Timothy W. Mountz President Dallas Bar Association 2005

As the 96th President of the Dallas Bar Association, Tim Mountz is focusing on the legal profession’s core values -- professionalism and service. His inspiration comes from the many DBA members who are already living out these principles.

Mr. Mountz is introducing a number of initiatives to encourage DBA members, and the bar in general, to instill these values into their professional lives and to pass them on to other lawyers.

"Many of our members set outstanding examples in terms of professionalism and service,” he says. “In 2005, our focus will be on our profession’s core values, and the DBA’s initiatives will be jointly sponsored with the other Dallas-based bar associations who are joining in these efforts as our partners.”

Timothy W. Mountz was born December 18, 1955, in Louisville, Ky. Encouraged by two high school friends, Mr. Mountz came to Dallas in 1973 to attend Southern Methodist University, where he received a B.A. degree, with high honors. Mr. Mountz went on to Duke Law School, where he graduated in 1979 after having served for two years on the Editorial Board of the Duke Law Journal.

After graduation, Mr. Mountz began work as an associate with the firm of Rain Harrell Emery Young & Doke, where he became a partner in 1985, and later a senior shareholder in Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, P.C.

From 1979 to 1997, he had the opportunity to work with legendary Dallas lawyer Morris Harrell, who urged Mr. Mountz to pursue leadership opportunities in service to the bar. He served on the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Board of Directors Board of Directors as its Treasurer (1986) as its Vice-President (1987), its President-Elect (1988) and then as its President (1989). Mr. Mountz served on the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors from 1988 to 1993, including a term as chairman of the TYLA Board of Directors in 1991-1992.

He then became active in the Dallas Bar Association serving as Chair of various committees, including the Courthouse and Entertainment committees.  His service on the Dallas Bar Board of Directors began in 1997.

Also in 1997, Mr. Mountz became a partner at the Dallas office of Baker Botts L.L.P., where his practice today includes the defense of professional liability claims and securities and shareholder litigation.

He is a charter fellow and trustee of the Dallas Bar Foundation, a sustaining life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a founding fellow of the DAYL Foundation. Additionally, he was named a Texas “Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly magazine in 2003, 2004 and 2005.