Thomas M. Melsheimer - Winston & Strawn LLP - Dallas, TX

Premier Trial Advocacy in Dallas and Across the Nation

When high-stakes litigation threatens a corporation's existence, reputation, or bottom line, having a preeminent courtroom advocate is an absolute necessity. Operating from the Dallas office of global powerhouse Winston & Strawn LLP on North Pearl Street, Thomas M. Melsheimer has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable and successful trial attorneys in the United States. A graduate magna cum laude from both the University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas School of Law, where he served on the Texas Law Review, Melsheimer served as a federal judicial law clerk before embarking on a career spanning more than three decades. Widely regarded as a master of jury persuasion, he is the co-author of the acclaimed trial advocacy book, 'On the Jury Trial: Principles and Practices for Effective Advocacy,' a work adopted by leading law schools nationwide.

Elite Representation in High-Stakes Commercial Disputes

From defending global energy conglomerates to representing entrepreneurial icons, Tom Melsheimer is trusted by clients when a jury trial is unavoidable. If your company needs to find a business litigation lawyer or hire an attorney for bet-the-company trial proceedings, his practice delivers relentless representation across critical areas:

• Commercial litigation: Trying massive breach of contract disputes, corporate governance conflicts, joint venture breakups, and tortious interference claims with billions of dollars on the line.
• Intellectual property and patent litigation: Defending and asserting patents, trade secret misappropriation claims, and copyright disputes across the federal courts of Texas and the nation.
• White collar criminal defense and government investigations: Defending corporate officers and entities targeted in Department of Justice investigations, healthcare fraud probes, and False Claims Act whistleblower lawsuits.
• Securities litigation and shareholder actions: Achieving landmark defense jury verdicts in federal securities class actions, including securing a complete defense victory for multinational corporations in billion-dollar claims.
• Antitrust and consumer protection litigation: Litigating complex unfair competition, restraint of trade, and monopolization claims before federal regulatory tribunals and juries.
• Product liability defense: Representing pharmaceutical companies, medical device makers, and manufacturers in catastrophic product liability and commercial tort lawsuits.

A Storied Record of Landmark Jury Verdicts

Tom Melsheimer's courtroom accomplishments have shaped Texas legal history. His high-profile representation of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in an insider trading enforcement trial brought by the SEC culminated in a complete defense verdict in federal court. He has consistently secured multi-million-dollar plaintiff recoveries and complete defense take-nothing verdicts in matters where opposing legal teams expected settlement. As an inducted Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Melsheimer possesses the rare ability to distill complex financial and technological data into compelling, relatable narratives that resonate with jurors.

Trusted Trial Leadership for Landmark Cases

Retaining lead trial counsel who commands the instant respect of federal and state judges provides vital leverage at every stage of dispute resolution. Backed by the international resources and multidisciplinary platform of Winston & Strawn LLP, Thomas Melsheimer offers corporate executives, general counsels, and business leaders strategic guidance from pre-suit discovery through final appellate review. When you need to consult an attorney with proven courtroom mastery to protect your corporate interests, Thomas M. Melsheimer provides extraordinary advocacy when everything is on the line.