. 2000, no pet); Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc. v. Harris County Appraisal Dist., 985 S.W.2d 618 (Tex. App. 1999, no pet); and Law Offices of C. Kendall Harrell, P.C. v. Commerce Sav. Ass’n., 824 F.Supp. 1159 (W.D. Tex. 1993).
While attending St. Mary’s University School of Law, Mr. Pickford was awarded the Best Brief, Norvell Moot Court, in 1985. Mr. Pickford served as the Articles/Symposium Editor of the St. Mary’s Law Journal (1984-1985).
Prior to joining Hoover Slovacek LLP in 1995, Mr. Pickford practiced in San Antonio handling complex commercial litigation including a number of landlord/tenant matters. In addition, his practice at that time included school law and the representation of various School Districts in the San Antonio area. Prior to Law School Mr. Pickford served as the Research Director for the Republican Party of Kansas.
Mr. Pickford has spoken at numerous seminars and is the author of the following legal articles: Co-Author, Coping with Violent Disruption in Texas Schools, in Univ. Tex. School of Law 10th Annual School Law Conf. (1995); Co-Author, Due Process and the Term Contract Nonrenewal Act, in Univ. Tex. School of Law 9th Annual School Law Conf., Tab 15 (1994); Co-Author, Competitive Bidding: The Best for Less ?, Texas School Administrators’ Legal Digest, Volume 7, Number 8, September 1991; Author and Lecturer, Actions For Damages Under Commercial Lease, Texas Commercial Landlord and Tenant Law Seminar, Lorman Education Services, July 25, 2000 (Houston), November 14, 2000 (Austin), June 12, 2002 (Austin); Author and Lecturer, Exploring Premises Liability Issues, Security Issues Confronting Commercial Landlords, Lorman Education Services, June 21, 2001 (Houston).
Mr. Pickford can be found online at LinkedIn and found on Twitter under PickfordTM.
