David L. LeBas

Areas of Practice

Agriculture
Construction
Commercial
Litigation

Certifications & Specialties

Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1992

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1982
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas

Education

The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
J.D. – 1982
Law Review: American Journal of Criminal Law, 1981 – 1982

University of Texas, Austin, Texas
B.A. – 1979
Major: Economics
Major: Government

Published Works

1. The Livestock Dealer Trust Amendment To The Packers And Stockyards Act (State Bar of Texas, 14th Annual John Huffaker Agricultural Law Seminar, 2021)
2. ​Texas Wildlife Management and Agricultural Tax Valuation, Top Ten Things An Agricultural Attorney Should Know, 2018 Edition
3. The Packers and Stockyards Statutory Trust and the Unpaid Cattle Supplier (State Bar of Texas, 13^th Annual John Huffaker Agricultural Law Course, Chapter 9)
4. AG Law in the Field with Tiffany Lashmet, Texas Agricultural Liens
5. Cattle Deals Gone Bad, presented by David LeBas to Judges attending the 32nd Annual Advanced Bankruptcy Seminar - State Bar of Oklahoma (December 2017)
6. The Expanding Scope of the Sham Contract Statute (Construction Law Journal, Vol. 12, No. 2 (2016))
7. National Editor, Construction Law Compendium: A State by State Analysis, ALFA International (2012 – 2016)
8. Top Ten Things AG Lawyers Should Know (co-authored with John Huffaker), State Bar of Texas, 2014 - 2016​
9. Litigation and Arbitration of Mechanics’ Lien Claims (Lorman, 2014)
10. Texas Agricultural Law and the Uniform Commercial Code (Texas A&M School of Law Agricultural Law Course 2014)
11. The Train is Off the Tracks; Getting Arbitration Back to the Future (ALFA International Construction Law Seminar, 2014)
12. Principles of Feedyard Lending and Marketing (co-authored with John Massouh) (Texas Cattle Feeders Association, 2013)
13. Livestock Owner’s Liens (American Agricultural Law Journal June 2011)
14. Common Legal Issues in the Texas Beef Cattle Industry (co-authored with John Huffaker) Texas Bar Journal, May 2010
15. Where’s the Beef? Legal Foundations in Texas Cattle Marketing and Lending for 4th Annual Agricultural Law Conference (co-authored with John Huffaker), May 20-21, 2010
16. Recovering Expert Witness Fees and Taxable Court Costs in State and Federal Court, State Bar of Texas 2010
17. Conference on Strategies for Damages and Attorney Fees Litigation and Arbitration of Mechanics' Lien Claims, March 2009
18. Marketing and Lending Problems in Cattle Wrecks, Farm, Ranch and Agri-Business Bankruptcy Institute, 2008
19. Cattle Marketing and Lending, State Bar of Texas Agricultural Law Course, 2008
20. Texas Cattle Law, Justice Court Judges Association of Texas Seminar, 2007
21. Professional Liability Actions Against Design Professionals, 2006
22. Current and Emerging Theories of Recovery for Breaches of Fiduciary Duties, Texas Bankers Association, 2005
23. Livestock Law Update, Agricultural Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, 2005
24. OCIPs, Wrap-Ups and Workers’ Compensation, Annual Meeting of the Construction Law Section, State Bar of Texas, 2004
25. Temporary Workers and Protection from Liability Under the Exclusive Remedy Provision of the Texas Worker’s Compensation Act, 16th Annual Construction Law Conference, State Bar of Texas, 2003
26. Contractual and Involuntary Agricultural Liens, Agricultural Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, 2003
27. Perfection Rules Changed Under Revised Article 9, Texas Bankers Journal, 2001
28. Lenders’ Laws and Liabilities: The New Uniform Commercial Code, Texas Cattle Feeders’ Association Seminar, 2001
29. Creating and Protecting Agricultural Liens, Texas Association of Bank Counsel Annual Convention, 2000
30. Risks to Lenders in the Use of Forward Contracts by Borrowers, Texas Tech Agricultural Lending School, 1999
31. Creating and Protecting Agricultural Loans, Agricultural Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, 1999
32. Texas Livestock Law, Agricultural Law Seminar, State Bar of Texas, 1998

Representative Cases

Bonsmara Nat. Beef Co., LLC v. Hart of Tex. Cattle Feeders, LLC, 603 S.W.3d 385 (Tex. 2020)
​L & S Meats, LLC v. USA Feedyard, LP, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 590, 2020 WL 371726 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2020, pet. denied).
Morrison v. W. Builders of Amarillo, Inc., 555 F.3d 473 (5th Cir. 2009)
Rogers v Ardella Veigel Inter Vivos Trust No. 2, 162 S.W. 3d 281 (Tex. App. Amarillo 2005)
T.C. Petroleum, Inc. v. Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. (2004)
Haley v. GPM Gas Corp., 80 S.W. 3d 114 (Tex. App. Amarillo 2002)
Continental Grain Co. v. Brandenburg, 587 N.W. 2d 196 (S.D.1998)
Williams v. Gaines, 943 S.W.2d 185 (Tex. App. Amarillo 1997)
Continental Grain Co. v. Heritage Bank, 548 N.W.2d 507 (S.D. 1996)
Marklyn Controls Supply v.Pall Trinity Micro Corp. By and Through Pall Corp., 862 F. Supp. 140 (W.D. Tex. 1994)
Texas Beef Cattle Co. v. Green, 860 S.W.2d 722 (Tex. App. Amarillo 1993)
In re Boyd Elevator, Inc., 63 B.R. 689 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 1986)

Representative Clients

American Bank of Commerce
Cactus Feeders, Inc.
Central Texas Highway Constructors, L.L.C.
Ferrovial Agroman
Friona Industries, L P
JBS USA Holdings, Inc
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Western Builders of Amarillo, Inc.
Zachry Construction Corporation

Honors and Awards

2016 Excellence in Agricultural Law Award, American Agricultural Law Association
Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)
Texas Super Lawyer 2018 - 2019
Texas Young Lawyer Association (Director)
Texas State Bar Agricultural Law Committee (Chair)

Past Employment Positions

Gibson, Ochsner & Adkins, Partner, 1982 – 2003
Gwinn & Roby, Partner, 2003 – 2007