LAWYER LIMELIGHT: DAVID W. ENGSTROM
By Lawdragon News | October 3, 2014 | Lawyer Limelights - Ajamie, Lawyer Limelights
Business lawyer David W. Engstrom of Ajamie discusses his career path and current practice.
Name: David W. Engstrom
Firm: Ajamie LLP
Position: Of Counsel
Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Corporate Compliance, Internal Investigations and Risk Management
Location: Houston
Law School: J.D., Cornell Law School, 1995
Undergraduate: B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1992, summa cum laude
Quotable, on professional satisfaction: "I was gratified that I was able to help my client, not only by obtaining a judgment in her favor but also by actually putting money in her pocket. It was also fun going after the bad guys – I was determined not to let them get away with fraud. And the experience I gained was invaluable."
Lawdragon: Let’s start out with a general overview of your practice. How do you describe to recruits or family what it is you do?
David Engstrom: I tell my friends, family and contacts that I’m a business lawyer. I help companies protect and defend their contracts and intellectual property. I assist companies with resolve complex business disputes in court.
LD: What do you like about your practice? What is professionally satisfying?
DE: My practice has a lot of variety. I like helping my clients with diverse issues and adding value to my clients’ business.
LD: What cases are keeping you busy these days?
DE: I’m currently litigating a shareholder and contract dispute in state court. The case is the pretrial discovery and motion practice. No trial date has been set yet.
LD: Did you have a favorite class or professor that was particularly influential in your studies or future career?
DE: My favorite classes in law school were civil procedure, evidence, and corporate law. I knew early on that I wanted to do commercial litigation and counsel companies on business law issues.
LD: Is there anything in particular early in your career that you consider key to arriving at your current level of excellence?
DE: Clerking for a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas gave a practical perspective on how business disputes are decided by courts. I would tell any law student interested in practicing litigation do a clerkship before after law school and before entering private practice.
LD: What do you do for fun when you’re outside the office?
DE: I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children. Our family loves to entertain and spend time with friends. I also enjoy coaching youth soccer and baseball teams that that my kids play on.
