Mr. Emilio F. "Mano" DeAyala

E. F. Mano DeAyala serves as counsel to individuals and companies in various industries. He represents clients (both plaintiffs and defendants) in domestic and international matters regarding commercial contracts, energy, officer and director liability, employment and non-compete, professional liability, real estate and construction. He has represented clients (U.S. and foreign) in courts and arbitrations throughout Texas and in Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Minnesota, New York, Virginia, Illinois and England.

Prior to joining Buck Keenan, Mano was a senior partner with Thompson & Knight LLP, where he served clients as a counselor and trial lawyer for 16 years. He received his law degree from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1992 and a bachelor’s degree in business from The University of Texas at Austin in 1988. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a ranking at the highest level of professional excellence by his peers. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine 2004; Texas Rising Stars, (Business Litigation, Civil Litigation Defense, Real Estate) 2004-2006; and Texas Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) 2011. He is a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation and Texas Bar Foundation.

He is a frequent author and speaker on a variety of legal topics including: “Fair Housing Act: Issues Facing Real Estate Professionals,” 2010; “Anatomy of International Arbitration,” Thompson & Knight Annual Energy Industry Symposium, 2009; “Anatomy of International Arbitration,” 2008; “Texas High Court Broadens CGL Coverage of Construction Defects,” Houston Business Journal, 2008; “Responding and Objection to Discovery Under the Texas Rules,” 2007; “Business Travelers Find Money Talks, But In Different Languages,” Houston Business Journal, 2007 “Electronic Discovery – Changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” Document Retention and Destruction in Texas, August 2006; “Issues Relating to the Purchase of Acreage,” Fort Worth Business Journal, 2001; Minority Corporate Counsel Association, 2005; “Real Estate Agent and Broker Liability in Texas,” Houston Association of Realtors, 1996; “Defense of Sexual Misconduct Allegations in Civil Lawsuits,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1994; “Sex, Lies and Video Torts,” Ninth Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1993; “Professional Liability Newsletter (Non Medical)”, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Winter 1993, Spring 1994.