PORTER & DONOVAN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder With Geary
Amy Reilly Sallusti is a shareholder with Geary, Porter & Donovan, P.C. and practices in the areas of general business litigation, including representing property management in landlord/tenant, contract and other disputes, with an emphasis in representing the interests of property owners in ad valorem tax litigation, eminent domain and condemnation issues, and property tax planning and consultation.
Job Titles:
- Outstanding Student in Tax Award
Carolyn Chinn Maly practices in ad valorem property tax litigation, representing primarily commercial property owners throughout the State of Texas. In her practice, Mrs. Maly works tirelessly to achieve results in the form of reduced tax liability for taxpayer clients.
She received her bachelor's degree in Journalism with a minor in Political Science from the University of Georgia at Athens, Georgia in 2000. Upon graduation, Mrs. Maly worked for King & Spalding in Atlanta, Georgia on multi-district litigation representing manufacturers. Mrs. Maly clerked for the firm again while she attended law school at Florida State University - College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida.
During her third year of law school, Mrs. Maly served as a Fellow to the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Mrs. Maly graduated from FSU and was licensed to practice law in Florida in 2004 where she went on to serve as an attorney on the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee. As an attorney for the Judiciary Committee she was responsible for analyzing legislation for potential constitutional issues affecting citizens' rights and responding to constituent inquiries.
Mrs. Maly obtained her license to practice law in Texas in 2007. Through her work at Geary, Porter, & Donovan representing the taxpayers of Texas, Mrs. Maly continues to stand up for the rights of property owners.
Casen Gregg represents business organizations and their owners and governing bodies, as well as entrepreneurs and investors, in various business and commercial transactions, including in connection with entity structuring and formation, corporate finance and capitalization, private securities offerings, compensation, corporate governance, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, and intellectual property protection and licensing. Casen's clients include technology companies, real estate developers, investors and brokers, investment funds and sponsors, financial institutions, mobile app, web and e-commerce companies, investors in securities offerings, medical practices, veterinary practices and other professional service providers, restaurants, non-profit and tax-exempt organizations, and manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers across various industries.
Prior to joining Geary, Porter & Donovan in 2014, Casen's practice also included a wide range of business and commercial litigation matters. His prior experience prosecuting and defending contractual disputes, botched securities offerings, shareholder/partner disputes, employment disputes, and other "deals gone bad" has equipped Casen with a unique perspective in his current transactional practice, allowing him to identify and advise his clients around transactional and business operations pitfalls that can result in litigation.
Casen earned his bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Georgia in 2006, and his law degree, magna cum laude, from the Charleston School of Law in 2009, where he was an Associate Articles Editor for The Charleston Law Review, President of the Federalist Society, and a member of the Executive Leadership Council. In 2011, he received his masters of laws degree in entrepreneurship from Duke University School of Law. While at Duke, Casen served as a strategic advisor to numerous businesses, ranging from start-ups to diversified, mature companies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Executive Network Chapter for Business Forum International
Job Titles:
- American Inn of Court, Associate for
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Dallas Bar Association
- Member of the Junior League of Dallas
Mrs. Tobin is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers as well as many organizations that deal specifically with tax issues. She is a member of the North Texas Association of Assessing Officers, Texas Association of Property Tax Professionals, the SMU Real Estate Society, and Commercial Real Estate Women - Dallas.
She volunteers with many non-profit organizations throughout Dallas. Mrs. Tobin is a member of the Junior League of Dallas, having served as its President in 2017-2018 and on its Board of Directors.
Mrs. Tobin has been a prolific fundraiser for The Family Place. She has served as President of the Élan Circle of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and on its Board. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Turtle Creek Conservancy and is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The founder of our law firm, Joseph W. Geary, Jr., passed away on January 16, 2016. Joe was a decorated World War II veteran, a community and civic leader and a highly respected trial attorney. He was a great leader, mentor and friend and will be missed by all of us. Below is a brief biography which lists some of his accomplishments and associations. Following his biography is a poem written by Joe - which represents the way he lived - a man of action who led by example.
Joseph W. Geary, Jr. was born February 2, 1924 in Dallas, Texas. Joe graduated from North Dallas High and attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a BA in government and economics. At 17, he volunteered for military duty, enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) and was assigned to the 450th Bombardment Group 721st Bomb Squadron as a 2nd Lieutenant stationed in Manduria, Italy. Serving as a B24 navigator, Joe completed 50 missions over France, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Yugoslavia from 1944 until June 1945. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three clusters, Rank - Captain. Joe returned home where he graduated SMU law school and served as Assistant District Attorney with Henry Wade from 1947-1951. In 1948, Joe married Charlotte Walters, and they began a family. Leaving for private practice, Joe founded several law firms, including Geary Porter & Donovan where Joe practiced law until the time of his death. In October 2011, the French government honored Joe as a Knight of the Legion of Honor, its highest military decoration, for his WWII service. Joe was a member of the SMU Ex-Lettermen's Club (having lettered in baseball as a pitcher and a catcher), TTLA, ATLA, Phi Alpha Delta, a former member of the Dallas Community Chest Trust Fund (now the Community Foundation of Texas), East Dallas Parent's League and a lifetime member of the SMU Real Estate Society School of Business. He was a Fellow of the Dallas Bar Foundation and Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Joe was a past director of: Continental Steel Corp., Guardian S&L, Trinity National Bank, American Basketball Association, SMU Mustang Club, SMU Alumni Association, Dallas Civic Opera Association, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas Council of Churches, Central Business Association, City Club, Pinnacle Club; past president of: Kidney Foundation of Texas, Board of the Kidney Foundation of Texas, Exchange Clubs of Texas, East Dallas Exchange Club, and Preston Trails Golf Club; and served on the boards of the Vintage Country Club (Indian Wells, California) and Bent Tree Country Club. Joe also served on the Dallas City Council from 1959-1961 and ran for mayor in 1961. He was a former trustee of Lovers Lane Methodist Church, a 32nd degree Mason, one of the founders of the American Basketball Association and a part owner of the Dallas Chaparrals Basketball team (now the San Antonio Spurs). Joe was flown to Washington, D.C. twice by the Honor Flight DFW, including December 2015 when he was among twelve WWII vets honored on Pearl Harbor Day by the NFL at the Washington-Dallas game.
Daniel P. Donovan Kathleen F. Donovan Jeffrey L. Fisher Ronald D. Gray Casen D. Gregg James D. Hannagan Jeffrey W. Harrison Carolyn Chinn Maly Larry L. Martin James T. Porter Kim Alan Roberts Amy Reilly Sallusti Dallas A. Sessions David M. Tatum Jennifer C. Tobin Dorothea "Dotty" L. Vidal Nancy L. Waters James N. Zoys
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Dallas Family Lawyer
Dallas family lawyer Larry L. Martin focuses his efforts and skills toward achieving the goals of his clients through negotiating agreements when possible, and litigating when satisfactory agreements cannot be reached. Agreements and settlements preserve relationships, lower stress and lower costs. The know-how, experience and willingness to litigate actually facilitate reaching agreements.
Larry believes that one of his most important tasks is to advise and assist family law clients while they are experiencing some of the most difficult periods of their lives. He believes in being accessible when he is needed - day or night. He routinely provides his cellular telephone number to clients.
One of the first questions he will ask you is to let him know the goals that you seek. The next step is to analyze the facts and law to plan the best means to accomplish realistic goals. Larry considers one of his most important jobs to fully inform his client so that the client may make excellent decisions. He is candid, but understanding. He is a staunch advocate for achieving the goals of his clients, but realistic.
He has provided representation in a multitude of complex cases. He is one of the few Texas divorce and family law attorneys who can truly master all the moving parts of high-dollar, multiple-asset, document-intensive cases.
Because of his tenacity and attention to detail, Larry is often brought into complex cases. His knowledge, ability and approach have thrust him into the top ranks of Texas family lawyers. He is routinely asked to write and speak at continuing legal education seminars. Larry has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1996. Larry has been selected to the list of Texas Super Lawyers published in Texas Monthly magazine every year since 2003 (Thomson Reuters) and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward White, 2008-2017).
Larry is a past President of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, an organization restricted to about 450 board certified Texas family law attorneys. He is one of only approximately 125 Texas lawyers admitted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a past President of the Texas Chapter. He is a Master in the Annette Stewart American Inn of Court and served two terms on the Board of that organization.
Larry Martin and the other family lawyers at Geary, Porter & Donovan, P.C., are available to speak to nonprofit groups and company gatherings all across North Texas. To check availability or to book any GPD attorney to speak to your group, please contact Mr. Martin directly at 972-349-2240.
Mike Geary is one of the best known and most respected family law practitioners in Texas. His ability to quickly and thoroughly understand complex property cases and business structures, including family limited partnerships and trusts, makes him the perfect attorney to handle large-asset divorces. When business valuation and tax-related issues are involved, Mr. Geary is one of the leading authorities in his part of the state.
"My practice encompasses all areas of family law," he says, "including divorce, property division, characterization of assets, tracing of separate property, valuation and reimbursement claims. I handle property cases involving trusts and closely held businesses, prepare premarital and post-marital property agreements and have the experience to be an impartial arbitrator for family law arbitrations."
Mr. Geary is Board Certified in Family Law (1985) by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Twice he has been selected one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas in Family Law by D Magazine (1995 and 2001). He has been selected to the list of Texas Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters, as published in Texas Monthly magazine (2003-2016). Mr. Geary has also been listed in The Best Lawyers in America ( 2006-2016). Best Lawyers is a service of Woodward White, Inc.
He was selected one of four Top-Notch Lawyers in Family Law in the state (American Lawyer Media 2007) and published in Texas Lawyer‘s Go-To Guide and is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell.
Mr. Geary, is a former arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc (FINRA).
He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1979.
Mr. Geary writes articles and is a guest speaker on the business issues of divorce before both legal and business groups. He believes everyone needs to know the business side of marriage and divorce.
Mike Geary and the other family lawyers at Geary, Porter & Donovan, P.C., are available to speak to nonprofit groups and company gatherings all across North Texas. To check availability or to book a GPD attorney to speak to your group, please contact Mr. Geary directly at 972-349-2238.
Job Titles:
- Inn of Court, Member 2001
Job Titles:
- Inn of Court, Member 2001
Patrick Donovan practices in the areas of property tax litigation and business litigation. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Loyola University Chicago in 2014. In 2017, Mr. Donovan graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he received an Amjur Award for academic achievement in Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics. Mr. Donovan completed his third year of law school as a visiting student at Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law.
Patrick represents commercial property owners across the State of Texas in their valuation disputes with county appraisal districts. He currently represents all classes of office buildings, medical buildings, apartments and industrial properties. Mr. Donovan was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2017. He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and American Bar Association.
Mr. Gray is a shareholder in the Property Tax Law section. He earned his bachelor's degree from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University - Commerce) in 1977 and his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1989. He is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Texas, and the Western District of Texas, the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.