Levi G. McCathern, II

Partner

Biography

McCathern Founding Partner Levi G. McCathern II is widely recognized as one of the premier litigation lawyers in Texas. Specializing in catastrophic damage litigation, he is frequently summoned to defend complex, high-damage claims, including all types of commercial litigation. Perhaps above all, Levi is known for his unwavering dedication to his clients and his embodiment of the firm’s mission of Improving People’s Lives.

Levi has served as lead counsel for numerous jury trials and is regularly called upon to provide legal consultation to companies throughout the country. In addition, Levi is experienced with reputation management and crisis communications arising from these challenging matters. He is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – a double certification held by fewer than 50 of the 110,000 attorneys licensed to practice in Texas.

Levi’s vast experience and legal expertise has earned the trust of a multitude of clients. He serves as primary trial counsel for the Dallas Cowboys Football Club, Ltd. and the Jerry Jones Family and their related entities, and he is panel counsel for some of the world’s largest companies in the specialty areas of Business & Commercial Litigation, Directors & Officers Liability, Employment Law, Advertising Injury, and more. Levi brings an “everyman” perspective to his practice that juries love and is seldom found in Texas litigation. His strength is the same both in and out of the courtroom – relating to all people, from blue collar workers to athletes, rock stars, and CEOs.

In some instances, Levi has been called upon to represent his clients’ interests in the media. He has been interviewed and quoted by many leading media organizations, including CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, TMZ, The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas Business Journal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Austin American-Statesmen, and The Houston Chronicle.

Levi is licensed to practice in Texas and New York, and he is admitted for practice in all Texas state and federal district courts, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, all state courts in New York, and all federal district courts of Arkansas.

Rising from Humble Roots

Levi was born in the small Texas Panhandle town of Perryton and grew up in Snyder, Texas. He went on to enroll at Baylor University and obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990, graduating magna cum laude and being selected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. In 1993, he earned a Juris Doctorate from Baylor University, where he became a member of the Order of Barristers. While in law school, Levi served as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Travis, Texas. Levi was licensed to practice law in Texas in 1993, beginning his career as an associate with Godwin & Carlton, P.C. in Dallas. In less than 5 years, he was named as the youngest shareholder in the firm’s history. On October 1, 1998, Levi founded McCathern Wadlington Mooty, LLP, the precursor to today’s firm.

Recognition of Outstanding Legal Counsel

Levi McCathern has been named to Super Lawyers’ coveted group of elite practitioners in Texas 16 times, achieving this recognition in 2003 and 2004 and every year from 2008 through 2023. The annual Texas Super Lawyers list, designed to identify the state’s top attorneys, is based on a statewide survey of attorneys, independent research, and evaluation of candidates.

Levi was selected as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine for Business/Commercial Litigation in 2014 & 2016 and for General Corporate Law in 2012. Levi was listed by Best Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Litigation – Labor and Employment in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in 2024. Martindale-Hubbell recognizes Levi as AV Preeminent, their highest level of peer rating for professional excellence. He is also listed as one of America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators, an invitation-only honor bestowed upon trial attorneys with successful experience in high-stakes business litigation matters.