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Kim J. Askew

Partner
+1.214.939.5579
Fax +1.214.939.5849

Ms. Askew represents clients in complex commercial and employment litigation. She has successfully tried cases to jury verdicts in state and federal district courts around the country, and handled appeals before the Texas Courts of Appeals and the Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Ms. Askew is a long-time leader in the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, and Dallas Bar Association. She chaired the State Bar Board of Directors in 2003-04 after service as chair of the Section of Litigation and the Continuing Legal Education Committee. Ms. Askew is a member of the ABA House of Delegates, Past Chair of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association, the first lawyer of color to have held the office of chair in this prestigious national position, and serves on the Board of Directors of ALI-ABA. She is a member of the Council of The American Law Institute.

In 2012, the State Bar of Texas Section of Litigation awarded her the Luther Soules III Award for professionalism and outstanding service to the profession. She was recognized in 2011 by Lawdragon as one of the “500 Leading Lawyers in America.” In 2010, D Magazine named her to its inaugural list of Best Women Lawyers in Dallas in the area of Labor and Employment law, and Texas Lawyer selected her as one of the 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century. Ms. Askew is a frequent writer and speaker on discovery, evidentiary, business litigation, and employment law topics. The State Bar of Texas selected Ms. Askew’s presentation on “Texas State and Federal Privileges Update,” at the Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course in 2009 as one of the state’s best CLE presentations of the year.

Areas of Emphasis

  • Complex commercial litigation
  • Employment litigation

Professional Background

Ms. Askew clerked for Jerry Buchmeyer, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Achievements

  • Luther (Luke) Soles III Award, State Bar of Texas Section of Litigation, January 2012
  • 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century 2010, Texas Lawyers
  • Fellow, Litigation Council of America
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Award, Dallas Bar Association, January 2010
  • Best Women Lawyers in Dallas, Labor and Employment, D Magazine, 2010
  • Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2011
  • Extraordinary Women in Texas Law - 2008, Texas Lawyer
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly, 2003 - 2011
  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2003 -2011
  • Dynamic Lawyers in Dallas 2007, Eclipse Magazine
  • Dallas Junior Forum, Women of Distinction Award 2007
  • Profiles in Leadership Award - Women's Symposium, Southern Methodist University, 2007
  • Women Who Soar Award, 2007
  • Law Dragon 500, The Leading Litigators in America, 2005, 2011
  • Best Lawyers in Dallas, Labor and Employment, D Magazine , 2003, 2005, 2007,  and 2009
  • She Knows Where She's Going Award, Girls Inc. of Dallas, 2004
  • Trailblazer Award, J. L. Turner Legal Association, 2003
  • Louise Raggio Award, Dallas Women Lawyers Association, 2003
  • Presidential Citations, State Bar of Texas, 2000 and 2004
  • Gene Cavin Award (outstanding CLE), State Bar of Texas, 1999
  • Outstanding Alumnae, Georgetown University Law School, 1999

Professional/Civic Activities

  • American Law Institute
    • Board of Directors, ALI-ABA
    • Chair, Outreach Committee 2009-2011
    • Chair and Member, Committee on Institute Size, 2005-2009
    • Member, Special Committee on Strategic Communications
  • American Bar Association
    • Member, House of Delegates
    • Section Officer’s Conference, 2004-2007; 2010
    • Standing Committees
      • Chair, Federal Judiciary, 2008-2010
      • Federal Judiciary, 2005-2008
      • Rules and Calendar, 2004-2006
      • Presidential Nominations Committee, 2004-2005; 2012
      • House Select Committee
      • Council for the Fund for Justice and Education, 2004-2005
      • Continuing Legal Education, 2000-2003
      • Meetings and Travel, 1997-2000
      • Gavel Awards, 1991-1997
    • Section of Litigation
      • Selection Delegate
      • Past Chair
      • Immediate Past Chair, 2007-2008
      • Chair, 2006-07
      • Chair-Elect, 2005-2006
      • Vice Chair, 2004-2005
      • Secretary, 2002-2004
      • Reserves Committee, 2004-2005
      • Finance Committee, 2004-2005
      • Diversity Plan Implementation Working Group, 2004-2006
      • Task Force on the Minority Trial Lawyer
    • Commission on Women in the Profession, 1993-1997
  • State Bar of Texas
    • Past Chair of the Board of Directors
    • Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors, 2004-2005
    • Chair, Board of Directors, 2003-2004
    • Board of Directors, 2001-2005
    • Chair, Section of Litigation, 2001-2002, Emeritus Member
    • Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1997-2000
    • Chair, Evidentiary Panel, District 6A Grievance Committee
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Representative to ABA House of Delegates, 2001-2010
    • At-Large Member, Board of Directors 2007-2009; 2011-2013
    • Advisory Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2010
    • Co-Chair, Strategic Planning – Vision 2020 Commission, 2010
    • Former Co-Chair, Judiciary Committee
    • Former Member, Diversity Committee
  • Texas Women Lawyers
  • Georgetown University
    • Board of Regents (2000-2006)
    • Board of Visitors – Law School (2006 – present)
    • National Alumni Board – Law School (2000 – present)
  • Board of Directors, National Women’s Law Center
  • Board of Directors, Baptist Foundation of Texas
  • Board of Directors and Co-Chair, Evaluation Committee, Dallas Committee for a Qualified Judiciary
  • Board of Directors, Turtle Creek Association
  • Board of Directors, Dallas Theater Center
  • Board of Directors, Dallas Museum of Art
    • Executive Committee, 2004-2006
  • Advisory Council, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
  • Former Director, Victims Outreach
  • Former Director, Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce
  • Former Trustee, Paul Quinn College
  • Former Director, Junior League of Dallas
  • Pro bono projects

Speaking Engagements

  • Employment Issues that Creep into Business Tort Cases, 3rd Annual Business Torts Institute, State Bar of Texas. October 2011
  • Current Developments in Employment Law, Texas Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, September 2011
  • Women’s Power Summit on Law & Leadership, University of Texas, April 2011
  • Negotiation Skills for Lawyers, The Fourth Women in Law Leadership Academy, American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, April 2010
  • State and Federal Privileges Update 2009, 21st Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Update, State Bar of Texas, May 2009
  • Privileges, 20th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, May 2008
  • State and Federal Privileges Update 2008, Litigation Update Institute, State Bar of Texas, January 2008
  • Privileges, 19th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course,State Bar of Texas, May 2007
  • Privileges, 18th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, May 2006
  • Civil Procedure Update: Discovery and Evidence, Litigation Update Institute 2006, State Bar of Texas, January 2006
  • State Bar of Texas, New Lawyer Course:  How to Succeed In Your First Trial or Transaction: Keys to Victory in the Courtroom or the Boardroom,  2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005
  • State Bar of Texas, Litigation Update Institute 2006, Civil Procedure Update: Discovery and Evidence, January 2006
    Age Issues in the New Millennium, Employment Law and Litigation Institute, Georgetown University Law Center Continuing Legal Education, April 2004
  • Experts in Employment Law Litigation, 4th Annual Advanced Expert Witness Course, State Bar of Texas, 2004
  • State Bar of Texas, Ultimate Trial Notebook 2004, Evidence Panel
  • State Bar of Texas, New Lawyer Course, Your Day in Court — Getting Through Your First Trial like a Pro, March 2004
  • State Bar of Texas, Litigation Update Institute,  Discovery and Privileges Update 2003-2004
  • State Bar of Texas,  Advanced Civil Trial Course, Privilege Update 2003
  • State Bar of Texas, Advanced In-House Counsel Course, 2003
  • State  Bar of Texas, Litigation Update Institute, January 2003 Discovery and Procedure Update 2002-03
  • Texas Business Litigation Update 2002-03, State Bar College Spring Training, 2003
  • Discovery and Privileges Update 2003, Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas March and May 2003
  • Retaliation: Law and Tactics, 20th Annual Employment Law and Litigation Institute, Georgetown University Law Center, 2002
  • Veterans Rights to Reemployment and Prohibited Discrimination under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), Emerging Issues in Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Coping with the Changed Workplace since 9/11, ALI-ABA Video Law Review, 2002
  • Privileges Update, Federal and State Courts – Texas 2002, 15th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas, Dallas, 2002
  • Discovery Update 2002 (Yes—the rules are still evolving!), TADC Fall Meeting, 2002
  • Texas Business Litigation Update July 2002, State Bar of Texas, 5th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course 2002

Additional Information

Publications
  • Co-authored Texas Civil Pretrial Practice for West Publishing
  • Successfully defended a Fortune 50 company in an employment discrimination case and obtained a take-nothing jury verdict on behalf of another Fortune 50 company in an $800 million breach of contract and fraud case.
  • Led winning teams and have successfully tried to jury verdict cases brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII, Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, ERISA, and other state and federal employment laws.
  • Led winning teams and have successfully tried to jury verdict cases for Fortune 500 companies for breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, fraud, securities, and other complex commercial claims.
  • Handled whistleblower claims as part of employment cases under state and federal statutes.
  • Conducted internal investigations of issues arising under federal and state employment laws for Fortune 100 companies and leading law firms.
  • Won on summary judgment employment claims involving some $22 million in damages under stock options and executive compensation agreements.  Case affirmed on appeal at Miracle v. Networth, 2000 WL 1073611 (Tex. App. - Dallas 2000, pet. denied.)
  • Won on summary judgment a high-profile case brought against a local school district and public figures involving qualified immunity, First Amendment and Federal Wiretap Act claims. Carver Dan Peavy v. Dallas Independent School District and Sandy Kress, 57 F.Supp.2d 382 (N.D. Tex. 1999).
  • Won on summary judgment a case of "first impression" in the Second Circuit on coverage of the Lanham Act and the First Amendment to claims of a company using the name of a political party affiliated with an independent candidate. Case affirmed at United We Stand America, Inc. v. United We Stand America New York, Inc., 941 F. Supp. 39 (S.D.N.Y. 1996), aff'd, 128 F.3d 86 (2d Cir. 1997).