Tim Cleveland

Partner

Email

tcleveland@clevelandkrist.com

Phone

512-689-8698

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Education

  • The University of Texas School of Law
    J.D., with honors
  • The University of Texas at Austin
    B.A.

Representative Matters

  • Successfully tried a commercial case in federal court in Alabama for a Texas business owner who sold his company to an accounting firm in Alabama, defeating more than $30 million in claims alleging fraud and breach of contract relating to that transaction, and obtaining an award of over $1.5 million.
  • Successfully tried and obtained a multi-million-dollar jury verdict in a breach-of-contract and fraud case related to a disputed ownership interest in an Austin technology company.
  • Successfully tried a commercial arbitration matter for a shipping and logistics company, defeating nearly $8 million in claims alleging fraud and breach of contract, and obtaining an award of 100% of claimed damages after a four-day evidentiary final hearing in Dallas, Texas.
  • Successfully tried a commercial case for a medical supplies company asserting claims for breach of contract and other business torts claim against a supplier, obtaining a seven-figure award in arbitration after an evidentiary final hearing based in New York, New York. 
  • Successfully tried a commercial case in state court in Texas for a sports league that was the victim of a group boycott in violation of antitrust laws, resulting in a multi-million-dollar judgment for the league.
  • Successfully tried a commercial case in state court in Chicago for a shareholder of a family-owned business who was the victim of a scheme to wrongfully remove him from the business and force a sale of his shares for a fraction of their value.
  • Successfully tried a legal malpractice case defending an international law firm concerning the firm’s representation of a German client in the acquisition of a Texas air parts company.
  • Successfully tried a civil rights case in federal court, obtaining a favorable jury verdict for a prisoner against a prison guard for violation of the prisoner’s Sixth Amendment rights.
  • Successfully tried a commercial case in federal court concerning alleged tortious interference with an oil & gas transaction.
  • Successfully tried a legal malpractice/breach of fiduciary duty case in state court for a national law firm, concerning the firm’s representation of a client in a commercial transaction and litigation arising from that transaction.
  • Successfully tried a commercial case on behalf of the son of a deceased Texas oilman, where the decedent’s daughter challenged his final will and testament.
  • Successfully tried a commercial case for a Texas law firm in a malpractice case brought by the heirs of a deceased partner concerning the distribution of profits from contingency matter.
  • Successfully represented an Austin company, and a large international corporation based in the Silicon Valley that acquired the Austin company, in a trade secret misappropriation case relating to advertising analytics technology.
  • Successfully represented an Austin company in an arbitration against executives of an acquired company regarding a financial earn-out and alleged trade secret misappropriation in the formation of a competing business.
  • Successfully represented an Austin company in an international arbitration against a joint venture partner from China that involved claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract arising from the business relationship.
  • Successfully represented an Austin company in an arbitration arising out of a contractual dispute related to the granting of motion picture, television, and other media rights.
  • Successfully represented an executive of an Austin company in a dispute related to the executive’s exit from the company and against allegations that the executive breached fiduciary obligations to the company.
  • Successfully represented the former chief executive officer of a Fortune 500 company in a dispute related to compensation following the CEO’s resignation.
  • Successfully represented an Austin semiconductor company in obtaining injunctive relief to prevent the misappropriation of trade secret information after four employees left to work for a competitor.
  • Obtained a favorable ruling for a state university in an evidentiary hearing concerning the termination of an employee for violating the school’s policy against sexual harassment.
  • Obtained a defense jury verdict in a criminal case in Kerrville, Texas.
  • Successfully represented a manufacturer of advanced cosmetic lasers in a patent trial in the Eastern District of Texas.
  • Represented a national bank in a patent trial in the Eastern District of Texas related to remote capture of check images.
  • Represented a former CEO of a Fortune 500 company in a dispute with his former employer concerning the distribution of stock options and company valuation.

Biography

Tim Cleveland is a trusted trial lawyer who strategically helps clients resolve business disputes.

Tim is, first and foremost, a courtroom lawyer who has tried cases in state and federal courts nationwide his entire career. In the calendar year 2022 alone, Tim tried four commercial cases as lead counsel with millions of dollars at stake—two week-long jury trials and two commercial arbitrations— to successful resolution.

Tim has earned accolades from clients and other hard graders for his skill in the courtroom.  Tim has been selected by his peers and Thompson Reuters Legal to Texas Super Lawyers for Business Litigation in 2021, 2022, and 2023.  Tim’s firm, Cleveland Krist, has been recognized in Chambers USA, the most prestigious and independent legal guide in the world, as a leading litigation firm in Texas. 

The CEO of an Austin-based technology company, who won a multimillion-dollar verdict at a jury trial in Austin, described Tim and his partner Austin Krist as “whip smart lawyers who know how to win. They know the law, and they pay attention to every part of the fight, and they execute at trial with a focused, defined message.”

After a two-week federal court trial where Tim’s client was victorious in a $30 million commercial dispute in Montgomery, Alabama, one observer of the trial described Tim as “an extraordinary trial lawyer with great instincts and unsurpassed judgment.”

Another former client, a technology entrepreneur whom Tim successfully represented in a jury trial in Chicago, described Tim as “an outstanding cross-examiner” who “destroyed the credibility” of the client’s main adversary at trial.

The general counsel of a technology company in New York, who has worked with Tim for six years, said “Tim has excellent judgment and always sees the entire playing field in a business dispute.  If court is inevitable, he has my complete trust as a seasoned veteran in that area. He is both an exceptional strategist and a pragmatist, which has enabled him to consistently prevail in achieving my company’s desired objectives in any dispute.”

The CEO of a prominent Texas surgical group said “Tim and Austin represented us in a complex matter against an aggressive opponent with unlimited resources, and they turned the tables by consistently applying pressure and identifying case issues that our opponent missed.  They were fearless approaching the final trial and we ultimately achieved an excellent resolution.”

Tim regularly handles cases that involve trade secret misappropriation, high-stakes business divorces, fiduciary relationships, intellectual property matters, contractual disputes, and controversies arising out of large commercial transactions. Tim is frequently called on to assist clients in emergency injunction matters, and also to help resolve sensitive matters behind the scenes which never enter the public realm of a courtroom. 

Prior to founding Cleveland Krist, Tim previously practiced with one of the best litigation firms in the country.  Tim chose to forge his own path and start Cleveland Krist, and he considers it his privilege and honor to lead the talented team of lawyers and staff at the firm.

Tim is a proud husband to Kristina and dad to Elise, Whitney, and Mary Caroline.