Education
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D. (1974),
- 1974 Russell Baker Moot Court Award
- President, Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
University of Notre Dame, B.B.A (1971)
Overview
Gary Kessler is Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice and has been named Texas’s “Super Lawyer” and included in the Best Lawyers in America for over twenty years. He has tried cases involving insurance, securities, intellectual property, and corporate matters and has argued before the Texas Supreme Court and multiple Federal Circuit courts. His broad experiences through commercial litigation helped set the standard for excellent client service at Kessler Collins.
Gary has national and international experience. He has represented the People’s Republic of China in claims arising under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, as well major financial institutions, insurers (both domestic and foreign), and international corporations.
He is a frequent lecturer for industry groups and is an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Gary is a member of the Inns of Court, an organization whose principal mission is to teach young attorneys the value of ethical advocacy in a litigation practice.
Professional Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America 2019:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- Litigation – Securities
- Fellow Texas Bar Association
- Fellow Litigation Counsel of America
- Texas Monthly Magazine – Texas Super Lawyer 2003 – 2014, 2006 – 2012, 2014 – 2018
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 1993 – 2018
Admissions
- Texas Bar, 1974
- United States District Court (Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas)
- United States Court of Appeals (Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Circuits)
- United States Tax Court
- Supreme Court of the United States
Legal Affiliations
- Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (Compliance & Legal Society)
- Defense Research Institute
- Dallas Inns of Court
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy (faculty)
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- American Bar Association (International, Bankruptcy, Tort and Insurance Practice, Antitrust and Litigation Sections)
- Dallas Bar Association
- Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
- Dallas and Texas Bar Foundations
- Society for Professional Dispute Resolution
- Association of Attorney Mediators
Other Affiliations
- Building Owner’s & Management Association
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- The Real Estate Council
- Friend of IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management)
- Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Publications
- Co-Author, “Can Passing-On the Statements of Another Expose You to Liability for Violations of the Federal Securities Laws?,” Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, 2020
- Co-Author, “Luxottica Group, S.P.A. v. Greenbriar Marketplace II, LLC-Landlord is “knocked-Off” by Tenant’s Conduct,” ICSC, June 2017
- Co-Author, “Why Publicly Congratulating Your Favorite Athlete Could Cost You Millions,” ICSC, June 2017
- Co-Author, “Lord & Taylor, LLC v. White Flint, LP-A Cautionary Tale for Redevelopment Projects,” ICSC, July 2016
- Author, “Rights of First Refusal – Tips & Traps,” Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), July 2014
Speaking Engagements
- “The Impact of Reg BI on Customer Arbitration and Enforcement Proceedings” FSI, August 2020
- “Professional Liability Defense Federation- The Past Is Prologue-Impact of Covid 19 on Customer Arbitration and Enforcement” FSI October 2020
- “The Big Danger of Little Breach-Litigation Risk” ICSC Law Conference October 2020
- “Updates You Should Know” LIVE Webcast FINRA Arbitration Hot Topics for 2020
- “Peer-to-Peer Session on Real Estate Litigation” ICSC Law Conference 2019
- “How to Handle an 8210 FINRA Request” 2019
- “Resolving Disputes” ICSC Law Conference 2019
- “Leasing Issues” TIG 2019
- “Landlord’s Duty to Mitigate: The history, risks, challenges and solutions to representing Landlords effectively” Dallas Bar Association Real Property Section? 2019
- “Anatomy of a Lease on Trial” ICSC Law Conference 2017
- “Your Lease on Trial” ICSC Law Conference 2016
- “Peer-to-Peer session on Casualty and Restoration” ICSC Law Conference 2014
- “Ask the Experts Regarding Trial Strategy” DRI Professional Liability 2006
Additional Info
- ICSC Law Conference-Speaker: Anatomy of a Lease on Trial, October 2017
- A frequent speaker at IREM, ULI, National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP) and ICSC national conferences