Randy J. McClanahan

Phone: (713) 223-2936

During his more than thirty years as a trial lawyer, Randy has handled a wide variety of cases, on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. He is Board Certified, Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Randy is a trial lawyer who specializes in persuading the fact-finder, be it in an arbitration proceeding, Markman or class certification hearing, or jury trial.

Randy believes that the most effective trial lawyers are generalists who focus on the art of persuasion rather than narrow substantive areas. And with the association of counsel skilled in relevant substantive legal areas, he can serve as lead trial counsel in virtually any kind of civil litigation. Randy has handled cases involving such diverse subject matters as complicated commercial products liability, breach of fiduciary duty, construction contracts, accounting and legal malpractice, tax, securities, breach of contract, toxic torts, deceptive trade practices, fraud, real estate development, limited partnership disputes, stock option disputes, ERISA, intellectual property and patent infringement, oil and gas exploration in foreign countries, and many other substantive areas. He has tried cases to conclusion before juries, judges and arbitrators.

Before forming McClanahan • Myers • Espey, Randy was a partner with the nationally-prominent firm Baker & Botts and the Houston, Texas litigation boutique McClanahan & Clearman. He is a graduate of the Louisiana State University Law School, former managing editor of the Louisiana Law Review, and a member of the Louisiana State University Law School Hall of Fame. Among his many accolades, Randy has been named one of the top lawyers for business litigation by H Texas Magazine a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics Magazine for seven consecutive years.  Randy is a past president of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.

Education

  • Louisiana State University, B.S., 1973
    • Omicron Delta Kappa
  • Louisiana State University, J.D., 1975
    • Managing Editor, La. Law Review
    • Order of the Coif
    • Phi Kappa Phi

Community

  • Director, American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc.
  • Past Board of Directors, Theatre Under the Stars
  • Vice-Chairman, Strategic Planning Committee
  • Fund Development Committee
  • Nominating Committee
  • Past Chairman of Deacons, River Oaks Baptist Church
  • Past Member, River Oaks Baptist School Board
  • Past Member, Texas Children’s Hospital Development Council
  • Past Annual Fund Class Representative, St. John’s School

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Courts of Appeal for the 5th and 11th Circuits
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado (pro hac vice)
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (pro hac vice)
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (pro hac vice)
  • United States Court of Federal Claims

Board Certifications

  • Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • American Board of Trial Advocates Nominating Committee, Houston Chapter
  • Certified, Civil Trial Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy

Professional

  • Trial lawyer
  • Baker & Botts, 1975-1991 (Partner, 1983-91)
  • McClanahan & Associates (1991- September, 1994)
  • McClanahan & Clearman, L.L.P. (September, 1994 – January, 2008)
  • McClanahan • Myers • Espey, L.L.P. (January, 2008 – present)

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

  • College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
  • Board of Directors, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation, 1999, 2000 Advocate
  • American Bar Association, Section on Litigation
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Section on Litigation
  • Chairman, Committee on Court Costs and Delay, 1981-83
  • Antitrust and Business Litigation Section
  • Intellectual Property Law Section
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Trial Advocacy College of Texas, Faculty Member 2001
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
  • District 4 Nominating Committee
  • Louisiana Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Combined Committee: Administration of Justice, Appellate Judiciary and Courthouse Facilities Committee, 1990-1991
  • Judicial Liaison Committee, 1990-1991
  • Litigation Section
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association
  • Director
  • Houston Bar Foundation
  • The Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
    • Director, 1998-present
    • Treasurer, 2007-08
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy
  • Advanced Course, F.T.C., Wash. D.C., 10/87;
  • Teacher's Training Course, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 3/89;
  • Member, NITA Advocates Association
  • University of Houston Trial Advocacy Institute Faculty Member
  • ABA Family Law Advocacy Institute, Instructor at Teacher Training Sessions
  • American Inns of Court, Garland Walker Inn, 1993-2000
  • American Inns of Court, A. A. White, 1997-1999
  • Steering Committee for ERISA plaintiffs, Enron class action
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Listed in “Texas Super Lawyers®” 2003-08 (Law & Politics Media) based on surveys of more than 20,000 lawyers across the state, a qualitative assessment of each candidate based on 12 criteria indicating peer recognition and professional achievement, and a blue ribbon panel review process by practice area.
  • Listed in the “Top Lawyers Listing” for “Business Litigation” in the Houston metropolitan area by H Texas Magazine, (2004-2010). [The names on the list were compiled through peer nominations, and selections the top 2% of lawyers that have been voted and recognized as the best in Houston.]

Publications, Seminars and Lectures

  • Speaker, State Bar of Texas, St. Mary's Tort Law 1988: Statutes (Tort Reform); Cases; Problems, San Antonio, 6/88
  • Speaker, Texas Legal Connection, Use of Computers in Litigation, Houston, 12/2/88
  • Speaker, Tort Reform, The Continuing Effects, U. of H. Advanced Civil Litigation Seminar, San Antonio and Houston, 3/89
  • Speaker, Tort Reform and It's Effect on Business Litigation, U. of H. Advanced Business Litigation Seminar, Houston, 5/89
  • Speaker, Computer Assistance in Litigation, Houston, 5/89
  • Speaker, Tort Reform Update, U. of H. Handling Insurance and Tort Claims Seminar, Dallas and Houston, 7/89
  • Guest Commentator, "The People's Lawyer," KPRC-T.V., Houston Panelist, "Evidence Law Seminar," Demonstrative Evidence Specialists Assn., 5th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Ca., 10/6/89
  • Speaker, "A Visual Demonstration and Discussion of Strategic Techniques in Office and Courtroom Technology," South Texas College of Law, Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence Seminar, Houston, Tx., 7/20/90.
  • Speaker, "Voir Dire," Fall Advocacy Lectures, University of Houston Law Center, 9/8/90
  • Instructor, Advocacy Course, Texas College of Trial Advocacy, Nov. 29, 1990, South TexasCollege of Law, Houston, Texas Featured Speaker, "Voir Dire Techniques in Jury Trials, Houston Management Lawyers' Forum, Houston, Tx. 5/24/91
  • Planning Committee, South Texas College of Law "Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence," 7/91, 8/93
  • Invited Participant, University of Houston Law Center, Conference on Professionalism, 6/8-9/91, Montgomery, Texas Speaker, "Voir Dire," Texas Trial Lawyers Assn., Advanced Practice Pointers and Trial Tips, Port Royal Resort, Port Aransas, Texas, Aug. 22, 1991
  • Speaker, "Voir Dire," Meeting of Labor and Employment Law Section, Mock Trial Program, State Bar of Texas Convention, 6/26/92
  • Judge/Instructor, Texas College of Trial Advocacy, South Texas Law School, 8/14/92
  • Speaker, "Contingent Fee Cases: How to Decide Which to Take and Which to Decline," Successful Practice Management of the Small Law Firm, University of Houston Law Center Continuing Legal Education, Westin Galleria, Houston, Texas, 7/8/93
  • Panel Demonstration, "Evidentiary Foundations: Remembering and Using What You Learned in Law School," Advanced Strategies in Obtaining and Using Evidence, South Texas College of Law, Houston, 8/26-27/93
  • Speaker, "Deposing the Defendant's Experts," How to Try a Breast Implant Case, California Trial Lawyers Assn., San Francisco Airport Marriott, San Francisco, California, 3/12/94
  • Demonstration for the Plaintiff: Voir Dire, Opening Statement and Closing Argument, "Choosing and Courting a Jury," State Bar of Texas Special Institute, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 4/8/94 .
  • Speaker, "Using Expert Witnesses Effectively," Insurance Law Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation, Austin, Texas, 5/20/94.
  • Speaker, "Jury Arguments," Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Winning With the Masters & Updates in Jurisprudence & Legislation, Hilton Riverside Hotel, New Orleans, La., 12/16/94.
  • Demonstration, Closing Argument for the Plaintiff, Trial Skills with the Masters, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, 5/5/95.
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire, The Art and Science of Jury Selection,” Litigation and Trial Tactics, University of Houston Law Foundation, Westin Galleria Hotel, Houston, 7/21/95, Stouffer Renaissance Hotel, Austin, 7/28/95.
  • Speaker, “The Use of Jury Questionnaires (How to convince a judge to do it), Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, Sheraton Park Central Hotel, Dallas, 9/29/95.
  • Speaker, “Managing Complex Litigation,” Medical Device & Pharmaceutical Litigation, University of Houston Law Center, Doubletree Hotel, Houston, 12/8/95.
  • Author, “IP’s Latest Weapon: Secrecy Agreements," IP [Intellectual Property] Magazine, a TEXAS LAWYER supplement, Sept. 9, 1996, vol. 12, no. 26, sec. 3.
  • Author, "Look Before Leaping Into 11th Hour Litigation," U.S. BUSINESS LITIGATION, April 1997. Speaker, “Voir Dire: The Art and Science of Jury Selection,” University of Houston Law Foundation, Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, 6/26/97; Westin Galleria Hotel, Houston, 7/10/97.
  • Speaker, “How to Win an $18 million Verdict in a Case Other Lawyers Turned Down,” Texas Association of Civil Trial & Appellate Specialists, Four Seasons Hotel, Houston, 11/21/97.
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire: The Art and Science of Jury Selection,” Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, 1997 Holiday Seminar, Galleria Oaks Hotel, Houston, 12/6/97.
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire: The Art and Science of Jury Selection,” University of Houston Law Foundation, Westin Galleria Hotel, Houston, 12/02/98; Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, 12/10/98.
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire: The Art and Science of Jury Selection,” Inside Story: Great Texas Trial Lawyers Tell Their Secrets, Houston Bar Association, 1/15/99.
  • Speaker, “Use of demonstrative evidence in business (particularly construction-related) cases,” Houston Bar Association’s Construction Law Section meeting, Houston City Club, 1/21/99.
  • Speaker, “Logical Presentation of Exhibits,” 22nd Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas, Fort Worth, 9/2/99, Houston, 9/30/99, San Antonio, 11/4/99. Conduct, “Voir Dire Workshop”, University of Houston Trial Advocacy Institute, Houston, Texas, 10/06/00
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire and Jury Selection” University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 12/15/00 Speaker, “Voir Dire” TTLA’s 2001 Trial Advocacy College of Texas, 6/27/01
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire Demonstration Panel”, 24th Annual Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas CLE, 10/5/01 October 12, 2001
  • Speaker, “Overview of the Enron Civil Litigation” South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, 2002 Annual Convention, 8/1/02
  • Speaker, “Considerations in Choosing the Forum,” a co-presentation with United States District Judge Lee Rosenthal, Houston Bar Association, 9/20/02
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire”, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Masters of Trial Seminar, 11/15/02 Speaker, “Voir Dire and Jury Selection,” University of Houston Law Foundation, Advanced Civil Litigation Seminar, 3/13/03 (Houston), 3/20/03 (Dallas).
  • Guest Lecturer, “Voir Dire and Jury Selection,” Jury Communication – Voir Dire, South Texas College of Law, Spring Semester, 2003
  • Speaker, “Class Actions in State Court,” Law Practice After HB4, The University of Texas School of Law, Hotel InterContinental, Houston, 9/25/03
  • Speaker, “Law Practice After H.B. 4 “What Every Practitioner Needs to Know”, University of Texas School of Law, August 22, 2003
  • Speaker, “Patent Licensing and Litigation in Prepaid”, Intele-Card Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 22, 2004 Panelist, “From Perry Mason to The Practice: The Impact of Television and Movies on Juror Expectations,” American Inns of Court, Houston, Texas, February 8, 2005.
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire and Jury Selection”, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, March 17, 2005 Panel Moderator, “Judicial Independence, Effect of Tort Reform on Trials and Forecast for Trial,” Texas Association of Civil Trial & Appellate Specialists, Houston, Texas, February 7, 2007
  • Panelist, “Transitioning from a Personal Injury to a Civil Trial Practice,” South Texas College of Law Advanced Civil Trial Law Conference, Houston, Texas, February 22, 2007. Presiding Judge, Texas Regional Mock Trial Competition, Final Round, Harris County Civil District Ceremonial Courtroom, Houston, Texas, March 11, 2007.
  • Speaker, “Voir Dire and Jury Selection,” Texas Bar CLE 11th Annual Choosing and Courting a Jury Course, Irving – Dallas, Texas, March 30, 2007.
  • Moderator, Five members of the “Enron” jury that convicted Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling, with the trial judge (U.S. District Judge Sim Lake) and Mary Flood (writer for Houston Chronicle who covered the trial), Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, Houston, Texas, April 12, 2007.

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