Gardere Welcomes Litigator Sean Whyte

DALLAS – Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP is pleased to welcome accomplished litigator Sean M. Whyte as a partner in the Firm’s Dallas office. He joins the Firm from Alston & Bird, where he has practiced since 2011.

Mr. Whyte has a multifaceted litigation practice involving complex commercial litigation, consumer class actions and products liability. He has extensive trial experience before state and federal courts, with class-action experience that includes defending clients in cases involving Internet sales practices, consumer fraud and other federal statutes. He has also represented clients in regulatory and government investigative matters involving federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Trade Commission.

“Sean’s versatile expertise will further allow our litigation group to offer the best solutions for our clients,” says Gardere ChairHolland N. O’Neil. “Our litigation partners are among the most respected in their field, and we are honored to have Sean join our team.”

While at Alston & Bird, Mr. Whyte worked on litigation that resulted in a victory in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the first case to consider Texas’ Anti-SLAPP statute. He also helped win the first dismissal of a federal action under the Texas Health and Safety Code statute granting limited immunity to telecommunication providers related to 911 calls. He began his legal career at Jones Day in 2004 where he assisted on litigation resulting from Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Mr. Whyte received a juris doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 2004, where he was an articles editor for the Texas Law Review. He completed course work for a doctorate degree in applied philosophy at Bowling Green State University and obtained a master’s degree from the same school in applied philosophy in 1996. He also earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1994 at West Virginia University. Prior to law school, Mr. Whyte served as a senior lecturer and adjunct philosophy instructor at universities in Ohio and Michigan.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Whyte serves as the co-vice chair of the Law Day Committee for the Dallas Bar Association. In 2014, he was named to the Texas Rising Stars list for his work in business litigation, and he was awarded Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program in 2010.

“It is an honor to join Gardere’s well-known and respected litigation practice,” says Mr. Whyte. “I am proud to be joining this exceptional group of professionals."

Gardere has one of the largest litigation practices in the Southwest, including experience before the U.S. district courts and all state courts, and appellate matters in federal and state courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. The Firm has also represented clients before various state, national and international arbitration boards and is well-known for handling large class-action litigation.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an Am Law 200 firm founded in 1909 and one of the Southwest's largest full-service law firms, has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Mexico City. Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in the areas of corporate, energy, environmental, financial restructuring and reorganization, financial services, government affairs, hospitality, insurance, intellectual property, international, labor and employment, litigation, private equity, real estate and tax.