Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys
General Defense
1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 3100, Dallas, Texas 75201
Established: 2008
Practice Areas
- Insurance Defense
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Appellate
- Accountants and Attorneys Liability
- Architects and Engineers
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Labor and Employment
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Licensure
- Real Estate Agents & Brokers Liability
- Tax Litigation
- Professional Malpractice
- Attorney Grievance Defense
- Financial Advisor/Investment Advisor Defense
- Trucking & Automobile Defense
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About Us
Based in Dallas, Texas, the law firm of Cobb Martinez Woodward provides value-driven counsel in a range of practice areas, with a focus on insurance defense litigation. As a smaller medium-sized firm with 16 lawyers, we maintain an atmosphere of active collaboration while providing our clients with greater flexibility, immediate access to our attorneys, and personal attention to each case. We offer solid representation and work hard to minimize surprises. CMW's attorneys provide insurance companies, self-insured businesses and professionals with effective defense advice and representation. In business and commercial disputes, our work encompasses representation of both plaintiffs and defendants. Our lawyers are comfortable and effective in Texas courtrooms, and we are accustomed to working efficiently within our clients' budgets and litigation guidelines.
Our lawyers are driven by their passion for their work and value-added expertise. CMW was founded in 2008 by 10 veteran litigators. Our firm had more than 100 years collective litigation experience on the day we opened our doors. Even our most junior attorneys already had several years of practice under their belts. The attorneys at CMW are 100% focused on litigation and are acknowledged by their peers to be among the very best trial lawyers in Texas. In 2010, Thomson Reuters named 70% of our lawyers either as a SuperLawyer or as a Rising Star and in years since, we have maintained that distinction with the majority of our lawyers continuing to achieve this recognition.
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Insurance Clients
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Personnel Information
Members
William D. Cobb, Jr., Managing Member
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Product Liability Defense
Admitted
- Texas, 1984
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:
"Best Lawyers in Dallas 2017," D Magazine; "Texas Super Lawyer"; "The Best Lawyers in America" in: Legal Malpractice Law, 2010-Present; Bet-The-Company Litigation, 2010-Present; Commercial Litigation, 2007-Present; Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, 2010-Present and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants in 2007-Present, Published by Best Lawyers by Woodward/White, Inc.
Memberships:
- American and Dallas Bar Associations
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- American Board of Trial Advocates
Education:
- University of Denver, B.A., 1981
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 1984
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Katherine Elrich
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
Admitted
- Texas, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Additional Biographical Details:
"Best Lawyers in Dallas 2017," D Magazine; "Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- The University of Texas at Arlington, B.B.A. (cum laude), 1995
- Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1998
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Stacy Hoffman Bruce
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Appellate
- Construction
- Labor and Employment
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Architects and Engineers
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Medical Malpractice Defense
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Agent and Brokers Errors and Omissions
- Real Estate Errors and Omissions
Admitted
Additional Biographical Details:
Texas Rising Star; "Outstanding Lawyer Under 40," Cardozo Society of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
- American Inns of Court
Education:
- American University, B.A. (cum laude), 1999
- Southern Methodist University Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 2002
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Larry W. Johnson
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Architects and Engineers
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Insurance Agent Malpractice
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Real Estate Agents & Brokers Liability
Admitted
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- Trinity University, B.A., 1993
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D. (with honors), 1996
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Jonathan C. LaMendola
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Medical Malpractice Defense
- Premises Liability
- Labor and Employment Law (Management Side)
- Legal Malpractice
- Professional Licensure
- Directors and Officers Liability
Admitted
- Texas, 1995
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Southern Methodist University, B.A. (with honors), 1988
- Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1992
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Ramona Martinez
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Architects and Engineers
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Labor and Employment Law (Management Side)
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability Defense
- Real Estate Errors and Omissions
- Trucking Litigation
Admitted
- Texas, 1990
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Additional Biographical Details:
Dallas Diversity Task Force, Founding Member; "Best Lawyers in Dallas 2017," D Magazine; "Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- American, National Hispanic, Dallas, and Dallas Hispanic Bar Associations
- Defense Research Institute
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A., 1987
- Southern Methodist University Law School, J.D., 1990
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Jeffrey I. Nicodemus
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Product Liability Defense
- Professional Liability (Non-Medical) Defense
- Architects and Engineers
- Construction Litigation
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Real Estate Agents & Brokers Liability
- Trucking Litigation
- Premises Liability
- Professional Licensure
Admitted
Additional Biographical Details:
"Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Education:
- University of North Texas, B.A. (cum laude), 1995
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D., 1998
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Carrie Johnson Phaneuf
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Legal
- Commercial Litigation
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Legal Malpractice
Admitted
- Texas, 1998
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Additional Biographical Details:
Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Advisory Board and Legal Committee; Texas Lawyers Insurance Exchange, Board of Directors and Chair of Marketing Committee; Hockaday Alumnae Association; "Best Lawyers in Dallas 2017," D Magazine; "Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (with honors), 1995
- Southern Methodist University Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 1998
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Bevan Rhine
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction
Admitted
Additional Biographical Details:
"Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Patrick Higginbotham Inn of Court
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A., 1998
- Southern Methodist University Law School, J.D., 2002
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Michael C. Smith
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Premises Liability
- Professional Liability (Non-Medical) Defense
- Real Estate Errors and Omissions
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Legal Malpractice
- Agent and Brokers Errors and Omissions
- Professional Licensure
Admitted
- Texas, 1999
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Additional Biographical Details:
"Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- Trinity University, B.A., 1996
- Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D., 1999
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Daniel D. Tostrud
Dallas, TX
Admitted
- Texas, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Additional Biographical Details:
"Best Lawyers in Dallas 2017," D Magazine; "Texas Super Lawyer"; Rated AV by Martindale Hubbell
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, B.B.A. (cum laude), 1986
- Baylor Law School, J.D., 1989
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David R. Woodward
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Accountant Malpractice
- Architects and Engineers
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Real Estate Errors and Omissions
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Labor and Employment Law (Management Side)
- Legal Malpractice
- Agent and Brokers Errors and Omissions
Admitted
- Texas, 1986
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Additional Biographical Details:
"Texas Super Lawyer"
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
Education:
- Southern Methodist University, B.S./B.S., 1981
- Southern Methodist University Law School, J.D., 1986
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Lindsey K. Wyrick
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Legal Malpractice
- Accountant Malpractice
- Architects and Engineers
- Commercial Liability
- Professional Licensure
- Agent and Brokers Errors and Omissions
Admitted
- Texas, 2009
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
Additional Biographical Details:
Texas Rising Star
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Education:
- Texas A & M University at College Station, B.A. (magna cum laude), 2006
- Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2009
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Associates
Virginia Cox
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Legal Malpractice Defense
- Professional Licensure Defense
Admitted
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association (Business Litigation Section)
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Education:
- University of California, Davis, B.A., 2014
- Baylor Law School, J.D., 2017
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Tanner C. Forman
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Premises Litigation
- Product Liability
Admitted
- Texas, 2015
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
Education:
- Utah State University, B.S. (cum laude), 2011
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2014
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Matthew E. Last
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions
- Legal Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability Defense
- Professional Licensure
- Real Estate Agents & Brokers Liability
Admitted
- Texas, 2007
- U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas
Additional Biographical Details:
Texas Rising Star
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Education:
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A. (with highest honors), 2004
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, J.D. (with honors), 2007
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Jennifer Smiley
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Legal Malpractice Defense
- Architect & Engineer Defense
Admitted
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas Young Lawyers Association
Education:
- Baylor University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 2011
- Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2015
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Andrew S. Willard
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability Defense
Admitted
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- Tarrant County and Dallas Bar Associations
- Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
Education:
- Texas A&M University, B.S., 2012
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2015
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Sara G. Witmeyer
Dallas, TX
Practice Areas
- Accountants
- Commercial Litigation
- Labor and Employment
- Legal Malpractice
Admitted
- Florida, 2006
- Texas, 2015
- U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas
Memberships:
- State Bar of Texas
- The Florida Bar
- Dallas and St. Thomas Aquinas Bar Associations
Education:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A. (with honors), 2002
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D. (summa cum laude), 2006
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