HALEIGH H. JONES
Partner
Haleigh has broad commercial litigation experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants at every stage of lawsuits involving real estate, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, business divorce, personal injury and tort litigation, and aviation. Haleigh has distinguished herself as an associate by her maturity in the courtroom. She has briefed and argued motions at every stage of litigation, deposed fact and expert witnesses, successfully mediated disputes at their infancy and on the eve of trial, tried and won cases as lead counsel, and briefed appeals and presented oral argument. While Haleigh has a passion for advocacy, she understands that the most effective solution to a legal dispute is often a business solution. To that end, Haleigh's focus in every case is leveraging business solutions to resolve a dispute at the earliest moment possible while maximizing the result for her client.
The most important component of Haleigh’s practice is service to others. She is an attentive and zealous advocate for her clients, as well as a mentor and a servant of the local and state bar. She serves as the President-Elect of the 2023 Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and, recently chaired the 2022 Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation. Haleigh has participated in multiple leadership classes hosted by the State Bar of Texas and local bar associations. She also volunteers her time to coach SMU law students in moot court programs that compete nationally. Her 2022 spring competitors advanced to the national final round of the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition (defeating 177 teams) and claimed awards for the best brief in the country, the best oral advocate in the country, and the second-best oral advocate in the country.
During her time as a law student competitor, Haleigh won regional and national moot court competitions. In her final year of law school, Haleigh was recognized as a top-three advocate nationally by the American Bar Association, was named the Outstanding Graduating Advocate of SMU Dedman School of Law’s graduating class, and was inducted into the prestigious National Order of the Barristers.
Today, Haleigh continues to be recognized for her ability to communicate effectively with courts in writing and in argument. The Dallas Women Lawyers Association recognized Haleigh as its 2021 "Rising Raggio." Haleigh has been named on D Magazine's List of "Best Lawyers Under 40" since 2021 and on Thomson Reuters' list of "Rising Stars" in the area of business litigation since 2019. Thomson Reuters' has also recognized Haleigh on the lists of "Up-and Coming 100" lawyers in Texas and "Up-and Coming 50 Women," lawyers in Texas since 2022.
Prior to attending law school, Haleigh studied Spanish and Political Science at the University of Cincinnati, and worked in D.C. for Cincinnati Congressman Steve Chabot of the First District of Ohio. She joined Crawford, Wishnew & Lang PLLC after clerking for the Honorable Justice Douglas Lang of the Fifth District Court of Appeals of Texas and beginning her practice at an American Lawyer top-50 firm.
Representative Experience
Awards listed are net of attorneys' fees and expenses.
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Briefed response to petition for review filed in the Supreme Court of Texas and obtained denial of petition in favor of plaintiff on issue of adequacy of expert report in medical malpractice lawsuit.
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Secured emergency writ of mandamus from court of appeals to dissolve temporary restraining order in lawsuit alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of nondisclosure agreement.
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Secured order denying plaintiffs’ motion to dismiss filed under the Texas Citizens Participation Act in lawsuit involving claims for defamation, business disparagement, and tortious interference; briefed and argued response to plaintiffs’ appeal of denial, which was affirmed.
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Secured defense verdict as first-chair trial counsel on behalf of owner of livestock investment in lawsuit involving claims for fraud, conversion, tortious interference, and violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
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Secured verdict for plaintiff as first-chair trial counsel on behalf of marina owner in lawsuit involving breaches by various tenants of boat slip leases.
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Secured verdict for plaintiff as first-chair trial counsel on behalf of tenant in negligence suit against property management company after landlord’s employee caused the death of plaintiff’s dog.
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Obtained seven-figure arbitration award as second-chair trial counsel on behalf of property owner in commercial real estate dispute involving easement rights.
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Obtained seven-figure settlement (amount confidential) on behalf of bank officer asserting breach of employment agreement.
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Secured significant settlement (amount confidential) against homeowner on behalf of residential contractor asserting breach of construction contract.
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Secured significant settlement (amount confidential) on behalf of commercial real estate broker asserting claims for breach of partnership agreement.
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Obtained seven-figure settlement (amount confidential) on behalf of group of plaintiffs alleging toxic mold exposure at residential apartment complex.
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Secured denial of motion to dismiss bankruptcy petition filed by principals of debtor entity as first-chair counsel at evidentiary hearing.
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Obtained summary judgment on behalf of plaintiff alleging fraudulent inducement and violation of Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
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Obtained summary judgment on behalf of bank in two lawsuits alleging fraudulent inducement of promissory notes and wrongful foreclosure.
