HARBOURLAW.COM - Key Persons

Edward L. Merritt practices civil litigation primarily representing many major insurance companies and businesses, including a major Retailer in regards to personal injury matters as well as employment law issues. Mr. Merritt is president of the firm. He is licensed to practice in all Texas State Courts, the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. He is a member of the Gregg County Bar Association (past President), the State Bar of Texas and the Northeast Texas Bar Association. Mr. Merritt attended Texas Tech University and Baylor University School of Law. He is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law. He also serves frequently as local counsel for complex civil litigation matters in the Marshall division of the Eastern District of Texas. Mr. Merritt has also handled IP litigation, telecommunications litigation and all types of business litigation. Mr. Merritt has handled and tried Oil and Gas matters, Probate matters, Family law matters and Banking matters. Mr. Merritt is active in local politics and has handled several different types of election law disputes.

Jessica Merritt LaRue was born in Longview, Texas and returned to Longview in 2011 to practice law with her father, Edward L. Merritt. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2011 and practices civil litigation primarily representing many major insurance companies and businesses, general business transactions, business litigation, banking, estate and probate matters, family law, real estate and all related litigation. Mrs. LaRue is Vice President of the firm. She is licensed to practice in all Texas State Courts and the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Mrs. LaRue graduated from Baylor University in 2008 receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Real Estate. She received her Juris Doctor from Baylor Law School in 2011. While in law school, Mrs. LaRue was a member of the Order of Barristers and placed first in the Dawson & Sodd Moot Court Competition. Mrs. LaRue is a member of the Texas Bar Association, Gregg County Bar Association, Northeast Texas Bar Association and the Junior League of Longview. She currently serves as secretary of the Gregg County Bar Association after previously serving as treasurer. Mrs. LaRue is active with civic and volunteer organizations in Longview including serving as the treasurer for the Junior League of Longview and volunteering with Junior Achievement of East Texas. She is on the Board of Directors for the Longview Museum of Fine Arts where she serves as assistant treasurer. Mrs. LaRue enjoys mentoring with the Partners in Prevention Mentoring Program and also volunteering with Awanas at her church. Mrs. LaRue and her husband Alex are members of Oakland Heights Baptist Church and enjoy spending their free time playing tennis. They serve together on the board of the Longview Tennis Association.