Honors and Awards:

• Lanier consistently is recognized among the country’s top lawyers. In 2010, The National Law Journal named him one of the most Influential Attorneys of the Decade, and Texas Lawyer newspaper named him among the 25 Greatest Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century. He also has earned a spot on The National Law Journal’s compilation of the nation’s Top 10 Trial Attorneys on two occasions, and the publication’s list of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America. Texas Lawyer newspaper also has recognized him as one of Texas’ top five “Go To” personal injury plaintiff attorneys, the top personal Injury lawyer in Texas, and the “Impact Player of the Year.” Lanier has been named one of the Top 10 attorneys in the state in the annual Texas Super Lawyers listing, and also earned a spot in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America.

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Lanier is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is licensed to practice in all Texas state and federal courts, all New York state courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.  

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Lanier serves on the Board of Directors for the National Center for State Courts, a group dedicated to improving the administration of justice through leadership and service to the nation’s state courts. He also is the founder of the Christian Trial Lawyers Association, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to create a network of principled attorneys to minister to others through civic-minded endeavors.  

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Lanier serves on the Board of Trustees of the Committee for Economic Development, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that addresses ongoing critical economic and social issues facing society. A strong supporter of his alma mater, Lanier remains active at Texas Tech University as a member of the Law School's Foundation Board, and previously was selected as the Texas Tech University School of Law Distinguished Alumnus. He also teaches a 300-plus member Sunday school class focusing on Biblical Literacy at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston.

Verdicts and Settlements:

• The largest VIOXX verdict in history on behalf of the wife of a former marathon runner who died after taking the controversial drug for only a few months.
• A settlement with a U.S. distributor of dangerous products imported from China.
• A substantial verdict for a small oil company in a 1993 business fraud case against one of the nation’s largest oil providers.
• A verdict on behalf of 21 asbestos victims in February 1998, considered one of the largest asbestos verdicts in U.S. history.  
• A settlement for syringe manufacturer Retractable Technologies in an antitrust lawsuit against industry giant Becton, Dickinson and Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of medical syringes and needles.

Educational Background:

• Lanier earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1984.