Interlex Group News

Robert Witte Selected To The 2005 "Forty Under 40 Rising Stars" List By The Dallas Business Journal

HOUSTON, TEXAS, August 17, 2005 - Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C. is pleased to announce that Robert Witte, a Shareholder in the Dallas office, was selected by the Dallas Business Journal as a 2005 "Forty Under 40 Rising Star" in the Dallas/Fort Worth business community.

According to the Dallas Business Journal, the "Forty Under 40 Rising Star" issue recognizes men and women under the age of 40 who are rising stars in the local business community and have established themselves as leaders within their chosen professions and often in the community at large. The "Forty Under 40 Rising Stars" are nominated by their peers and the final list is selected by the Dallas Business Journal's editorial staff. Witte was the only member of the 2005 "Forty Under 40" list to also be honored in the Dallas Business Journal's most recent "40 Under 40" class in 2002.
Witte's selection was based on his legal expertise and professional competence, as well as his leadership in legal organizations and his strong community involvement. David McAtee II, one of several people who nominated Witte, was quoted in the Dallas Business Journal article as saying, "He [Witte] is an experienced attorney and has appeared in matters throughout state and federal trial courts, and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Texas."

Witte joined Winstead's Litigation Section in 1993. His practice involves business litigation in state and federal courts, including the areas of general contract, creditors' rights, business tort, negligence, ERISA, copyright and trademark infringement, homeowners' rights, healthcare and telecommunications.

In addition to his legal practice, Witte serves on numerous civic and professional boards, and facilitates leadership development programs throughout the community and the local bar associations. He serves on the board of directors for the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) and as a TYLA board member, Witte played a key role in two recent TYLA initiatives offering professional development training for young lawyers: tenminutementor.com and the TYLA Roadshow. The American Bar Association recently named tenminutementor.com the most outstanding bar service project in the country. Witte also is serving in his eighth year as lead facilitator for the DAYL Leadership Class.

Witte's community involvement includes serving as chairman of the board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas, which grants more than 300 wishes annually to North Texas children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. He is also the founding co-chairman of the foundation's annual black-tie event, Wish Night. In the past, Witte has served as chairman of the board and co-ball chairman of the Dallas Heart Ball. He remains an active alumnus and is vice president of The University of Oklahoma Alumni Club of Dallas, and a member of the OU College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors. A Leadership Dallas alumnus, Witte also was recently named to the 2006 Big XII Basketball Tournament Host Committee.