Brady Sparks
During his 43 years of practicing law, Brady Sparks has tried over 300 jury trials – both civil and criminal – and has been appointed by state and federal courts as mediator in over 450 cases.
He single-handedly won the appeal of his first federal case in the U. S. Supreme Court.
Attorney Sparks is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory for over 20 years, which means he is considered a preeminent lawyer among his peers.
He has strong affiliations with national, state and local bar associations, but practices primarily in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collins counties.
Brady is married to Christie Sparks and they have four children: Abbie, Wheeler, Cameron, and Hannah.
Background
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Colorado College (1966-1970) B.S.
Southern Methodist University (1970-1973) J.D.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Intern, Fort Worth Regional Office, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (1972)
Prosecutor, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office (Henry Wade) (1974-9)
“AV” rated by Martindale Hubble; Board Certified – Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1994)
Admitted to practice in U. S. Supreme Court, 5th and 10th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, Northern District of Florida and the Supreme Court of Texas (1974).
CERTIFICATIONS
State Bar of Texas – Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1994)
American Trial Lawyers Ass’n. (1998)
Licensed Mediator (1989)
Texas District & County Attorneys’ Ass’n. (1974)
COURTS WHERE ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
United States Court of Appeals – 2nd Circuit (2011)
United States Supreme Court (1979)
United States Court of Appeals – 5th Circuit (1983)
United States Court of Appeals – 10th Circuit (1994)
United States District Courts – Northern District of Texas (1979)
United States District Courts – Eastern District of Texas (1988)
United States District Courts – Southern District of Texas (2005)
United States District Courts – Northern District of Florida (2005)
All State Courts in Texas (1973)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS [PAST AND PRESENT]
Master, Judge Paul Brown American Inn of Court
Dallas County Bar Association
Eastern District of Texas Bar Association
Northern District of Texas Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Dallas Bar Association – Judiciary Committee (1996-’98 [Co-Chair, '98;
Chair, Sub-Committee on A/V and Electronics, 1997])
Dallas Bar Association – Courthouse Committee (1995-’96 [Co-Chair '96])
State Bar of Texas – Litigation Section
State Bar of Texas – Criminal Law Section
Association of Trial Lawyers
American Bar Association (various)
Federal Bar Association
Association of Attorney Mediators (N. Texas Chapter) (’89 to present)
State Bar of Texas (’74 to present)
AUTHORSHIPS, INSTITUTES, SEMINARS AND LECTURES
Speaker:
Author, Speaker: “Parallel Proceedings in Broker-Theft Cases,” 19th Annual Meeting, Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (2010)
An evening on the Internet: The Wired Courthouse, Dallas Bar Ass’n., August 27, 1997.
Sex, Lies, Videotape, And Advocacy: Common Ethics Problems In Mediation, Dallas Bar Ass’n., February 29, 1996 and July 25, 1997.
Basic Mediator Training, American Academy of Attorney-Mediators (1996).
Basic Mediator Training, American Academy of Attorney-Mediators (1992).
Court-Annexed Mediation under the Texas ADR Statute, Wichita County Bar Association (1992).
Author:
Principal author, Cause No. 11-0235-cv, Brief of Amicus Curiae The Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, in Support to Defendants-Appellees in Support of Affirmance, UBS Financial Services, Inc., and UBS Securities, LLC, v. West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc., et al., On Appeal from the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (10 Civ. 4298) (U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, No. 11-0235-CV) (filed April 4, 2011) (pending) Download brief
Co-Author, with Seth E. Lipner, “Ex-Employees of Respondents Should Not Serve as Arbitrators,” Vol. 17, No. 4, PIABA BAR JOURNAL (2010)
THE QUESTION BOOK: WHAT 90 EXPERTS RECOMMEND YOU ASK BEFORE YOU…, Chapter 47, Whether to File Suit. (Nelson,1993).
Co-author: with Hon. Nathan Hecht, Associate Justice, Texas Supreme Court, Pre-Trial Motion Practice, Pre-Trial Orders and Scheduling Principles [sub-section on mediation], State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Short Course (1990).
Federal Perjury Laws, Dallas Bar Ass’n Headnotes (1999)
State Perjury Laws, Dallas Bar Ass’n Headnotes (1999)
MISCELLANEOUS
Boston Marathon ’91; 5 other marathons
Marathon PR, 3:18 [Dallas White Rock, '90].
Other equally foolish endurance sports
Active in Civic, Church, and Charitable Organizations
REPORTED CASES
Civil:
Citigroup Global Markets v. Bacon, 562 F.3d 349 (5th Cir. 2009).Download appeal
Vetco Sales, Inc. v. Vinar, et al., 98 Fed.Appx. 264, 2004 WL 179379, 5th Cir. (2004)
Jenevein v. Friedman, 114 S.W.3d 743 (Tex.App. Dallas 2003)
Viazis v. American Ass’n of Orthodontists, 314 F.3d 758, 2002-2 Trade Cases P73,907, 60 Fed.R.Evid.Serv. 428, 5th Cir. [Tex] (2002)
Viazis v. American Ass’n of Orthodontists, 182 F.Supp.2d 552, 2001-2 Trade Cases P73,455, E.D. Tex. (2001)
Edison v. Beta Financial Corp., 994 S.W.2d 827, Tex.App.-Eastland (1999)
Boggan v. Data Systems Network Corp., 969 F.2d 149 (5th Cir. [E.D.Tex.] 1992);
Pinter v. Dahl, 486 U.S. 622, 108 S.Ct. 2063, (U.S. [Tex.] 1988);
Pinter v. Dahl, 787 F.2d 985 (5th Cir. [Tex.] 1986);
Pinter v. Dahl, 794 F.2d 1016 (5th Cir. [Tex.] 1986);
Harris Data Communications, Inc. V. Dellana, 680 S.W.2d 641 (Tex.Civ.App. 1984).
Criminal:
Garrett v. U.S., 533 U.S. 917, 121 S.Ct. 2523 (2001)
U.S. v. Garrett, 250 F.3d 745 (5th Cir. [Tex] (2001)
U.S. v. Garrett, 238 F.3d 293 (5th Cir. [Tex] (2000)
Turner v. U.S., 1 F.3d 901 (10th Cir. [Kan.] 1995);
U.S. v. Turner, 44 F.3d 900, 10th Cir. [Kan.] (1995)
U.S. v. Turner, 1994 WL 409632, D.Kan. (1994)
Smith v. State, 772 S.W.2d 946 (Tex.App. – Dallas 1989);
Taylor v. State, 599 S.W.2d 831 (Tex.Cr.App. 1980);
Todd v. State, 598 S.W.2d 286; (Tex.Civ. App. 1980);
Wrenn v. State, 597 S.W.2d 369 (Tex.Cr.App. 1980);
Rogers v. State, 550 S.W.2d 78 (Tex.Cr.App., 1977);
Williams v. State, 547 S.W.2d 18 (Tex.Cr.App. 1977);
Powell v. State, 541 S.W.2d 432 (Tex.Cr.App. 1976).
Other Career Milestones
300 + Jury Trials
450 + Mediations
Successful Appellant, U.S. Supreme Court (1988)
Felony Court Chief Prosecutor under Henry Wade (1977-79)
Law Intern, U.S. Securities & Exch. Comm’n., (Ft. Worth) (1972)