Barbara Ellis' litigation experience spans banking, employment, commercial leases, contracts, insurance, and other areas in both federal and state courts and in arbitration proceedings. For the past three years, she has provided legal services to Cathay Bank in Texas and has managed a group of 40 or more attorneys providing both litigation (including bankruptcy) and transactional legal services to Cathay Bank in Texas, California and Illinois. Ms. Ellis has represented clients in employment discrimination claims of all types. She was part of the Firm's appellate team in Casteel v. Crown Life Insurance Company, a landmark case closely watched by the insurance industry that resulted in a highly significant change in the State’s jury charge practice. Ms. Ellis has also represented JP Morgan Chase (and its predecessors) in litigation matters in both Texas and New York, often getting cases decided on pre-trial dispositive motions and defending rulings for the firm’s client on appeal. She has also represented Wells Fargo Bank, Regions Bank and other banking institutions on complex litigation matters.
Education
- J.D., summa cum laude, Texas Tech University School of Law, 1994
Regents Scholarship (Three-Year Full Scholarship), Texas Tech School of Law, 1991-1994
Order of the Coif - M.P.A., The University of Texas at Austin, 1975
Texas State Fellowship in Public Administration
LBJ School Fellowship - B.A., Journalism, with high honors, Michigan State University, 1974
Bar Admissions
Admitted To Practice
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
Representative Experience
- Represented the University of Texas System on behalf of students in Shari J. Mayo v. Len Jennings and Donna Salazar; defended against defamation suit resulting in obtaining a summary judgment for the students.
- Represented The Chase Manhattan Bank (now JPMorgan Chase Bank) in The Chase Manhattan Bank v. Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; Defended against dispositive motions filed by the defendants; also represented Chase in the appeal by the defendants of the trial court’s rulings on these dispositive motions.
- Represented The Chase Manhattan Bank (now JPMorgan Chase Bank) in Banque Paribas (Suisse) S.A. v. The Chase Manhattan Bank. Drafted response to summary judgment motion filed by Swiss bank and argued against the motion to court in New York.; also represented Chase in the appeal by the defendants of the trial court’s rulings on these dispositive motions.
- Represented Crown Life Insurance Company in Casteel v. Crown Life Insurance Company, a case that the Firm took over after trial by another law firm that resulted in a verdict against Crown Life and involved challenges to the jury verdict against Crown Life in the Austin Court of Appeals and eventually in the Supreme Court of Texas. The Supreme Court ultimately ordered a new trial based on Crown Life’s argument that the jury charge submitted by Casteel was defective; Involved in retrial of the case in June 2002 where the jury returned a take nothing verdict in favor of Crown Life.
- Represented Chase Bank of Texas (now JPMorgan Chase Bank) in Wild About Music, et al v. Chase Bank of Texas, N.A., Trustee, et al; a state court lawsuit for breach of lease and related tort claims.; Handled all aspects of the litigation and drafted a summary judgment motion that resulted in dismissal of some 14 claims against Chase.
Reported Decisions
- Robert L. Myer et al, v. Americo Life, Inc., et al., 315 S.W.3d 72 (Tex. App. – Dallas 2009), rev’d, 356 S.W.3d 496 (Tex. 2011)
- Qwest Int’l Communications, Inc. v. AT&T Corp. 167 S.W.3d 324 (Tex. 2005)
- Qwest Communications Int’l, Inc. v. AT&T Corp ., 114 S.W.3d 15 (Tex. App.—Austin 2003 ), rev’d, 24 S.W.2d 334 (Tex. 2000)
- In re Castillo, 101 S.W.3d 174 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, pet. denied)
- Crown Life Ins. Co. v. Casteel, 22 S.W.2d 378 (Tex. 2000)
- Texas Commerce Bank, N.A. v. New, 3 S.W.3d 515 (Tex. 1999)
- Crestway Care Center, Inc. v. Berchelman, 945 S.W.2d 872 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1997, orig. proceeding)
- Chase Manhattan Bank v. Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld L.L.P., 763 N.Y.S.2d 588 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2003)
- BNP Paribas (Suisse) S.A. v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 748 N.Y.S.2d 358 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2002)
- Chase Manhattan Bank v. Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld L.L.P., 748 N.Y.S.2d 360 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2002)
- Transitional Hospitals Corp. v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas, Inc. , 164 F.3d 952 (5th Cir. 1999)
Professional History
- Of Counsel, Locke Lord LLP
- Briefing Attorney, Supreme Court of Texas
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Austin Bar Association
Community Leadership
- Member and Officer Emeritus, Board of Directors, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
- Member, Austin Community Board of Directors, Jeremiah Program
- Member, Executive Leadership Team, American Heart Association Heart Walk (2012)
- Member and Beyond Impact Contributor, Impact Austin
- Substantial Financial Supporter, Paramount and State Theatres, Emancipet
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