Thomas R. Harkness

Tom Harkness currently serves on the National Board of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Tom was recently selected as one of the Best Lawyers in Austin in a poll of Austin lawyers conducted by Austin Monthly magazine and as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly magazine. He is also listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America.

Since 1975, Tom has specialized in product liability, natural gas explosions, aviation litigation, and complex general negligence questions, based on his engineering background from the U.S. Air Force Academy and his instrument rating as a pilot. Tom is also on the Interstate Trucking Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Tom has obtained the largest product liability verdict in Travis County, $13,000,000, and has obtained numerous other multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for the firm.

After graduating from the Air Force Academy with honors in 1968, Tom attended Texas Law School, where he graduated with honors, prior to serving as an Air Force JAG in Japan. In January 1976, Tom began private practice as an aviation/product liability lawyer at the prestigious Bronson firm in San Francisco. Two years later, he returned home and has practiced with this firm ever since.

Tom and his wife, Kim, have three children and are dedicated to children’s issues. Tom has served as President of the Board of the Austin Children’s Museum and has coached more baseball and basketball teams than his memory can retain. Kim, an Elder at Westlake Presbyterian Church, serves on the Church Youth Committee, and their children are both active in youth ministry.

Mr. Harkness is licensed to practice before the State Bar of Texas; the State Bar of California; the United States District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas and Northern District of California; and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Return To Top of Page
Return to Main Attorneys Page

Home Page

Firm History

Areas of Practice

Our Attorneys

Frequently Asked Questions

Commitment to Community Service

Information for Referring Attorneys

Informacion en Espanol

Contact Us

Legal Disclaimer:
Please be aware that results obtained depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. Nothing included in this website should be construed as legal advice, nor is it intended to create a lawyer-client relationship.