Jenny Martinez Moves to Dallas Trial Firm Munck Wilson Mandala

Dallas litigator Jenny Martinez has joined Munck Wilson Mandala as a senior partner in the complex commercial litigation section, coming from Dallas trial firm Godwin Bowman & Martinez, where she was a name partner.

Martinez said she was attracted to Munck Wilson's success at complex litigation and the firm's commitment to diversity.

She said she has known Bill Munck, managing partner of 65-lawyer Munck Wilson for several years, and they reconnected recently when he asked her to participate in a panel discussion at S.H.E. Summit, a women's empowerment event in Dallas the firm helped sponsor.

“That led to conversations. The firm is really committed to diversity and inclusiveness,” Martinez said.

Munck said he was aware of Martinez's work on some big-ticket litigation at her old firm — she was part of team representing Houston-based Halliburton in environmental litigation stemming from the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico — and has wanted to recruit her for several years.

He said the firm is adding senior trial attorneys, and Martinez not only has a 20-year track record of high-stakes litigation but will also mentor younger women partners and associates at the firm.

“She's another great trial lawyer. The fact that she's going to provide leadership to the younger women in the firm is a bonus to us and a bonus to the firm. We needed that senior leadership,” Munck said, adding that Martinez has handled big litigation while rearing children as a single parent.

Munck Wilson, founded two decades ago as a high-tech litigation firm, was a finalist in 2018 for Texas Lawyer's Litigation Department of the Year. The firm does patent infringement, trade secret, employment, technology, securities construction and oil and gas disputes litigation.

Martinez declined to identify clients but said her goal is to help Munck Wilson build its commercial litigation practice.

“They presented me with an opportunity I could not pass up,” she said.

Don Godwin, founder of the firm now known as Godwin Bowman, said Martinez was a very good backup lawyer to him during the 12 years he worked with her. “She always did a good job and I always found her a pleasure to work with. She wants to have an opportunity to go with a group where she will help to build a commercial litigation section.”

Martinez joined Godwin's firm in 2006. She became a name partner in 2016.