Harper Estes is the 2008-2009 President of the State Bar of Texas, having served as its President Elect for 2007-2008 and on its Board of Directors from 1999-2002.  Harper joined the firm’s trial section upon graduation from the Baylor Law School in 1979.  He is a 1977 graduate of Texas Tech University.

Harper is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  He has served as lead counsel in state and federal court cases throughout Texas and in New Mexico, Alabama, and Arkansas.  Those cases include royalty class actions, environmental damage claims, cases involving complex commercial transactions, myriad oil and gas issues, alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, employment issues and personal injury.  Harper has argued cases before several intermediate appellate courts, the Fifth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Texas.

In addition to his trial and appellate practice, Harper is active as a mediator and arbitrator, having concluded over one thousand mediations.

Besides extensive Bar activity, Harper has served the community in several capacities, including as a Director and Officer of the Board of Midland Fairhavens, Inc., Director of Big Brother Big Sisters of Midland, Director of Hearthstone Temporary Children’s Shelter, Advisory Director to the Texas Book Festival, Chair of the Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series of the Midland College Foundation and as a Deacon and Elder of First Presbyterian Church of Midland.

Harper is licensed in all Texas courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and United States District Courts for the Northern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas.