J.
Michael Solar is the founder and Managing Partner of Solar &
Associates L.L.P. Over the course of his 29 year career he has provided counseling, investigation and litigation services to numerous Fortune 500 firms, civic and religious organizations, foreign governments and working families.
Mr. Solar has been
involved in complex multiparty litigation spanning the spectrum of
domestic and international actions including: business disputes,
fraudulent transactions, maritime, products liability, catastrophic
injuries, wrongful deaths, pharmaceutical products liability, and
medical malpractice. He is a frequent writer, lecturer, and is often
the subject of local, national and international interviews regarding
questions of law and his litigation.
Mr. Solar’s
international, labor and trade experience was founded upon his early
work in the maritime law arena and representation of the U.S. National
Maritime Union, the Pan-Hellenic Seaman’s Federation of Greece and the
London based International Trade Federation. Mr. Solar was appointed to
three terms as Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. The
Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and
150-plus private facilities and is ranked first in the United States in
foreign waterborne tonnage and second in total U.S. tonnage. More than
200 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2006.
The latest figures from a 2006 Economic Impact Study show the port's
public and private marine terminals generate $117.6 billion and 785,049
jobs in the State of Texas.
He has served as legal counsel to foreign consulates and
has participated in numerous multi national initiatives, including
passage of the historic North American Free Trade Agreement. He was
subsequently designated Legal Counsel to the Republic of Mexico by its
Republic of Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
His international affiliations include:
Fellow, “The British American Project”; Founder, “The Americas Project”
(a collaborative venture uniting the resources and expertise of the
Greater Houston Partnership, Rice University's James A. Baker III
Institute for Public Policy and the Organization of American States);
Inter-American Bar Association and Founder of the Hispanic Bar
Association.
Among his economic and financial
credentials, Mr. Solar has served as Director of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Houston for three terms; Regional Advisory Board Member of J.
P. Morgan Bank and its predecessor Texas Commerce Bank, for over 18
years; Finance Council Member of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
and Trustee of numerous foundations.
Mr. Solar has been a leader in the
Houston business and professional community as evidenced by his service
at the Greater Houston Partnership and other business organizations.
The Partnership is the primary advocate of Houston's business and
professional community and is dedicated to building Southwestern U.S.
regional economic prosperity. Founded in 1989, the Partnership emerged
from a merger of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Houston Economic
Development Council and the Houston World Trade Center.
With more than 60 committees, councils
and task forces, the Partnership tackles a variety of issues like
health care, education, air quality, economic development,
transportation and world trade.
Mr. Solar is also actively involved in the private and public healthcare arena. The
Texas Medical Center, with one of the highest densities of clinical
facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research
of any location, is the largest medical district in the world. The
center is located in Houston, Texas, USA. The center contains 45
medicine-related institutions, including 13 hospitals and two specialty
institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of
dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and other health-related practices.
All 45 institutions are not-for-profit.
His service includes membership on the Executive Committee of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; the Menninger Clinic; The
University of Houston Health Law & Policy Institute; and National
board member and Texas State Chairman of the Children’s Defense Fund
where he has actively worked to expand healthcare for indigent
children.
Mr. Solar has been recognized for his
leadership in promoting public and private education and has served in
various capacities to implement education reforms. His service includes
local, state and national committees, boards and foundations including
CHESS (Concerned Houston Encouraging Superior Schools); Member, Texas
Commission on Higher Education Reform; National Director, Teach For
America.
Mr. Solar has also been recognized for
his pro bono legal work and civic leadership. He is a champion of human
and civil rights, health, education and children’s issues.
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Jurisprudence, University of Houston Law Center, 1980
Bachelor of Business Administration/ Economics; University of Houston
LICENSE/ BAR ADMISSIONS
Licensed by the Supreme Court of The State of Texas
Member, State Bar of Texas
United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
United States District Court, Western District of Texas
United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas
BAR ASSOCIATIONS
Inter-American Bar Association
American Bar Association
Texas Bar Foundation
Houston Bar Association
Hispanic Bar Association (Founding President)
Mexican American Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
Lifetime Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
OTHER BAR POSITIONS
Committee Chairman, Program of the Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline
Chairman, State Bar of Texas International Law / “Americas Committee”
Counsel, State Bar of Texas Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel
Founder/ President, Hispanic Bar Association
SELECTED LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS
The Jury Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation; Compelling Communication Through Audio Visual Technology, August 2008
The Jury Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation; Demonstrative Evidence & Courtroom Technology on a Reasonable Budget, August 2007
The Jury Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation; Demonstrative Evidence & Courtroom Technology on a Reasonable Budget, August 2006
Tort Reform and Insurance Law: 2003 Legislative Session, University of Houston Law Foundation; The Offer of Settlement Pursuant to House Bill 4, August 2003
Litigation and Trial Tactics, University of Houston Law Foundation-Continuing Legal Education; Settlement Negotiations and Mediation Strategies, June 2002
National Hispanic Nurses Association Convention; Responding to the Realities of Nursing Shortages Through Empowerment, May 2002
Medical Malpractice, Medical Device & Pharmaceutical, University of Houston Law Center-Continuing Legal Education; Proving Difficult Damages, April 2001
Practicing
Law in the Era of NAFTA: Mastering the New Global Marketplace, The
American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution and St. Mary’s
University School of Law; A Case Study in the Obstacles to the Enforcement of Foreign Judgments, San Antonio, Texas, March 18-19, 1999
Civil Discovery Under the New Rules, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Evidence Law Update, Dallas, Texas, January 21-22, 1999, Houston, Texas January 28-29, 1999, Dallas, Texas, February 11-12, 1999
Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Analysis of Legal Issues, Pharmaceutical Cases, Pt. II: Over-the-Counter Medication and Drug Samples, January 1994, January 1998
Advanced Business Litigation, Choosing Contingency Fee Cases, September 1995
General Practice Institute-Winter, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Handling Insurance and Tort Claims–Contingency Fee Cases: Factors in Deciding Which to Take, September 1993; January 1994, August 1995
General Practice Institute–Winter, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Negotiating and Settling Claims, December 4, 1992
U.S.-Mexico Judicial Conference; Anatomy of a Civil Suit, May 7, 1992, Puebla, Mexico
National Hispanic Bar Association Convention, Emerging Issues in Driver’s Safety September 13, 1991, San Antonio, Texas
Admiralty Section Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Convention, Maritime Wrongful Death Damages, July 22, 1991, Toronto, Canada
General Practice Institute, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Negotiating and Settling Tort Claims, December 13, 1990, Houston, Texas
Advanced Civil Discovery Short Course, 1990, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Rule Changes and Recent Developments, June 7, 1990, Dallas, Texas
State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education; Discovery and Proof in Punitive Damage Cases, Plaintiffs’ Perspective,
March 9, 1990, Tyler, Texas, March 15, 1990, Austin, Texas, March 16,
1990, Houston, Texas, March 21, 1990, Dallas, Texas, March 22, 1990,
San Antonio, Texas, March 29, 1990, Fort Worth, Texas
Discovery, Part I, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Scope, Relevance, Privileges, March 8, 1990, Houston, Texas, March 15, 1990, Houston, Texas
Advanced Personal Injury Short Course, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education; Statutory Causes of Action, October 6, 1989, Dallas, Texas
Insurance Litigation, University of Houston Law Center–Continuing Legal Education, Negotiations and Settlement Techniques, August 18, 1989, Dallas, Texas, August 25, 1989, Houston, Texas
Advanced Civil Discovery Seminar, University of Houston Law Center-Continuing Legal Education, Rule Changes and Recent Developments, June 1, 1989, Houston, Texas, June 8, 1989, Dallas, Texas
Advanced Civil Litigation Course, University of Houston Law Center; Discovery, Part I: Scope, Relevance, Privileges, March 16, 1989, San Antonio, Texas; March 23, 1989, Houston, Texas
Houston Seamen’s Center Seminar, Seafarer’s Rights Seminar; Recent Developments in Maritime Law, February, 1989
Seamen’s Church Institute Center for Seafarer’s Rights, Attorney Orientation, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1988, New Orleans, Louisiana
Houston International Seamen’s Center, Port Chaplains Training School, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1988, Houston, Texas
Advanced Personal Injury Short Course, University of Houston Law Center, Discovery Developments, Including Impact of the New Rules, October 21, 1988
First Annual Economic Conference, Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s First Annual Economic Conference, The Port of Houston Gateway, October 7, 1988
Houston Inter-American Chamber of Commerce, Houston: Gateway to Latin America, September, 1988
Advanced Civil Discovery Seminar, University of Houston–Continuing Legal Education; Rule Changes and Recent Developments, Emphasizing New Rules, June 9, 1988, Dallas, Texas; June 16, 1988, Houston, Texas
Seamen’s Church Institute Center for Seafarer’s Rights, Attorney Orientation, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1987, San Diego, California
Houston International Seamen’s Center, Port Chaplains Training School, Seafarers’ Rights Seminar, 1986, Houston, Texas
International Council of Seafarers Agencies, International Conference, Gulf Coast Shrimpers, 1985, Corpus Christi, Texas
Cameron County Legal Secretaries Association, An Introduction to Admiralty Law, 1984, Harlingen, Texas
Conference of Gulf Coast Regional Seamen’s Agencies, Compendium of Foreign Wage Claims, 1983
Hon. Judge Anthony P. Ferris Seminar on Civil Trial Advocacy, Time is of the Essence, 1983, Houston, Texas
Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey/United Seamen’s Service, Compilation of Wages Pursuant to the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation Collective Bargaining Agreement, Workshop Coordinator; 1982, New York, New York
SELECTED HONORS
“Presidential Citation”, State Bar of Texas
“Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem” (Catholic Order of Knighthood, under the direct protection of the Holy See)
“Honorary Lifetime Membership”, Apostleship of the Sea (Formed with approval of the Holy See in 1922, it is under the direction of the Pontifical Commission for Migrants and Tourism)
“Lifetime Achievement Award” Hispanic Bar Association
“Excellence in Leadership Award” Thurgood Marshall College Fund
“Aztec Medallion”, Mexican American Opportunities Foundation, Los Angeles, California
“Community Service Award”, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Distinguished Alumnus , Pasadena Independent School District
“Bronze Anchor” Award, Houston International Seafarers’ Center for outstanding contribution to Houston Maritime Community
“Senior Fellow” American Leadership Forum,
“Fellow”, British-American Project, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
“Milton Popkin Community Service Award”, Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith
“Dean’s Award”, University of Houston Law Center
“National Advisory Council”, University of Houston
“Father of the Year” Houston Community Partners
SELECTED PRIOR/CURRENT BOARDS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE POSITIONS
National Director/ Texas State Chairman, Children’s Defense Fund
New paragraph
National Director, Teach For America
Executive Committee Member, Board of Visitors of M.D. Anderson Hospital
Director, JP Morgan Chase Bank Houston, Texas, Advisory Board
Trustee, Catholic Endowment Foundation
Trustee, Greater Houston Community Foundation
Director, Texas Southern University Foundation
Chairman, Texas State Senate Hispanic Policy Council
Houston Delegate, Texas State House of Representatives/ Mexican American Legis-lative Policy Council
Director, University of Houston Alumni Association
Director, University of Houston Law Center, Health Law and Policy Institute
Member, University of Houston School C.T. Bauer College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board
Trustee, St. Agnes Academy
Member, Coalition for Mutual Respect, Anti-Defamation League
Chairman, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Charter Committee
Member, Archdiocese Finance Council
Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas-Houston Branch
Commissioner, Port of Houston Authority
MILITARY
Mr. Solar served in the United States
Army during the Vietnam era. After completing basic training at Fort
Polk, Louisiana, he was assigned to an Advanced Infantry training
program. Upon completion of his tour of duty, he was honorably
discharged from the 3d United States Infantry (The Old Guard) Honor
Guard Company at Ft. Meyer, Virginia.
PERSONAL
Mr. Solar is married to Dr. Patricia Claire Solar and together they have four children.
