Andrew Payne graduated at the top of his class in law school and started his career working for a prestigious international firm representing large insurers and corporations. But it did not take long for Andy to realize that he wanted to help people who had suffered harm through no fault of their own, not protect negligent corporations whose actions harmed people. Andy’s passion for handling significant personal injury cases stems from his desire to help people who truly need justice. And on a larger scale, together with his clients, Andy’s pursuit of these claims effects positive safety changes so that more families do not have to suffer. Through his work on his clients’ cases, products have been redesigned, policies changed and lives saved.
As an experienced and effective trial lawyer, Andy routinely handles significant, newsworthy personal injury cases across the country. He has been lead counsel on numerous aviation and product defect cases, commercial vehicle collisions, medical malpractice and other general personal injury matters.
Andy is double Board Certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He serves as Vice President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and he’s a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Induction in both organizations is by invitation only and is limited to the top trial lawyers in the country who exhibit exemplary character, ethics and professional standards. Additionally, Andy was elected to the AIEG Board of Directors. AIEG is an organization of top trial lawyers who handle Product Liability and other complex cases throughout the country. These organizations are highly selective and only a small percentage of practicing lawyers are invited to join.
Andy is one of the few trial attorneys inducted in the D Hall of Fame, earning recognition as one of the best lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine for 16 consecutive years. He has also been named repeatedly as a Top 100 Lawyer in D/FW and a Top 100 Lawyer in Texas by Texas Monthly’s Super Lawyers. In addition, he has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® multiple times and has been named “Lawyer of the Year” (2015, 2019, 2021) by his peers in Product Liability Litigation/Plaintiffs in Dallas/Fort Worth. He has also earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) through a peer-review evaluation. Andy is licensed in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, but routinely handles complex litigation across the nation. He has successfully tried numerous cases to jury verdict in state and federal courts.
Andy’s drive to help people goes beyond his cases with his deep commitment to pro bono representation. Each year he represents several clients without charging a fee, as a way to give back and to make a difference where it is needed most. Moreover, his firm has been a cornerstone donor to Equal Access to Justice campaigns over the last decade. Through the years, Andy and his partner have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to help individuals in crisis obtain legal services and much-needed access to the justice system.
Andy serves on the State Bar Pattern Jury Charge Committee, which drafts form jury charges in products liability cases used by all trial courts in the State of Texas. He is also on the Board of Directors for the State Bar of Texas Litigation Council. He has served on the State Bar Grievance Committee and has chaired Personal Injury seminars for both the State Bar and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. A former Adjunct Professor of Products Liability at the SMU Dedman School of Law, Andy is a frequent lecturer at professional meetings both in Texas and nationally.
Outside of practicing law, Andy enjoys flying airplanes, riding dirt bikes, traveling and spending time with his wife and daughters.