Christopher J. Simmons, partner, Deans & Lyons

Experience:

• Deans & Lyons, 2014-present
• Gruber Hurst Johansen Hail Shank, 2010-2014
• Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, 2008-2010

Education:

• Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 2008
• Texas A&M University, 2004

What drew you to a career in law?

As a high school student, I was already interested in law and as a result I was invited to sit on a student panel that heard cases involving minors who were charged with a misdemeanor. The role of the panel was to evaluate the alleged conduct and make punishment recommendations to the deciding authority. Through this, I realized that a career in law carried a great deal of responsibility and would provide an opportunity to have a meaningful and positive influence on the lives of others. My studies as an undergraduate served to reinforce the realization that my particular interests and abilities could be well-suited for a career as a lawyer.

Have you set a specific goal that you want to achieve in the next year?

I am currently representing individuals who have either personally been severely injured or lost a loved one in a catastrophic event. My goal is to help put them in the position where they can live the rest of their lives knowing that they will have the financial means to pursue a full life and/or the means to honor the memory of their lost loved one, while also holding the responsible entities/individuals accountable to those who have suffered life-altering events and thereby seek to prevent others from suffering the same fate in the future.

What has been your proudest career moment and your biggest hurdle?

I have been very fortunate so far in my career, however, there was a time several years ago when I began to experience “lawyer burnout” and I began to question my chosen career path. After meeting with various legal and personal mentors, I realized that it was not being a lawyer that was at issue. It was discovering what “type” of lawyer I wanted to become. Through much thought and reflection, I determined that my fulfillment would come from being a trial lawyer who predominantly represents plaintiffs, such as a family who had been defrauded by an adoption agency.

This agency had lied to the family about the steps it would take to ensure that the birthmother would submit to routine prenatal care to ensure her health and that of the unborn child. Because the adoption agency failed to perform any of the services for which it charged, and which it represented it had performed/was performing, the birthmother was able to consume hard drugs throughout the course of the pregnancy. Her drug use resulted in severe health consequences for the child. We were able to secure a multi-million dollar trial verdict on behalf of the family. Although the final judgement was reduced slightly, it assured that the family would be able to cover the costs of future treatment of their adopted child. The rogue adoption agency also was shut down as a result of the verdict.

Coincidentally, during the course of this two-week trial, my wife gave birth to our second son. I will never forget the sense of accomplishment I felt when we obtained a verdict in our client's favor in order to protect a child, knowing that I had just welcomed my own son into the world.

Where do you fit on a 1-10 work-life balance scale with 10 being nirvana? Please explain.

It depends on when you ask me. As a trial lawyer, I am comfortable with the knowledge that there will be times when the vast majority of my waking hours are spent preparing for case-specific tasks (e.g. depositions, hearings, trial, etc.) In those times, I am willing to make some sacrifices in order to be in a position to achieve the best result for my client. I have an amazing and supportive spouse who also understands this. That being said, it is important to me to take advantage of the times between the “1s” and make those times “10s”. I heard an analogy years ago about a tank of gasoline that explains this. There will be times that you have to push the engine hard, consuming your fuel at a rapid pace. To ensure that you aren't left dry, the key is to refill the tank as soon as possible and, over time, try to ensure that the tank remains closer to “full” (i.e., you are devoting time to your spouse, kids, family, and personal relationships/pursuits) than “empty.” I like to think that if you average it out, I stay closer to “10” than to “1.”

What is the top quality that you've used to succeed in the profession?

Honesty. Hands down. As a trial lawyer, you have to be honest with your clients, with opposing counsel, with the judge, and with jurors. Most importantly, you have to be honest with yourself. If you are a fraud, you will be found out.

Who is your favorite mentor and why?

I have been privileged to work with some of the finest trial lawyers in the state of Texas. These lawyers have invested the time, energy, and resources necessary to enable me to, I hope, follow in their footsteps. These lawyers taught me the value of hard work, thoughtful/intentional preparation, interacting with my peers in a respectful and civil manner, interacting with my clients in an honest and trust building manner, and representing the Dallas (and Texas) Bar in a manner that is consistent with its core values.

However, while these attorneys have proven invaluable to my career progression, my first – and most important – mentor is my dad.

Growing up, my dad was one of my closest friends and as I have become an adult, with my own children, I continue to develop a deeper respect for the love, attention, time, and commitment that he displayed to me my entire life. In fairness, my mom is right there with him – she exhibited the same qualities and complimented my dad by showing an unmatched compassion for me, my siblings, and everyone else who was lucky enough to cross her path. They are 1A and 1B. I wouldn't be the lawyer I am today without those qualities.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

My dad told me: “Have integrity. Integrity isn't about who you are when other people are watching. It's about who you are when no one is watching.” I think about that often and try to live in a way that displays conviction consistent with that advice.

What trends are you observing in the profession that you're excited about?

I'm noticing a greater emphasis on lawyer health and, specifically, mental health. This is a very demanding profession with the ability to drain you mentally, emotionally, and physically. I am seeing more senior bar members encouraging younger members to approach the practice of law as a marathon, not a sprint. I am optimistic that we will see a decline in the number of cases where a lawyer has burned out, developed mental/emotional issues, developed substance abuse problems, achieved professional “success” at the expense of personal failure, etc.

What is the greatest challenge you see for the legal profession?

Lawyers are now more accessible to their clients than ever before. As a result, lawyers feel the pressure to be “on” practically all the time. Technological advances over the past decade have resulted in a blurring of the lines between time when you are “working” and time when you are “offline.” Now, clients know that you are able to review and respond to communications at all hours of the day, and many expect you to do just that. As a result, lawyers need to be mindful that “more does not equal better.” If unchecked, this can lead to a host of negative issues and open the door to many destructive habits.