David H. Hockema

Mr. Hockema is an attorney with a distinguished career, including years of practice in both plaintiff and defense work. Born in Temple, Texas, Mr. Hockema graduated from the University of Texas Law School and began his law practice in 1973. Mr. Hockema is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the areas of Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law. Mr. Hockema has recovered 10 verdicts in excess of $10 million and numerous million dollar verdicts.

John L. Tippit, III

Mr. Tippit was born in Dallas, Texas. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University and his law degree from St. Mary’s University. He started his practice in Dallas with a nationally known plaintiffs’ firm concentrating in aviation and general products liability cases. Mr. Tippit has been certified by the Texas Board of Legal specialization as a specialist in Personal Injury Trial Law for over 15 years. In his 20 year career, Mr. Tippit has tried and settled numerous multi-million dollar cases. He has also obtained 3 verdicts in excess of 10 million dollars. Mr. Tippit is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

José Escobedo, Jr

Mr. Escobedo was born in Mission, Texas. After receiving his law degree from the University of Texas Law School in 1989, he started his practice with a defense law firm, representing Fortune 500 companies in products liability lawsuits. In 1993, Mr. Escobedo accepted a position as an associate with the predecessor firm of Hockema, Tippit & Escobedo, L.L.P. In 1997, he formed Hockema, Tippit & Escobedo, L.L.P. Mr. Escobedo has tried numerous cases with verdicts in excess of $1 million and three cases with verdicts in excess of $10 million. He is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Escobedo is fluent in Spanish.

Luis Cárdenas

Mr. Cárdenas was born in Brownsville, Texas. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in 1993, he received his J.D. from the University of Houston in 1997. Mr. Cárdenas is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyer’s Association and the American Trial Lawyer’s Association. He has been a past board member of the Hidalgo County Bar Association and Hidalgo County Young Lawyers’ Association. Among his other successes, Mr. Cárdenas has obtained two verdicts in excess of fourteen million dollars for clients. Mr. Cárdenas is fluent in Spanish.

Mauro Ruíz

Mr. Ruíz was born in Matamoros, Mexico. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, from St. Mary’s University, he received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1997. After graduating from law school, Mr. Ruiz served as law clerk to the Hon. John Wm. Black of the Brownsville Division of the U.S. Southern District of Texas. Mr. Ruíz is also the author of an article titled, “The North American Development Bank: For Cleanup or Profit?” published in the Houston Journal of International Law (Spring, 1998). He is a member of the Hidalgo and Cameron County Bar Associations and is currently a board member of the Hidalgo County Bar Association and the Hidalgo County Young Lawyers’ Association. Mr. Ruíz is fluent in Spanish.