Jeff Ward brings diverse legal experience, operational leadership, and strategic vision that uniquely positions him to navigate the complexities of leading operations at a dynamic and growing Texas law firm. Mr. Ward’s distinguished legal career spans roles as a large firm defense attorney, co-founder of a successful law firm focused on high stakes litigation, and in-house counsel for a large Dallas church. In the latter position, Mr. Ward served on the Business Advisory Team and Dallas Leadership Team and directed local and global initiatives and partnerships as the Director of External Focus. Mr. Ward leverages this wealth of experience and leadership acumen to elevate Brown Fox’s operational excellence, client service, and culture.

In the past decade Mr. Ward co-founded a health care organization that operates multiple urgent care medical clinics serving over 9,000 patients annually in the DFW area and a community development corporation focused on job creation, financial literacy, business acceleration and more for at-risk men and women. Mr. Ward actively serves on the boards of both entities today. He has taught leadership and conflict resolution skills in over a dozen countries and co-authored a book focused on leadership for corporate leaders. Mr. Ward has served as an adjunct professor or guest lecturer at Dallas Baptist University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and in the Dallas County Community College District. Mr. Ward leverages this experience to help guide the firm’s Community and Philanthropy endeavors.

Practice Focus & Experience

Mr. Ward has served the last sixteen years on staff at Watermark Community Church, leading the External Focus Team and providing oversight of local and global outreach strategies, creating several non-profit entities focused on healthcare, community development, and collaboration, and partnerships with over twenty local and global non-profit partners. He also served on the Dallas Leadership Team, bringing leadership across all the departments and most recently on the Business Advisory Team. In addition, he has served as in-house counsel working on vendor contracts, safety policy audits, tort cases, real estate/premises liability, insurance, and informal dispute resolution of real estate and commercial matters.

Mr. Ward also brings a history as a passionate advocate. He has obtained numerous successful trial verdicts and settlements in federal and state district courts throughout Texas. His practice historically focused on high stakes litigation.

After graduating Order of the Coif with highest honors from the University of Oklahoma School of Law, Mr. Ward worked at Strasburger & Price, LLP, one of the premier law firms in Dallas, emphasizing the defense of manufacturers ranging from automobiles, tractor-trailers, electrical appliances, consumer products, industrial machinery, mass torts, and medical devices, as well as serving as national/regional coordinating counsel. His practice also included general negligence, insurance defense/bad faith, product warranty, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and commercial litigation.

In 2002, with other partners, he then formed Juneau, Boll, & Ward, PLLC, and in addition to the above practice areas, added professional liability, business litigation, medical malpractice, consumer, and construction litigation to his docket. Mr. Ward loves the courtroom but brings equal intensity to resolving disputes pre-suit all the way to appeal.

Admissions
  • Texas (1996)
Education
  • University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif Highest Honors (1996)
    • American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional Law, Real Property, Legal Research and Writing
    • Oklahoma International Law Society – Newsletter Editor
    • American Inns of Court (Luther Bohannan Chapter)
    • Moot Court competition and Judge
    • Board of Advocates
  • Oklahoma State University, B.A., Honors (1993)
    • Top 10 Male Graduate
    • Arts & Sciences Top 10 Senior
    • Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
    • Moot Court “Outstanding Justice” (1991)
    • Moot Court “Outstanding Attorney” (1993)
  • International Studies: OSU-Kyoto, Japan (1991-1992)
    • OSU Fellowship, Certificate of Japanese Language Proficiency
Honors
  • Named Richard Davis Litigation Associate of the Year
  • Named a “Texas Rising Star” by the publishers of Texas Monthly, a distinction held by only 2.5% of attorneys and the result of a poll among Texas Super Lawyers asked to vote for the state’s best attorneys under 40.
  • Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s “Finest Award” (2007)
Community

Mr. Ward serves in various capacities outside of his legal work:

  • Co-Founder/Board of Directors, Watermark Health (2015-present)
  • Co-Founder/Board of Directors, Watermark Community Development Corporation (2020- present)
  • Founder, Unite Greater Dallas (2008-2012)(a collaboration of non-profits/churches working on community issues)
    Co-founded Dallas Justice (an affinity group of lawyers serving the city and globally)
  • Teaching:
    • Adjunct Teaching at Dallas County Community College (Torts), Dallas Baptist University (Torts and Criminal Law)
    • Guest lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary
    • Led numerous international teaching trips with lawyers on the topics of justice, conflict resolution, statutory interpretation, leadership, and peace-building/reconciliation.
  • Oklahoma Baptist University Circle of Excellence Award
  • Board President/Member (1996-2002), Dallas Crisis Pregnancy Center n/k/a Involved for Life
  • Board of Directors, A.R.T.S for People (1997-2000)
  • Lawyers and Accountants of North Texas for the Arts (1996-1998)
  • Co-Authored, “The Business of Faith: How to Lead Yourself, Unify Your Team, and Create a Remarkable Organization”

Mr. Ward is committed to leveraging his legal skills to provide pro bono representation for those who might otherwise lack access to counsel. His pro bono work has included:

  • Not Forgotten Program – Dallas Probate Courts – serving as ad litem in guardianship proceedings for incapacitated adult children
  • Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program – Consumer Cases
  • Risk analysis and mitigation and legal representation for Dallas area churches

Reading has always been more than a pastime for me; it’s a way to continuously learn and grow. Classics, business books, biographies, and the spiritual guidance from the Bible have each uniquely enriched my understanding of the world. There’s a joy in sharing a book with others, knowing it might provide a fresh perspective. Reading is a journey that never ends!

There is something special about pulling a record out of the sleeve, reading the liner notes, and listening from start to finish. The subtle cracks and pops embedded in the music are not imperfections but rather authentic signatures. This appreciation for authenticity extends beyond music…and into life. I love sharing not just the music but the narratives that make each record special.

My journey as a “traveler” began as a student living abroad in Japan, where I was inspired to learn about other cultures and people. This experience ignited a passion for exploration that has taken me all over the world. Traveling with my wife, we love to experience local cultures, savor delicious food, make memories, and hike through creation. Each adventure has led to new relationships and deepened our understanding of our own culture.


More About Jeff Ward

Jeff was born in Tyler, Texas, raised in Oklahoma, and returned to Dallas after law school. He met his wife, Kristie, as teenagers at summer camp and married during law school. She is a speech pathologist and they are parents of two sons, Hayden and Hunter. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys all kinds of music, live music, travelling and hiking with Kristie, and reading. They are members of Watermark Community Church in Dallas.

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