Jeffrey M. Tillotson
“I have been privileged to try cases across the table from many talented trial lawyers, but if I had to single one out it would be Jeff Tillotson. We tried a complex and tough case and I was amazed at what a naturally gifted trial lawyer he was throughout the trial. His instinct before a jury and his quiet confidence – no arrogance or condescension that might offend jurors – were truly impressive. On top of this, he was a pleasure to work with and a consummate professional throughout a relatively intense trial. I have since used a couple of things I saw him do in subsequent trials with success. No matter how many trials or appeals we might have, we can always learn from our colleagues.” -Law 360
Few trial lawyers in the country have as much complex litigation experience as Jeff Tillotson. Even fewer have as much trial experience in complex multi-party cases. Over the past decade, Jeff has acted as lead lawyer in over a dozen major multi-party cases, brought in courts in nine different states, for clients such as: the nation’s largest consumer finance company; its third largest bank; its second largest credit card issuer; and forty of the nation’s leading industrial concerns. These cases involved all possible aspects of complex litigation involving multiple parties, competing venues, extensive discovery, complex strategy and intense media scrutiny. The cases were profiled everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to Nightline to CBS Evening News and People magazine.
The University of Texas School of Law
Doctor of Law (J.D.), Litigation (1987)
Georgetown University
B.S.F.S., Foreign Services (1984)
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Economics (1983)
Texas (1987)
California (1988)
United States Courts of Appeal
Second Circuit
Third Circuit
Fifth Circuit
Ninth Circuit
United States District Courts
Northern District of Texas
Western District of Texas
Southern District of Texas
Eastern District of Texas
Northern District of California
Central District of California
Southern District of California
Parkland Memorial Hospital
Board of Trustees, as of May 2016
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Since 2016
American Bar Association (ABA)
Since 1995
Inducted as a Fellow in the College of American Trial Lawyers
Benchmark’s 2022 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the Nation
Chambers & Partners: Band 1 Ranked Litigation Attorney and “Leader in His Field” 2016 – present
Honored as a “Leader in His Field” in Chambers & Partners 2010 USA Guide to Leading Lawyers – General Commercial Litigation
Lawdragon 500 top leading Litigators in America
Benchmark’s 2021 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the Nation
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminate Award 2016 – present
US News World Report Best Law Firms in Texas 2016 – present
Benchmark Litigation: “Litigation Star” and “Leader in His Field” 2015
Recognized as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys, 2014-2015
Lawdragon: Leading Lawyers in America
Profiled by Lawdragon as one of the leading lawyers in America (2007)
D Magazine: DFW Top 100 Lawyers 2003 – present
Honored as one of the top 100 lawyers every year
Texas Monthly: Texas Super Lawyers
Continuously honored in Texas Super Lawyers, a publication of Thompson Reuters (2003-2016)
Best Lawyers® In America 2016 – present
Honored by Best Lawyers® in America, by Woodward White Inc.
D CEO: Top 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth
One of the few litigators honored by D CEO publication as one of the 500 most powerful business leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth (2016)
D CEO: The Advocates — Litigators You Don’t Want to Face in Court
Profiled by D CEO magazine in an article profiling a small group of esteemed trial lawyers in the Dallas Fort Worth area (2008)
National Law Journal: “Defense Win of the Year” and “Defense Win of the Month”
For serving as lead counsel to Visa USA and Visa International, conducting opening and closing statements as well as taking the testimony of the main witness. Prevailed after a four week trial, in a first-of-its-kind $700 million internet defamation case: Zixit v. Visa USA (2002)
Texas Lawyer: 40 Outstanding Texas Lawyers Under 40
Texas Lawyer by Thompson Reuters (2001)
500 Leading Litigators In America
As Published in Lawdragon September 2023
