Swanson Law Firm, PLLC

March 1, 2020

SLF has moved!  We are now located in the Houston Heights warehouse district at 3550 West 12th Street, Suite 102 in the loveadv. building.

September 20, 2019

Today the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas unanimously approved President Randall O. "Randy" Sorrels' appointment of Sarahjane "SJ" Davidson Swanson (Houston) and Aimee Slusher (Lufkin) to six-year terms on the Texas Real Estate Broker-Lawyer Committee.  This is the second term for both Swanson and Slusher.  The term runs from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2025.

The Broker-Lawyer Committee (BLC) reviews and prepares all contracts promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission. It consists of six Broker members, six Lawyer members appointed by the Texas Bar Association, and one public member appointed by the governor's office. To submit a comment to the Broker-Lawyer Committee, please contact TREC's General Counsel.

December 13, 2018

SLF principal SJ Swanson was again named to Houstonia's Top Lawyers 2018 for real estate.  This is the fourth time she has recieved this honor.

https://www.houstoniamag.com/arts-and-culture/2019/01/houstonia-celebrates-our-top-lawyers

December 9, 2016

SLF principal attorney SJ Swanson recently completed requirements to maintain membership in the Texas Bar College, an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained attorneys in Texas. 

The College recognizes Texas lawyers who attend at least double the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) required by the State Bar of Texas.  This is Swanson's eighth year to qualify for membership. 

January 25, 2014

The Swanson Law Firm celebrated its fourth anniversary by relocating to the historic Sweeney and Coombs Building at 310 Main downtown. The c. 1880 building was extensively remodeled in 1998 and renamed the Arnold building after the owner.  The building received a City of Houston Landmark designation in 2009, and is included in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Main Street/Market Square Historic District.  Sweeney Building history.  Phone, fax, and emails remain the same.

December, 2013
SJ Davidson Swanson was selected as one of Houston's Top Lawyers in litigation for 2013 by Houstonia magazine.  Houstonia Top Lawyers 2013

  August 9, 2013
SLF principal SJ Swanson was recognized by the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the leading funding source for legal aid in Texas, for joining the Champions of Justice Society.  "I'm happy to support the organization that funds the legal aid office in Houston and across the state", she said.  SJ interned with Lone Star Legal Aid in Houston during her last year of law school.  She practiced in the litigation section, representing the agencies clients in court with a third year bar card. 

TAJC reports, "We are delighted to announce that the inaugural Champion of Justice Society has 220 members with 8 Sustainers, 15 Gold, 33 Silver and 164 Bronze members. Combined the Society has raised over $82,379 with another $31,000 in deferred revenue from Sustaining members.  We thank our Society members for their generous support. If you are interested in membership, visit www.TexasATJ.org/donate."

SJ Swanson - I Champion for Justice

June 6, 2013
SJ Swanson presented a continuing legal education seminar on the topic of representing real estate brokers in litigation to attorneys and brokers at the 28th Annual Real Estate Law Conference held today at South Texas College of Law/Houston.  The CLE whitepaper she presented is available by clicking the following link:  Representing Brokers When Deals Go Bad

March 6, 2013
The planning committee of the 28th Annual Real Estate Law Confernce at South Texas College of Law/Houston has tapped SLF attorney SJ Davidson Swanson to present a CLE session on the topic "Representing Brokers When Deals Go Bad" at the upcoming conference in June. Swanson will also submit a white paper on the topic.  http://www.stcl.edu/cle/2013newcal.html

February 20, 2013
Sarahjane "SJ" Davidson Swanson was recently selected for inclusion into the 2013 Martindale-Hubbell Bar Resister of Preeminent Women Lawyers.  The register is exclusively open to women attorneys who have received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from their peers.  Less than 5% of women lawyers have been recognized with an AV Preeminent Rating.  Swanson has been AV rated every year since 2008, and AV Preeminent rated every year since 2010 when the preeminent designation became available.

February 19, 2013
SJ Davidson presented a live continuing legal education teleconference today for the National Business Institute on the topic of Property Tax Lien Foreclosures to a national audience. 

http://www.nbi-sems.com

November 29, 2012
The recently-charterd Phi Delta Phi Houston Barrister Inn elected its initial Council and Officers today.  Houston attorneys Michael Vargo, Elly Austin, Gus M. Bernard, Travis Dunlap, Andrew G. "Drew" McGee, John “Jay” Patout, Billy Saqr, SJ Davidson Swanson, and Taryn Wright were elected to Council positions of the legal honors organization.  Vargo was also elected President.

The Houston Barrister Inn is open to all Phi Delta Phi alums who practice law in and around Houston, Texas, and provides networking and professional opportunities for members through periodic meetings and events.  It also serves as a resource for Phi Delta Phi members in law school and undergraduate universities.

July 12, 2012
SJ Swanson presented an extensive white paper and CLE course at the State Bar of Texas CLE's 2012 Advanced Real Estate Law Conference in San Antonio, Texas today.  Her presentation discussed the liability of Texas real estate brokers and salespersons (agents) and property managers under the statutory regulations and case law.  The white paper is available by clicking this link:  Brokerage & Management Contracts & Claims

September 27, 2011
The South Texas College of Law Alumni Association welcomes new president, Houston attorney SJ Davidson Swanson. Swanson is the principle of the Swanson Law Firm, PLLC, which specializes in business matters and litigation, real estate, and contracts. She is a 2002 graduate of South Texas and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston. She worked in the energy business for fifteen years before earning her law degree and is active in the Commercial Real Estate Women of Houston organization, Houston Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a member of the Houston, Texas, and American Bar Associations.
Also taking office October 1^st are vice presidents Ephraim del Pozo ’97, a partner at Porter Hedges LLP; Jose Valera ’86, a partner at Mayer Brown LLP; T. Neal Nobles ’98, corporate counsel at Exxon Mobil; and Kim Ogg ’86, managing partner of The Ogg Law Firm. Immediate past president is Mark Murray ’90, partner at Stevenson & Murray. The South Texas Alumni Association has over 10,000 members and focuses on raising scholarship dollars for the law school, networking, and recruiting outstanding students.

July 22, 2011
The Texas First Court of Appeals recently upheld the 157th Civil District Court's decision in a case SJ Swanson tried and won in May 2009 for clients Jordan-Lewis Development & Westbound Bank.  The Courts agreed that Swanson's client's commercial property should be free of lien that a local Chinese-American bank wrongfully asserted after it accepted an agreed payoff and substitution of collateral from the property's prior owner.  The appeallate court also upheld the $159k attorneys' fee award to Swanson's clients.

Memorandum Opinion issued 7/14/11, No. 01-09-00990-CV, American First National Bank, Appellant, v. Jordan-Lewis Development, L.P., Westbound Bank, and Bob Karim & Associates, L.P., Appellees, on appeal from Harris County District Court trial court Case No. 2008-46432  (Swanson was associated with Irelan*Hargis, PLLC at the time of trial; IH represented the clients on appeal).

March 8, 2011
SLF attorney SJ Swanson was a guest commentator today on CBS Radio 650 AM's Price of Business radio show with host Kevin Price talking about legal issues in business and real estate. 

The show is available  http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13179600, Swanson's interview begins at minute 29.

The Price of Business is the longest running show on CBS Radio in Houston, Texas.  Listen weekdays at 11:00 a.m. www.cbs650news.com click on the "listen live" button on the left or www.priceofbusiness.com.

October 22, 2010

The South Texas College of Law Alumni Association elected its 2010-2011 officers at the association's annual meeting on October 22nd, naming Mark T. Murray '90 President, SJ Davidson Swanson '02 Vice President of Development and Fundraising, Ephraim del Pozo '97 Vice President of Admissions, T. Neal Nobles '98 Vice President of Programming and Events, and Kim K. Ogg '86 Vice President of Students and Alumni.  The President and Officers have called this the year of the personal touch, and have pledged to measurably increase alumni participation with the college.  See more at:  http://www.stcl.edu/hottopics/2010alumni_assoc_elects_new_leaders.html

November 16, 2010
The Swanson Law Firm is pleased to announce that attorney Allison E. Whitten has joined the firm of counsel.  Ms. Whitten is an honors graduate of Trinity University, and earned her juris doctorate at the University of Texas School of Law.  Ms. Whitten is experienced in litigating matters involving business and commercial disputes, medical malpractice litigation, products liability litigation, personal injury litigation, and construction litigation.  She previously practiced with litigation boutique firms in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas. 

*Ms. Whitten is now associated with Johnson Law Group

September 10, 2010

Today SJ Davidson Swanson was admitted to The College of the State Bar of Texas, an honor society chartered in 1981 by the Supreme Court of Texas recognizing Texas lawyers who make an extraordinary commitment to professional education.

The agency's website notes that, "The College is an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best-trained attorneys in Texas.  Members are qualified attorneys who are interested in both high ethical standards and improved training for all Texas attorneys.  The College recognizes lawyers who attend at least double the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) required by the State Bar of Texas."

Swanson is a solo practitioner and principal of the Swanson Law Firm, PLLC in Houston, Texas.  She is a civil trial lawyer, and also maintains an active real estate and business transaction practice. 

April 8, 2010
SJ Swanson was re-elected Secretary of the corporation and a member of the Executive Committee at the annual meeting of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston (now known as Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star).  Swanson has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2006, and has served as Secretary for the past several years.