Highlights:
D Magazine’s Best Lawyers 2020 and 2021 for Construction and Commercial Litigation
Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America
AV Preeminent Rated Attorney – since 1997 to date
Who’s Who in America-Top Women in Law 2021
Outstanding Alumni Award Texas Tech School of Law 2019
Dallas Bar Association “Inspiring Woman” Award
Dallas Business Lawyers 100 Best Litigators in Dallas
National Diversity Counsel 2017 Honoree
Southern Methodist University School of Law Adjunct Professor – Trial Advocacy
SMU Corporate Counsel Externship Program 2013 – 2019
Texas Tech School of Law Externship Program 2016 – 2018
SMU Corporate Counsel Symposium Board of Directors 2016 – 2018
Vanguard Law Profile https://www.vanguardlawmag.com/case-studies/tonya-johannsen-the-beck-group/ 2018
Speaking Engagements:
Austin College Law Symposium, “Legal Ethics and Client Advocacy in Civil Litigation: The Lawyer’s Perspective” (February 28, 2020).
“Certificates of Merit in Texas: An Analysis of the Legislative Changes and Potential Litigation Impacts” Texas Construction Law Foundation and Construction Law Section (November 26, 2019).
Texas Construction Law Seminar: “Corporate Counsel Panel: Most Important Issues Facing In-house Counsel” (San Antonio, March 2017)
American Bar Association Construction Law Forum: “Corporate Counsel and Outside Counsel: The Good, the Bad,
And the Ugly” (Washington, DC, April 2017)
Women in the Law: Leading, Empowering and Succeeding (March 2014)
American Bar Association Construction Law Forum: “Building Information Modeling: New Horizons” (January 2014)
Community Honors & Involvement:
Attorneys’ Serving the Community
President, Victim’s Outreach Board of Directors
President, Bryan’s House Board of Directors
Honoree, 2012 Hats Off to Mothers – Easter Seals of North Texas
Companies I like:
Construction, Architecture, Engineers, Subcontractors, Financial Institutions, Commercial Litigation
Onboarded to transform, restructure, and manage in-house legal department for highly-regulated real estate solutions firm. Developed high-level operations frameworks and delivered hands-on management of staff and legal resources. Mitigated risks and unforeseen obstacles by conducting due diligence and staying abreast of changing and evolving regulations and governance processes. Advised executive and leadership teams in legal matters, litigation strategy development, and related business matters. Oversaw staff in completion of daily tasks and conducted performance management to ensure service levels.
• Modernized and grew struggling legal department by instituting and governing of ethics and compliance policies.
• Generated substantial cost-savings on outside counsel fees by negotiating fixed fee arrangements and utilizing legal interns.
Recruited to leverage expertise in developing and building new construction and architectural practice with keen focus on liability and legal strategy. Ensure favorable outcomes when leading litigation and resolution of complex matters related to real estate and financial services. Draft and analyze agreements protecting best interests of practice in matters related to formation of legal entities and business ventures.
• Built construction law department from ground up, hiring and mentoring junior associates on effective business development methods and practices.
• Received recognition as one of best lawyers for Commercial and Construction litigation in Dallas area.
Earlier Career Success:
Litigation Partner, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP | Litigation Equity Shareholder, The Winstead Firm