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About Thomas Harkness

Thomas R. Harkness has over 50 years of legal experience in personal injury trial law, with a focus on product liability, catastrophic injury, and medical malpractice. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and currently serves as President of the Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward White, Inc. since 1995 and as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters every year since 2003.

Since 1975, Mr. Harkness has handled product liability, natural gas explosions, aviation litigation, and complex general negligence cases. He is an instrument-rated pilot with a strong engineering background from the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he graduated with honors in 1968. He then attended The University of Texas Law School, graduating with honors, and served as an Air Force JAG in Japan. In January 1976, he began private practice at the Bronson firm in San Francisco, and two years later returned to Austin, where he has practiced ever since.

Practice areas

Education

University of Texas Law School
J.D. (honors)
U.S. Air Force Academy
Undergraduate, 1968

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of Texas
State Bar of California

Other attorneys at National Trial Law

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Proven verdicts and settlements from other Austin firms

Slack Davis Sanger
Slack Davis Sanger
$52 million · Texas Policyholders Win $52 Million Settlement After Farmers Insurance Charged Loyal Customers More Than New Ones
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP
Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP
$112.9 million · $112.9 Million Verdict in Dram Shop Case After Crash Leaves 6-Year-Old With Traumatic Brain Injury
DJC Law
DJC Law
$4,507,000 · Travis County Jury Awards $4.5 Million After Construction Worker Is Struck by Falling Logs at Highway Project
FVF Law Firm
FVF Law Firm
$2 million · Broken Jaw, $2 Million: Anthony Evans Settles Civil-Rights Claim Against City of Austin Over 2020 BLM Protest Shooting
Shamieh Law
Shamieh Law
$8 million · $8 Million Settlement for NMSU Basketball Players Sexually Assaulted by Teammates