Chairman and CEO, Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
W. Mike Baggett has been Chairman and CEO of the law firm of Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. since 1992. The firm has more than 300 attorneys in 7 cities.
Mr. Baggett is Board Certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 1983). He specializes in complex litigation and workout matters, representing both sides of the docket. He was lead counsel for an insured chemical company which recovered property damage and business interruption in excess of $505 million for destruction of a chemical plant and in excess of $12 million for bad faith handling of the claim. He was lead counsel for Texas’ largest banking industry group, Texas Bankers Association, in its successful declaratory judgment holding that Texas banks may sell annuities. He represented D/FW International Airport in connection with its $2.5 billion expansion, represented the Dallas Cowboys in their efforts to finance and build a new stadium, and was independent counsel to the Chairman of the FDIC in connection with appeal of a $72 million federal district court sanctions award against the FDIC.
His involvement in professional organizations, both past and present, include President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Bar Association; Chairman, Trustee and Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation; Board of Directors and Executive Committee, State Bar of Texas; Board Member and Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; Fellow, American Bar Foundation; Chair, Texas Supreme Court Home Equity Loan Rules Task Force; Chair, Texas Supreme Court Reverse Mortgage Rules Task Force; Fellow and Vice Chair, The Center for American and International Law; and Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates.
Mr. Baggett has been recognized in Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Litigation; was named one of the Best Lawyers in America, one of the Top 10 Business Litigators in Dallas/Ft. Worth (Dallas Bus. Journal), Super Lawyers / Top 100 Lawyers in Dallas/Ft. Worth ( Tex. Monthly), and Best Lawyers (D Magazine). He was the recipient of the Texas Aggie Lawyer of the Year in 2004 (Texas Aggie Bar Assn.), and the Judge Sam Williams Bar Leadership Award in 2005 (State Bar of Texas).
He is a well known author and has spoken on more than 100 occasions at judicial conferences, bar associations, law schools, and trade and industry groups. He is author of Texas Foreclosure: Law and Practice, Texas Practice Series, Vol. 15 (Shepard’s/McGraw Hill, 1984; West Group, 2nd Edition 2001), and co-author of Real Estate Litigation, Texas Practice Guide (West, 2002).
Mr. Baggett has for many years been involved in civic affairs. Some examples, both past and present, are Director and Exec. Comm., Greater Dallas Chamber; Director, Dallas Citizens Council; Chairman and CEO, Cotton Bowl Athletic Assn.; Director, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau; Board Member, TX Higher Education Coordinating Board; President and Director, Texas A&M Assn. of Former Students; Chairman and Trustee, Texas A&M Foundation; President, Baylor University Law School Alumni Association; and President, Texas Aggie Bar Association.
He graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Accounting in 1968 (Distinguished Alumni, 1998); was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army 1968-1970 (Bronze Star Award for Viet Nam service, 1970), earned his law degree at Baylor Law School (cum laude) in 1973, and clerked for Judge Price Daniel, Texas Supreme Court, 1973-1974.
For more information, contact NCPA public affairs at (800) 859-1154 or media@ncpathinktank.org.