Cody L. Towns
Partner
P: 214.981.3821
vCard: Cody L. Towns
Commercial and Employment Litigation
Recognized in 2005 and 2007 as a "Rising Star" by Texas Monthly, Cody Towns' practice focuses on employment law and commercial litigation, including business torts, class actions and commercial contract disputes. He provides complete business litigation services to his clients in matters ranging from representation before state and federal agencies to prosecuting and defending claims in business fraud, contract, antitrust and negligence claims at trial. He has represented clients in several class action lawsuits.
Mr. Towns has extensive experience representing both claimants and respondents in matters regarding the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to investment broker conduct and contracts. His clients in this area have included a Fortune 50 investment firm, investment brokers and individual investment customers.
Mr. Towns provides clients with employment law counsel from training seminars, assistance in employee evaluation or termination procedures, investigative responses and, if necessary, through trial. He has a thorough understanding of employee noncompete, nonsolicitation and trade secret law as well as state and federal discrimination laws.
Representative trials and arbitrations
Cody Towns is an experienced trial lawyer in both the court and arbitration arenas. He has tried numerous cases in commercial and employment disputes. Those cases include:
August 2007 - Mr. Towns successfully defended an investment broker against breach of contract, trade secret and noncompete claims brought by one of the largest investment firms in the Country, before a National Association of Stock Dealers arbitration panel. Towns convinced the arbitration panel to find that the employment agreement used throughout the nation was invalid in Texas.
June 2007 - Representing one of the two largest distributors of DVD movies in America, Towns successfully obtained a jury verdict in excess of $1.8 million in a breach of contract and fraud case against a large video retailer operating in three states.
June 2006 - Defending a large defense contractor at trial for breach of contract, fraud and employment claims related to contract security force deployment in Iraq, Towns secured a directed verdict in favor of his client at the close of Plaintiff's case. Towns not only convinced the Court to rule against Plaintiff on all claims, but also awarded all court costs to Mr. Towns' client.
July 2005 - Cody Towns and Mike Lynn obtained a jury verdict in favor of their client in excess of $4 million on claims of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and breach of contract in federal court in Dallas.
Education and background
Mr. Towns began his career as a federal law clerk to the Honorable Judge Robin J. Cauthron in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. He then worked in the employment and litigation sections of a large firm before joining Lynn Tillotson Pinker & Cox in 2001.
Born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1971, Mr. Towns graduated with Honors from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1998, where he was a member of the Oklahoma Law Review and a Dean's Scholar. While maintaining high academic achievement, Towns also began honing his trial techniques and was selected as a member of the National Trial Team as well as given an award for the highest achievement in Trial Skills. During his final year at law school, Mr. Towns served as a student law clerk to the Honorable Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Marion Opala.
admissions
Towns is admitted to practice before all courts in Texas and Oklahoma, as well as the United States Supreme Court; the U.S. Courts of Appeals, Fifth and Tenth Circuits; and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. Additionally, he has been admitted pro hac vice to represent clients in numerous jurisdictions such as Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Publications/Lectures
Contributing editor, "Covenants Non-Compete: A State-by-State Survey", published annually by BNA books.
Contributing editor, "Employee Duty of Loyalty: A State-by-State Survey", published annually by BNA books.
Contributing editor, "Trade Secrets: A State-by-State Survey", published annually by BNA books.
Contributing editor, "American Bar Association Antitrust Model Jury Instructions."
Additionally, Mr. Towns has given a number of seminar lectures on employment law and litigation issues.
Alcatel , Samsung Settle Suit: No terms disclosed in trade secrets case
Alcatel USA Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. settled their legal disputes Wednesday, ending a high-profile, four-year court battle between the Dallas-area branches of the two international technology companies.
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