Clients turn to trial lawyer Victor Vital to handle high-profile and high-stakes jury trials of virtually all types. He remains dedicated to distinguishing himself as a top trial lawyer through his experience around the country and his likability and relatability to judges and juries alike.
Victor D. Vital
Office Managing Partner
Victor D. Vital
Office Managing Partner
Clients turn to trial lawyer Victor Vital to handle high-profile and high-stakes jury trials of virtually all types. He remains dedicated to distinguishing himself as a top trial lawyer through his experience around the country and his likability and relatability to judges and juries alike.
- OVERVIEW
- EXPERIENCE
- EXPERIENCE
- INSIGHTS & EVENTS
Victor’s ability to absorb complex subject matter quickly and then package and present it persuasively to diverse juries makes him suitable for virtually any high-stakes trial case in major U.S. metropolitan areas. Having tried more than 100 cases in two decades of practice, Victor seeks to remain ever prepared for jury trials of various types.
Victor is widely recognized for his trial experience. He is ranked by Chambers USA in which it is reported that he “produces exceptional results and is a true trial lawyer.” "He is very good on his feet. He is an outstanding trial lawyer who loves being in the courtroom and is also effective in his tactics."
Because of his broad trial experience, clients and lawyers turn to Victor regardless of subject matter when they need a trial lawyer for their important cases. His trial experience ranges from patent litigation, unfair competition, contract disputes, business tort cases, and high net worth divorce cases to trade secret and non-compete litigation, real estate disputes, products liability matters, catastrophic injury and death cases, consumer fraud matters, and white-collar criminal matters. Beyond this experience, Victor has successfully resolved – through settlement and dismissal – all types of complex civil litigation matters. Moreover, he has secured favorable plea deals and indictment declinations in a range of white-collar criminal matters including wire fraud and mail fraud, tax evasion, securities fraud, Ponzi cases, and money laundering.
Victor was inducted into the Texas Lawyer Verdicts Hall of Fame for securing a number one jury verdict – the largest employment verdict in Texas – for a corporate plaintiff in a complicated noncompete/trade secrets matter. He has also secured a number one verdict in the fraud category in the Texas Lawyer Top Texas Verdicts & Settlements, which also made the National Law Journal Top 100 list, with a jury verdict of nearly $34 million (including $16 million in punitive damages) in a partnership dispute involving claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. In 2022, one of Victor’s defense verdicts was listed in the Courtroom View Network’s list of Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts of 2022.Victor is often brought onboard on the eve of trial – in the final months or even weeks leading up to trial – because of his deep trial experience. Chambers USA further notes, "He stands out as someone who can jump in, understand the issues, think creatively and gain trust in a short period of time." Victor is a prolific author and invited lecturer and educator on trial issues. He also teaches trial practice techniques and provides commentary on major trials and cases in the media.
Previously, Victor served as a partner in other national and international law firms and prosecuted cases in a prominent district attorney’s office.
Professional and Community Involvement
Member, American Law Institute
Member, American Bar Association
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, The Trial Law Institute
Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Senior fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Chair, Dallas Education Foundation
Leadership Dallas, 2014 Class
Honors
Chambers USA, 2021-2022
The Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2023
Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2018, 2020, 2021
Texas Lawyer, Texas Trailblazers, 2020
Franchise Times Legal Eagle, 2019-2020
Dallas Super Lawyers, 2005-2020; Rising Star, 2004 and 2005
Dallas Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award, 2015
National Association of Distinguished Counsel Nation’s Top Attorneys (Top One Percent), 2015
Litigation Counsel of America Peter Perlman Service Award, 2013
- Defended a medical device company in a jury trial lasting more than three weeks and helped secure a complete defense verdict against plaintiff’s products liability claims seeking in excess of $28 million. The Courtroom View Network listed this verdict in its Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts of 2022.
- Represented a commercial plaintiff in a jury trial on claims of breach of contract, fraud, and tortious interference and helped secure a jury verdict for the client.
- Represented a health care company in a case involving complex employment and business disputes in a Texas county court on claims of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of noncompetition covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, conspiracy and statutory theft. The health care company client prevailed, securing a multimillion-dollar jury verdict that was listed in the Texas Lawyer Verdicts Hall of Fame.*
- Represented two entrepreneurs in a fraud case against two other individuals involved in the VideoGames YouTube channel. Our clients alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, conspiracy and breach of contract concerning the formation and operation of the VideoGames YouTube channel. The North Texas federal jury decided in favor of our clients and awarded nearly $34 million, which included $16 million in punitive damages. The jury determined that the partnership existed and also found that our clients owned 60 percent of the partnership. The case was tried in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
- Represented an education-industry client claiming trademark infringement in a jury trial and secured a jury verdict of trademark infringement for the client
- Represented a health care company and company chairman/CEO who secured a take-nothing jury verdict against civil fraud and contract claims arising from a hospital asset purchase transaction. The client also secured a favorable jury verdict on a civil wiretapping counterclaim*
- Represented a national homebuilder who secured a defense verdict from a federal court jury following a two-week jury trial of an employment dispute involving allegations of non-compete violations, misappropriation of trade secrets and defamation*
- Represented a national bank who secured a defense judgment after a week-long bench trial of a dispute involving a borrower’s claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, deceptive trade practices and other alleged statutory violations concerning the marketing and sale of a complex interest-rate swap*
- Represented a single-purpose investment venture who secured a revocation of discharge judgment and a monetary award of $5.8 million after a week-long bench trial of a bankruptcy adversary proceeding involving a complex fraud, claims of alter ego and veil piercing theories*
- Represented an individual in a high-net-worth divorce matter and prevailed in a bench trial, securing a favorable judgment establishing the enforceability of a post-nuptial property agreement
- Defended a pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement case, coming in on the eve of jury trial and securing a jury verdict in the damages range proffered by the defense’s patent-damages expert
- Represented an individual in a white collar criminal matter (tax evasion) and preserved error during the jury trial of the matter, resulting in a reversal for the client by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Represented a national bank in a complex bench trial of a tortious interference claim brought against the bank by a borrower in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding. The bank secured a defense judgment.*
- Represented a Dallas City Council member before the city's Ethics Advisory Commission and secured an exoneration after an evidentiary trial before the commission
- Represented a Dallas-based company in an arbitration matter involving misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, and breach of contract, and, following final hearing of the matter, secured a multimillion dollar award for the client
- Represented an entertainment client and secured a dismissal, immediately before jury selection, of a criminal charge alleging that an expensive piece of costume jewelry made for an album cover ("Brass Knuckles," Nelly) was a "prohibited weapon" and restored the forfeited jewelry to the client Nelly's possession*
- Defended the wife of a Dallas City Council Mayor Pro Tem in a public corruption jury trial spanning a three-month period, which was the largest public corruption trial in Dallas history*
- Substituted in as counsel for a major hospital system in a trial court matter pending in the Rio Grande Valley; overturned death penalty sanctions and a multimillion damage award in the business torts case, in the trial court; and ultimately secured a favorable settlement through use of insurance funds
- Secured a favorable settlement for a client with the SEC; and then, through a series of pre-indictment proffer sessions, secured a declination by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas of wire fraud and securities fraud charges
- Secured a favorable settlement in an SEC enforcement matter arising from a municipal bond offering related to the financing and development of an entertainment and events arena in Washington state*
- Secured a summary judgment disposing of claims of negligence asserted against the client—a former NFL player and Hall-of-Famer
- Represented a multinational energy company who obtained a consent judgment affording nationwide protection against business disruptions caused by illegal and tortious conduct, after securing a landmark temporary injunction provided nationwide protection (Greenpeace, Inc. v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 133 S.W.3d 804, Tex. App.–Dallas)*
*These matters occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.