Leading trial lawyer writes autobiography, kicks off national media tour
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| WHAT: | Eakin Press and GCI Group to host a free cocktail reception to celebrate Joe Jamail's new book |
| WHO: | The UT community and general public |
| WHEN: | Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. |
| WHERE: | The University of Texas Club, 7th floor, 2108 E. Robert Dedman Dr. on the east side of Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium on the UT campus |
| PARKING: | Available in garage across from UT Club ($2/hour up to $7 max. and pay cashier on the 2nd floor of garage before exiting) Free in nearby surface parking lots after 5:45 p.m. |
AUSTIN, Texas – UT Law graduate, trial lawyer, and philanthropist Joe Jamail, '52, invites The University of Texas community and the general public to celebrate the release of his new autobiography, LAWYER: My Trials and Jubilations, due out in stores this week. The event, sponsored by Jamail's publisher, is free.
"Put simply, Joe Jamail is the best trial lawyer in the country. And he is a great friend. He and Lee have been our Law School's staunchest supporters for many, many years. I am delighted to honor them, and Joe's new book," said Dean Bill Powers of UT Law.
The event also kicks off a national media tour to highlight Jamail’s contributions to the legal field. In his 50 years of practicing law, the Houston attorney has earned a reputation as one of the nation s leading trial lawyers, having tried and won hundreds of cases and earning millions of dollars for most clients as well as the respect and admiration of friends and colleagues.
Winning the largest lawsuit in the history of tort law -- Pennzoil v. Texaco's $11 billion verdict -- Jamail's landmark victory for Pennzoil landed his name on the nation’s front pages, news features and broadcasts. With more than $13 billion in verdicts and settlements, Jamail was named "Trial Lawyer of the Century" by Texas Monthly Magazine, and crowned "King of Torts" by Time, Newsweek, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune.
Jamail is featured this month as the only attorney on the Forbes Four Hundred roster of the richest people in America (his net worth is valued at approximately $1.2 billion) and appeared in an A&E television special on Sept. 28 that profiled his highly successful career. At present, he is working on one of the highest profile cases in corporate America, defending one of Enron's law firms.
Jamail's association with and dedication to The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a bachelor of arts and a law degree, dates back more than 50 years. He and his wife, Lee, who also attended UT, are major benefactors of the Law School, having created four endowed chairs, an endowed library, and several endowed excellence funds. These include the Joseph D. Jamail Centennial Chair in Law, and the Joseph D. Jamail Center for Legal Research, where Jamail has frequently served as guest lecturer, a role he has enjoyed at top law schools across the country. UT has honored Jamail with the dedication of key sports and recreation facilities, including the Joe Jamail Field (the football playing field at Memorial Stadium) and the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Jamail is also the recipient of many honors and awards, including the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith Jurisprudence Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award of the Houston Texas-Exes Association. In 1996, he was awarded The University of Texas Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The University of Texas School of Law.
Copies of Jamail's book, published by Austin-based Eakin Press, will be available for purchase at the cocktail party from Barnes & Noble.