Lance Currie
Main image for Lance Currie

Lance Currie

Successful trial work requires a strong work ethic, agility, and the ability to tackle tough problems head-on with clear eyes and creativity. I developed these skills and values while growing up on my family’s century-year-old ranch, and they continue to define my practice to this day. When a long day of working outdoors ends, the time for storytelling begins. Trial work demands a powerful sense of story—of helping the jury put themselves in my client’s shoes. When I walk into a courtroom as a passionate advocate, know that hard work and storytelling are in my blood.

Lance Currie is a construction and real estate lawyer—building on lessons he learned working for his father, who is a home builder and developer. Board certified in construction law (as only a limited number of lawyers in Texas are), he helps developers, owners, and contractors solve problems and resolve disputes. With the aim of keeping projects moving, Lance regularly applies finesse and ingenuity to repair projects and relationships. But, when opposing parties don’t share that same goal, he is a fierce advocate for his client’s interests.

Lance also has a significant securities practice, advising clients on raising funds for projects and managing investments, along with representing broker-dealers and registered representatives in the broader securities industry. By taking numerous construction and securities disputes to arbitration or trial, he has the litigation experience to identify problems with capital raises and other investor issues before they arise and the practical experience to help clients navigate and avoid those problems.

Lance also represents clients in the oil and gas, real estate, healthcare, transportation, and telecommunications industries on commercial litigation matters.

Lance is committed to building lasting relationships and strengthening his community. He is a passionate advocate for public education, and he serves on the Dallas ISD school board as the elected Trustee for District 1. He has served on multiple boards, is a very active member of the Dallas Regional Chamber, was recognized as a 40 Under 40 award winner by the Dallas Business Journal for his business and community efforts, and is a Leadership Dallas graduate.

Significant Matters

  • Won contract action for prominent Dallas real estate developer, resulting in access to funds necessary to ensure its property will not be landlocked and opening up future development in the area.
  • Won take-nothing jury verdict for telecommunications company headquartered in Dallas in real estate dispute.
  • Successfully represented owner of large multi-family development pursuing multi-million dollar claims for construction defects.
  • Represented international airport in multi-million dollar construction dispute.
  • Successfully represented sophisticated subcontractor in two complex litigations involving water treatment plants.
  • Obtained injunction to enforce easement rights in Wisconsin to ensure telecommunications company could continue to service its customers.
  • Represents telecommunications company in dispute with fifty-seven plaintiffs in neighborhood in North Texas. Successfully compelled most plaintiffs to individual arbitrations and obtained stay of remaining litigation.
  • Successfully aided municipality in negotiating takeover agreement with surety after general contractor declared bankruptcy.
  • Represents condominium and master associations in claims related to construction defects involving a 33-story high rise in Dallas.
  • Successfully navigated fire suppression installation company through bankruptcy while facing significant litigation from prior owner so company could focus on continuing to serve its customers in highly regulated industry.
  • Represents national materials supplier in multiple disputes, including as owner in disputes over construction at their facility and as supplier on sophisticated construction projects.
  • Successfully represented drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic in litigation involving construction defects causing significant water penetration.
  • Participated in successful representation of an investment firm in a multibillion-dollar lawsuit defending against various allegations including racketeering, civil conspiracy, tortious interference, and defamation. Lance’s work included drafting in part the dispositive motions that led to dismissal of the case at trial and successful appeal; coordinating third-party productions and discovery, both nationally and internationally; motion practice and participating in extensive hearings regarding discovery; taking multiple depositions; and serving as a member of the trial team in preparation for a multi-month trial.
  • Involved in the representation of a major airline in dispute with contractor. Lance’s work included extensive pretrial briefing and preparing for a multi-week trial. The case settled on the eve of trial after our client prevailed on numerous pretrial motions.
  • Defended broker-dealer from defamation claims brought by former investment banker terminated for violating firm policy. Lance handled all aspects of the one-week arbitration, resulting in no monetary recovery and the investment banker paying Lance’s client on counterclaims.
  • Aided in the representation of directors and managers facing negligent misrepresentation claims related to a transaction involving a rehabilitation hospital, which required understanding complex healthcare accounting issues. Lance’s work included drafting court filings, participating in depositions, and addressing discovery-related issues.
  • Assisted in the representation of international broker-dealer in dispute with former banker. Lance’s work on the trial team for the two-week arbitration included preparing witnesses, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and drafting trial briefs. Prior to arbitration, Lance handled day-to-day discovery and pretrial issues and drafted necessary filings.
  • Aided in the representation of outside directors during an SEC investigation concerning a former NYSE company. Lance’s work included extensive witness preparation and presence during interviews with SEC staff as well as the management of confidential document productions.
  • Aided in the representation of directors and managers facing negligent misrepresentation claims related to a transaction involving a rehabilitation hospital, which required understanding complex health care accounting issues. Lance’s work included drafting court filings, participating in depositions, and addressing discovery related issues.
  • Assisted in representation of attorney facing allegations of conspiring to violate the Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act. Lance managed the case day-to-day; his work included motion practice and preparing for trial.
  • In a pro bono matter, Lance successfully represented a mother in a divorce bench trial involving allegations of child abuse by the father.

Areas of Focus

Education

Education

  • University of Texas at Austin School of Law (J.D., 2008)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Texas Law Review, 2006-08; Associate Editor, 2007-08
    • Assault & Flattery 2006-08, Director 2007-08
  • Baylor University (B.F.A., 2003)

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk to the Honorable George P. Kazen, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (2008-09)

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • Texas, 2008
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District, Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District, Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Texas

Leadership

  • Dallas Independent School District, District 1 Trustee
    • Elected May 2024
  • ABA Forum on Construction Law, Trial Academy
    • Co-Chair, 2025
    • Committee Member, 2018-present
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association
    • Director, 2011-15
    • President’s Award of Merit, 2013-14
    • President’s Award of Merit, 2014-15
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
    • Director, 2011-15
    • Co-Chair of Equal Access to Justice Committee
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
    • Member
  • American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law
    • Member
  • Second Thought Theatre
    • Founder and Board Member
    • Past Board President
  • Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce
    • Member, Public Policy Advisory
  • Dallas Independent School District Racial Equity Office
    • Member, Trustee Appointed Advisory Counsel
  • Urban Land Institute
    • Member
  • Leadership Dallas
    • Class Member, 2017-18
    • Class Advisor, 2018-19
  • Young Professionals of the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce
    • Chair, 2016
    • Board Member, 2014-Present
  • Howard Payne University
    • Trustee, 2016-Present
  • Reading Partners
    • Board Member, 2017-Present
    • Chair, 2021
  • EducateDallas
    • Board Member, 2019
    • Chair, 2019-Present

Recognition

  • Lawdragon 500, Leading Litigators in America, Securities Litigation, 2023-2025
  • Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Construction, Construction Law, 2022-2025
  • Chambers USA, Construction – Texas, 2024
  • Texas Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2022-2024
  • Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2021
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Named to D Magazine's "Best Lawyers in Dallas" List, 2019, 2020, 2022
  • Named to the Dallas Business Journal’s "40 Under 40" List, 2018
  • Named to the Texas Super Lawyers ­– Rising Stars List, Business Litigation, Thomson Reuters, 2014-2018

oard-certified-construction-law-Blue AV-Preeminent-2020 D_Best_2020  

Speeches/Publications

  • Course Director, Federal Court Practice CLE (2012 & 2013).
  • Co-Author, Professional Liability, 62 SMU L. Rev. 469 (2011).
  • Speaker and Author, Texas State Bar Construction Law Conference, March 2022: Freedom of Contract – Except When It’s Not by Statute.
  • Co-Author of Chapter on Cross Examination in the ABA’s Construction Trial Deskbook (September 2021).
  • Co-Presenter, ABA Forum on Construction Law Division 12 Luncheon, 2020 Winter Meeting: Tip of the Spearin: Notes from the Cutting Edge of Design-Related Owner Liability.
  • Speaker and Author, ABA Forum on Construction Law, 2019 Fall Meeting:  Inclusion, Diversity, Professionalism and Risk Management.

Outside of Work

I was a theater major in college. In fact, before I went to law school, four friends and I started a theater company called Second Thought Theatre in Dallas—which was named the best theatre in Dallas in 2015. Incredibly, it will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. I ran fundraising and development in the early years, while also directing. I then served on its board for many years. Theater has unquestionably fine-tuned my ability to understand how people receive and perceive the stories we tell them, which I put into practice every day.