DUNNAM - Key Persons
Andrea Michelle Mehta became a lawyer to help people navigate the legal world. She loves her work and the people. Ms. Mehta helps her clients by her attention to detail and her superb research and writing.
When she is not advocating for her clients, Ms. Mehta likes to be surrounded by books. She is a huge proponent of mindfulness and meditation.
Andrea Mehta received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University, San Bernardino, where she graduated with the highest honors. While an undergraduate, she served as President of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. She was also a member of two other honor societies: Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key International Honor Society.
Andrea graduated from Baylor Law School, Cum Laude. While in law school, Andrea worked as a legal research assistant and was a technical editor of the Baylor Law Review.
Since being licensed by the State Bar of Texas, Andrea has practiced law at Dunnam and Dunnam. She is licensed to practice in Texas, the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Texas, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Andrea's practice focuses in Appellate Law, Business Law, Civil Trial Law, and Local Counsel.
Andrea's practice focuses primarily in Appellate Law, Civil Trial Law, Family Law, and General Law.
Carolina G. Truesdale graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law, Cum Laude, where she discovered her passion for serving families during difficult times. While in law school, Carolina worked in the District Attorney's Office as an appellate clerk and volunteered for Lone Star Legal Aid. Carolina is a member of the Phi Delta Phi honor society.
Mrs. Truesdale received a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, where she was on the Dean's List and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She is a native of Monclova, Mexico and is fluent in both Spanish and French. In her free time, Carolina likes to spend time painting, reading, and gardening.
Carolina's practice focuses on Divorce, Child Custody, and other Family Law matters.
Gerald R. Villarrial has practiced family law, criminal law and civil litigation for over 20 years.
Gerald Ray Villarrial has an important goal - to be remembered as someone who cared about people and changed lives through his skill as an attorney. He is a practical thinker who works hard. His family and his clients motivate him to come to work each day. Gerald Villarreal has practiced family law, criminal law, and civil litigation for over 20 years. Wacoan Magazine has selected Gerald Villarrial as one of Waco's best lawyers for criminal defense and insurance law.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Neighborly ( the World 's Largest Home Services Franchisor With over 3, 700 Franchisees and $2B in System Sales )
"I have been called as expert witnesses in the past to help some people and we are always proud to help. The thing that shocked me and I have to make sure I don't say more than I should for privacy reasons. I heard Mr Jim Dunnam talking to (who I later come to find out is a partner in the firm) Mr. Thomas West, I witnessed them do something I never thought I would hear an attorney do and that was to tell his assistant (who I found out to be Nicole) to lower the firms fees because They needed it more than him. I asked him about this later when he thanked me for helping out and he told me this "the money I gave up isn't going to change my day to day life but it is life changing for them". If I ever need law services they will be my go to dudes! I could tell it really bothered him and what they were going thru. It bummed him out. What's this…..? A couple of lawyers with a heart? Imagine that. I was impressed. You don't have to use them but you better hope you are never against them! I've seen it! Dude they will sneak up on ya and then you have been "GOT". Good heart Mr. Dunnam and Mr. West!!! Good heart!!"
Grayson Brown, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Neighborly (the world's largest home services franchisor with over 3,700 franchisees and $2B+ in system sales).
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Board Certified Specialist
- Certified Specialist
- Member of Dunnam & Dunnam
- Public Policy Fellow
- Specialist
Jim is a Public Policy Fellow through the University of Texas School of Law Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, a Credentialed Mediator in the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association, and a member of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association.
Jim Dunnam has been certified as a specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the practice of Civil Trial Law since 1994 and Family Law since 1995. Only about 1 percent of lawyers are board certified in these specialties. In addition to those two specialties, he engages in the practice of Appellate Law, Business Law, Commercial Law, Consumer Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, and Personal Injury Law.
During his 14 years as a Texas State Representative, Jim served on the House Select Committee on Judicial Interpretation of the Law and the House committee responsible for oversight of Family Law and the Texas Family Code. Jim has received numerous awards and recognitions, including:
2022 Best Trial Lawyer, Wacoan Magazine
2020 Best Trial Lawyer, Wacoan Magazine
2019 Best Trial Lawyer, Wacoan Magazine
2019 Best Business Lawyer, Wacoan Magazine
AV Rated Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters
2011 Star of Texas Award, Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom
Named one of "The Most Influential Lawmakers of 2009" by the Associated Press
Called "The Third Most Powerful Member of the Texas House in 2009" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
Honored as one of the 2007 "Ten Best Legislators" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
Designated as a 2007 "Honorable Mention" by Texas Monthly Magazine
Received the 2007 "Smart on Crime Award" from the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition
Named one of the 2005 "Ten Best Legislators" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
Named one of the 2003 "Ten Best Legislators" by Capitol Inside Online Magazine
Named one of the 2003 "Top Five in the House" by GalleryWatch
Called a 2003 "Legislative Star" by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Recognized as the 2002 "Champion for Children" by the Equity Center
Named as the 2001 "Baylor Young Lawyer of the Year" by Baylor Law School
Named one of the 2001 "Ten Best Legislators" by Texas Monthly Magazine
Named one of the 2001 "Top Five in the House" by GalleryWatch
Called "The 2001 Star of Texas" by Common Cause Texas
Designated as the "Statewide 2001 Texas PTA Legislator of the Year" by Texas PTA
Recognized as a 2001 "Heart of Honor" by the American Heart Association
Called a 2001 "Friend of Education" by the Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Received the 2001 Legislative Leadership Award from the National Associations of Allstate, State Farm, and United Farmers Agents
Recognized as a "Comer" in the 1999 Texas Monthly - Best Legislators Edition
Received the 1999 "Golden Apple Award" from Texas Mid-Size School Association
Won the 1999 "Excellence in Leadership Award" from the Texas Association of Rural Schools
Named the 1999 "Texas PTA Legislative Guardian - District 12" by Texas PTA
Honored as the 1999 "Honorary Life Member" by the Texas Association of Community Schools
Received the 1999 "Distinguished Service Award" from the Vocational Agriculture Teacher Association
Awarded "Special Recognition" in 1999 by the Texas Rural Education Association
Jim Dunnam is a Board Certified Specialist in both Civil Trial Law and Family Law. Jim was born and has spent his entire life in Waco. He graduated from Baylor University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and from Baylor Law School in 1987 with a Juris Doctor degree.
Since being licensed to practice law in 1988, Jim has worked as a member of Dunnam & Dunnam, where he is a partner. A considerable portion of Jim's time outside the office is spent working with his Labrador Retrievers, Daisy and Willow - frisbee being the preferred game of choice. Daisy and Willow are also weekly fixtures in Jim's office as the Dunnam & Dunnam unofficial mascots. Jim has been married to his wife, Michelle, for more 35 years, and the have three children and two grandchildren.
Jim represents both plaintiffs and defendants. And although he has obtained dismissals, summary judgments, and take-nothing verdicts in high-stakes cases as a defense lawyer, some of his biggest wins for the plaintiff include the following.
"I have known Jim Dunnam for 30 years, back in the day when it was unheard of for the man to get custody of the kids during a divorce Jim fought for me and got custody of both my children for me, if you are lucky enough to have Jim as your attorney then you have the piece of mind knowing he will fight for your case till the very end, a stand up guy who tells you straight up front what your facing and what he can do for you, I highly recommend Jim Dunnam to anyone who is in need of an attorney for any circumstance."
Mason Dunnam marks the fourth generation of Dunnam attorneys. He joined Dunnam & Dunnam 95 years after his great-grandfather and founding partner, William V. Dunnam, Sr. began the firm.
Mason was born and has lived most of his life in Waco. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Spanish. Mason then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Baylor Law School in 2019. During his time at Baylor Law School, professors chose Mason to represent Baylor at three inter-school mock trial advocacy competitions.
Mr. Dunnam is licensed to practice in the state of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. His practice focuses on civil trial law, consumer law, and personal injury.
Mason Dunnam is the fourth generation of Dunnam attorneys at the firm since 1925
Job Titles:
- Family Law Specialist
- Member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists
Merrilee is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, the Texas Board of Family Law Specialists, and the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section. She is a member of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association
Merrilee L. Harmon is a Family Law specialist, Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1985.
Vance Dunnam has 60 years of experience as a lawyer in Waco, Texas, handling all types of cases in both the office and the courtroom.
Vance graduated from Baylor University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree majoring in economics. He earned his law degree from Baylor Law School in 1953, and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta honors fraternity.
Licensed in Texas in 1954, Vance has practiced law in Waco ever since. A founder and partner of Dunnam & Dunnam, he has been extensively involved in the legal community, serving as a member of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee in 1980-81, and as President of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association from 1970-71. In addition to being licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas, Vance have been admitted to practice before the U. S. Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit) and the U.S. District Court (Western District of Texas).
Vance Dunnam has been certified as a specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the practice of Family Law since 1988. In addition to that specialty, he engages in the practice of Appellate Law, Business Law, Consumer Law, Commercial Law, Civil Trial Law, Criminal Law, Estate Planning - Probate Law, General Law, Personal Injury Law, and Real Estate Law.
Vance Dunnam, Jr., was born in Waco, Texas, on September 5, 1953, where he has lived most of his life. He graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a major in accounting and from Baylor Law School in 1977 with a Juris Doctor degree having concentrated his studies in Business Law, Estate Planning - Probate Law, and Real Estate Law.
He has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1977 and has practiced law in Waco, Texas, as a member of Dunnam and Dunnam since 1978; initially, as an associate, but, after 1983, as a partner. He is a member of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association.
Vance Dunnam, Jr., has been certified as a specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the practice of Estate Planning - Probate Law since 1983, Residential Real Estate Law since 1984, and Commercial Real Estate Law since 1985. In addition to those three specialties, he engages in the practice of Business Law, Civil Trial Law, Commercial Law, Consumer Law, Elder Law, Family Law, General Law, Guardianship Law, Immigration Law, and Real Estate Law.
Vance has 60 years of experience as a lawyer in Waco, Texas handling all types of cases in both the office and the courtroom.
Vance has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1977 and has practiced law in Waco, Texas since 1978.