HIRED
June 2004

Personal Info
Dal is a true Texan, born and raised, with a history and personality as diverse as the state's expansive landscape. He has spent most of his life in San Antonio, but has also traveled enough to pick up bits of life experience from his time in the barren landscape of West Texas and among the hills of Travis County.

He earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and his interest in people led him through the UT law program. After becoming licensed to practice law in November of 2003, Dal moved to Temple to start work with a firm handling family, personal injury and criminal cases. After only three months away, Austin called him home. Once here, Dal found that Sumpter and González's focus on social justice and client relationships fit well with his interests. He quickly made himself an indispensable member of the S&G team.

Law, however, is not Dal's first career. In fact, it is his sixth—although he admits to not keeping a close count. Before practicing law he built cabinets, managed a business, brokered stocks, built high performance Porsche engines, and drew personal portraits. He displays an intense focus in the court room, and yet seems to approach life with a curiosity that pulls him in many directions, from casually learning portraiture by watching street artists to intensely studying automotive mechanics over the course of a lifetime.

Dal's maturity and experience imbue him with a calm attitude. His relaxed manner enables him to handle any situation with care and an undaunted sense of humor, both of which manifest themselves professionally to make him a masterful negotiator and a successful trial lawyer. If provoked he will joke about being the quickest draw in Texas, having once had a jury return after only 20 minutes of deliberation with a decision of Not Guilty. More recently he won a DWI case, which carries extra significance because it was the first case he tried with his fiancé and fellow attorney Kris Davis-Jones. The trial was an important milestone in their relationship, which began in April of 2005 while both were in jail. “We were working,” Dal always adds.

When not working, he enjoys cooking, eating, and the occasional jog. He also has a strong interest in a characteristically wide variety of music, ranging from Bach to The Beatles, along with Texas favorite Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band. He has one step-son, Davis, who is currently attending Texas Tech in Lubbock. When asked what potential clients should know about him, he says, “Well, I'm a nice guy,” which anyone in the office will tell you is an understatement.