Atty. Chad Baruch

Atty. Chad Baruch

Nothing defines an appellate lawyer more than writing ability. Chad Baruch wrote one of the most acclaimed appellate briefs in American history while representing what the New York Times called "a glittering array of hip hop stars." The "Hip Hop Brief" went viral and received national media coverage including articles in New Yorker and Rolling Stone.

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Profile Summary

About Chad Baruch at a glance

Chad Baruch is a litigation and appellate attorney based in Dallas, Texas, practicing at Johnston Tobey Baruch PC. Admitted to practice in Texas, State Bar of Texas. Educated at University of Minnesota (J.D., 1991). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Dallas, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

Über uns

  • Nothing defines an appellate lawyer more than writing ability
  • Chad Baruch wrote one of the most acclaimed appellate briefs in American history while representing what the New York Times called "a glittering array of hip hop stars
  • The "Hip Hop Brief" went viral and received national media coverage including articles in New Yorker and Rolling Stone
  • One newspaper called it "the greatest amicus brief in Supreme Court history
  • Chad’s work focuses on high-stakes civil and family appeals, constitutional law, legal ethics, and representation of judges before the State Commission on Judicial Conduct
  • In recent years, he has successfully argued cases before the Supreme Court of Texas addressing conflict-of-interest rules governing attorneys in shareholder-derivative litigation, the applicability of provisions under the Texas Education Code to homeschool families, and the authority of Texas appellate courts to order supplemental briefing concerning unaddressed issues, among others
  • Chad successfully represented the Dallas County District Attorney in the appeal of a contempt conviction against the elected District Attorney, and then served as Dallas County District Attorney Pro Tem
  • He represented the Dallas County Democratic Party in a ballot-contest lawsuit filed by the Republican Party, successfully defending the ballot eligibility of 128 Democratic candidates
  • Chad also represented the family of the victim in connection with the murder that led to the hit film Bernie
  • Chad has served as lead counsel on appeals in the Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Tyler, Amarillo, El Paso, Waco, Eastland, Texarkana, and Corpus Christi-Edinburg Courts of Appeals, as well as the Texas Supreme Court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Mississippi Supreme Court, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits
  • He has presented oral argument in more than 100 appeals
  • Chad is a recognized leader in the legal profession in Texas
  • He served as the 85th Chair of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, and remains the only Jewish lawyer in Texas history to serve as chair or president of the State Bar
  • In addition, Chad served as Chair of the Texas Bar College and was one of two nominated candidates for President of the State Bar of Texas in 2017
  • Over the past 15 years, Chad has made more than 400 continuing legal education presentations to lawyers across the country, most often in the areas of legal writing, appellate practice, and constitutional law
  • He has presented on legal writing multiple times at the prestigious National Summit of Appellate Judges Education Institute and was invited to speak on legal writing in judicial opinions at the Texas College for Judicial Studies
  • Chad has written numerous law review articles
  • Those articles have been cited as scholarly authority in at least three published appellate opinions and more than 75 law review articles
  • Chad Baruch is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Chad’s work has garnered him numerous awards over recent years
  • He won the 2019 Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award, presented annually to one Texas lawyer who exemplifies professionalism in the practice of law
  • the 2017 Patrick Wiseman Award, presented annually to one Texas lawyer for lifetime contributions to constitutional law and civil liberties in Texas
  • the 2016 Dan Rugeley Price Memorial award, presented annually to one Texas lawyer for contributions to the profession and excellence in legal writing
  • and the 2015 Gene Cavin Award, presented annually to one Texas attorney for lifetime contributions to continuing legal education in Texas
  • In addition, Chad was the inaugural recipient of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Law Section’s Helen Cassidy Lifetime Achievement Award for continuing legal education
  • Chad has been cited as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters and as one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine each year since 2011
  • He was honored by Thompson Reuters as a “Top 100 in Texas” Super Lawyer in 3 of the past 5 years, and as the Best Lawyers in America’s Appellate Lawyer of the Year for North Texas in 2019
  • Lawdragon named Chad one of the “500 Leading Lawyers in America.” Throughout almost his entire legal career, Chad also worked as a government teacher and basketball coach
  • In addition to teaching college and political science at the college and high school levels, Chad spent nearly 20 years as a head basketball coach at the University of Dallas, Paul Quinn College, Yavneh Academy of Dallas
  • In 2006, he was a finalist for Texas Coach of the Year as awarded by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches University

Practice Areas Explained

Chad Baruch's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Chad Baruch handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Chad Baruch is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Texas →

Appellate Practice

Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.

Chad Baruch is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in Texas →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Texas

Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Dallas are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Dallas or all attorneys in Texas.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Chad Baruch

Where is Chad Baruch's law office located?
Chad Baruch's law practice is located in Dallas, Texas. The firm is Johnston Tobey Baruch PC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Chad Baruch handle?
Chad Baruch focuses on litigation, appellate. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Texas.
Where did Chad Baruch go to law school?
Chad Baruch earned their education at (J.D., 1991).
How can I contact Chad Baruch for a consultation?
You can contact Chad Baruch directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Chad Baruch received?
Chad Baruch's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice; Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — First Amendment Law; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:.

Education

J.D.
University of Minnesota
- 1991

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — First Amendment Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2011-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers, 2019-2022, 2024-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers, 2019-2021, 2024-2025
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , D Magazine
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2011-2020
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Bar College Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award, 2019
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — State Bar of Texas Patrick Wiseman Award, 2018
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Bar Foundation, Dan Price Memorial Award, 2016
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — State Bar of Texas Gene Cavin Award, 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — State Bar of Texas, Appellate Law Section, CLE Hall of Fame, Inaugural Inductee, 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — State Bar of Texas, Appellate Law Section, Helen Cassidy Award, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — State Bar of Texas, Consumer & Commercial Law Section, Richard Alderman Award, 2014
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Pro Bono Champion, 2009
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Avvo Rating - Superb 10.0/10.0
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Dallas/Fort Worth)
- 2020

Bar Admissions

Texas, State Bar of Texas

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