
Dana Ruth Allison
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Texas Supreme Court, Licensed to practice law, 1986
- The Allison Law Firm; Founding Partner and Partner, 1990
- Partner with Guy H. Allison, 1990 – 2010
- Partner with Charles Fincher, 2010 – present
- Allison, Chavez, and Sweetman; Associate, 1986 – 1989
- Earlier careers with Intel Corporation, Marketing and Technical Support, 1978 – 1983, and Austin ISD (1977 – 1978) and Round Rock ISD (Spring 1977), Math Teacher
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
- Fellow, 2003 – present
- First female litigator, from Texas, to be inducted
- Board of Directors, 2008 – 2014
- International Relations Committee, 2007 – 2009
- International Society of Barristers (ISOB)
- Fellow, 1996 – present
- First female litigator, from Texas, to be inducted
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Member, 2004 – present
- Founder, Rio Grande Valley Chapter of ABOTA, 2006
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA)
- Director and Sustaining Member, 1988 – 2010
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Fellow, 1998 – present
- Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline
- Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, 1995
- American Association of Justice (AAJ)
- Governor, 1992 – 1994
- Sustaining Member, 1987 – present
- Texas Rules of Evidence/Civil Committee
- Vice-Chairman, 1991 – 1994
- Rio Grande Valley Trial Lawyers
- President, 1990 – 1993
- American Bar Association; Member, 1986 – present
- State Bar of Texas; Member, 1986 – present
- Cameron County Bar Association; Member, 1986 – present
- Hidalgo County Bar Association; Member, 1986 – present
- Admitted to practice in all Texas State Courts and U.S. District Courts, Southern District, Northern District and U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; 1986 – present
EDUCATION
- ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
- J.D. with distinction, Valedictorian, 1986
- Honors, Awards, and Competitions
- The Order of Barristers, 1985
- The John M. Harlan Society, 1986
- American Jurisprudence Awards in Commercial Paper, Procedure II, Remedies, Property, and Wills & Estates (1983 – 1986)
- St. Mary’s and State Moot Court Competitions, Winner 1985
- Ernest A. Raba Writing Competition, Best Brief, 1983
- Phi Delta Phi, 1984
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, 1985
- Dean’s List, 1983 – 1986
- Research
- Research Assistant, Texas Rules of Evidence, a textbook by Professor Thomas Black, Professor at St. Mary’s University of Law
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, EXETER, ENGLAND, SUMMER 1985
- SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, B.A.
- Magna Cum Laude, 1977
- Degrees
- Bachelor of Arts, Major in Humanistic Psychology with Minors in Mathematics and Education
- Honors and Awards
- Psi Chi, Honors Society for Psychology Majors
- Charter Member, 1974
- Alpha Chi, Member
- Dean’s List, Southwestern University, 1973 – 1977
- Psi Chi, Honors Society for Psychology Majors
- HIGH SCHOOL
- Drop out 1973 (Age 16)
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
- Licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas, 1986
- Admitted to practice in all Texas State Courts and U.S. District Court, Southern District, Northern District and U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; 1987 – present
- Texas Lifetime Teacher’s Certificate, 1977
- Private Pilot’s License, single engine, 1986
INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
- Fellow, 2003 – present
- First female litigator, from Texas, to be inducted
- Board of Directors, 2008 – 2014
- International Relations Committee, 2007 – 2009
- International Society of Barristers (ISOB)
- Fellow, 1996 – present
- First female litigator, from Texas, to be inducted
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Member, 2004 – present
- Founder, Rio Grande Valley Chapter of ABOTA, 2006
LECTURES, GUEST PROFESSOR, AND PUBLICATIONS
- Author and Participant, ABOTA’s Masters in Trial, San Antonio, Texas, 2015
- Guest Professor with Guy Allison, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, 2004 – 2006
- Author, Attorney Liability for Inadequate Settlement, published in Texas Personal Injury Law Reporter, Butterworth Legal Publishers, Austin, Texas
- Author and speaker: Variety of Trial Lawyer topics in dozens of Texas State Bar and TTLA Seminars, 1989 – 2017
UNIQUE LICENSES AND EXPERIENCES
- High School Drop-Out, 1973 (age 16)
- Private Pilot’s License, single engine, 1986
- Represented Playboy Enterprises, 1998 – 2012
- Midsummer Night’s Dream Party, Playboy Mansion, August 2003 by Invitation
- Jogging – 4 miles a day with Charles Fincher, law and life partner
- Owner and operator of Farasi Farm, a horse farm, www.FarasiFarm.com, 1996 – present
- Animal Rescue – Lifetime Involvement
- Owner of 18 dogs, 25+ cats, and 10 horses
- Pro Bono work for Friends of Animal Rescue