Shackelford, Melton & McKinley Adds New Partners

March 2007 / DALLAS – The Dallas law firm Shackelford, Melton & McKinley LLP is expanding its ranks with the addition of new partners Mark S. McQuality and Joseph G. Chumlea.

“We’re extremely happy to welcome Mark and Joe to our team,” says John C. Shackelford, a founding partner of the firm. “Both are exceptional lawyers with many years of experience providing the very finest representation to their clients.”

Mr. McQuality concentrates his practice on real estate, residential and commercial construction, and insurance law, including litigation related to residential construction liability, deceptive trade practices, business torts and insurance bad faith claims. Since 1978, a large percentage of his practice has involved residential construction litigation where he has represented primarily homeowners as well as contractors, builders and developers.

Mr. McQuality also is actively involved in the negotiations on the numerous amendments to the Residential Construction Liability Act (Texas Property Code §27.001 et. seq.) and he is a key advocate for homeowners’ rights in the evolution of the Texas Residential Construction Commission.

He founded the firm Bragg Chumlea McQuality and has practiced law for more than two decades. Prior to that, Mr. McQuality served as a Texas Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1974 and, his law degree from the Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1977.

Mr.Chumlea handles commercial litigation in all state and federal courts, including general business, real estate, collections, product sales and warranty contracts; appeals in state and federal courts; insurance law, construction law, and consumer and trade-practice law.

Mr. Chumley also has an extensive background in consumer law, having served as chairman of the Consumer Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and as a course director in advanced deceptive trade practices for the Bar’s consumer law course. In addition, he served as a Texas Assistant Attorney General from 1976 through 1980. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in Austin in 1973, and his law degree in 1976 from the University of Houston.

Shackelford, Melton & McKinley, LLP, is a business and commercial law firm representing financial institutions, real estate owners and developers, automobile dealerships, and businesses in legal matters across the country. Its lawyers offer a wide range of specialized experience reflecting the increasingly complex legal, financial and social environments confronted by its clients. More information is available at www.shacklaw.net

For more information on Mr. Chumlea and Mr. McQuality joining Shackelford, Melton & McKinley, please contact Mark Annick at 214.559.4630 or mark@legalpr.com