Gerald P. Urbach
Addison, Texas
Shareholder
ph. 972-701-7026
ph. 866-240-5197 (Toll-Free)
fx. 972-701-7126
gurbach@hhdulaw.com

Gerry Urbach has been practicing law for over four decades and he has a wealth of insight into the nuances of commercial litigation and business bankruptcy. When Gerry has a client facing insolvency, he brings his in-depth experience with business reorganizations and creditor issues to help guide them through the process or advise them of alternatives to avoid the process. When representing secured or unsecured creditors, his experience in representing business debtors is invaluable in achieving favorable outcomes for creditors. He has litigated virtually every kind of bankruptcy issue for both debtors, creditors, creditors' committees and trustees.

Gerry has a unique focus on litigating disputes within the hospitality industry, particularly when the issue involves Web-based bookings and hotel management services.  His many years of litigation experience across a wide variety of business disputes in all courts and before arbitrators has given him the ability to serve clients in a broad range of industries and matters. Just a few examples of the types of business disputes he has litigated include securities claims, construction disputes, employment disputes, non-competition agreements and unfair business practices, purchase and sale of businesses, copyright and trademark infringement, and disputes among partners in business dissolutions.

He is a shareholder at HHDU and has been with the firm for more than fifteen years. Gerry practiced at another Dallas law firm for more than twenty years. He began his legal career as briefing clerk to Justice Claude Clayton on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He has been AV® rated by his peers, the highest rating for legal ability awarded by Martindale-Hubbell for excellence in the practice of law.

Gerry is admitted to appear before the U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th and 10th Circuits, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Tax Court. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin in 1968, where he was chosen for the Order of the Coif. Gerry earned his B.A. cum laude from Rice University.

Gerry is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, including both the Bankruptcy & Commercial Law Section and the Business Litigation Section. He also belongs to the Antitrust & Business Litigation and the Business Law and Bankruptcy Sections of the State Bar of Texas, as well as the American Bar Association.

Areas of Practice

• Business Disputes
• Civil Litigation
• Employment Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Trademark and Copyright Infringement

Litigation Percentage:
 70% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

• Represented various suite hotels in Chapter 11 cases in which confirmation of a plan of reorganization was achieved at contested hearings in every case
• Represented a major nursing home group in which leases were successfully assumed by convincing the court that the leases were residential
• Represented a bowling alley/entertainment center and obtained confirmation
• Represented a company providing services to injured parties and obtained confirmation of a plan notwithstanding a prior judgment obtained against the company by a major insurance company
• Represented a subprime auto business and obtained confirmation of a plan converting over $50 million dollars of debt into equity
• Represented a Dallas bank in a jury trial in which the bank was accused of fraud, conspiracy and intentionally interfering with a contract and obtained a take nothing judgment
• Represented several customers of a securities dealer who made unsuitable recommendations and churned accounts in a securities arbitration case and obtained a substantial award
• Represented a small tech company against several major defendants in a case involving $1 million dollars in damages
• Represented the trustee in the bankruptcy of a large ranch in which valuable horses were auctioned for substantial prices after successfully negotiating to prevent an action by the American Quarter Horse Association to reduce the value of the horses
• Represented an anti-trust attorney in a contested hearing and obtained a substantial attorney's fees award
• Represented many real estate partnerships in Chapter 11 cases in which either a plan of reorganization was confirmed or the partnership obtained time to try and sell or refinance its property
• Represented a designer soap manufacturer in a "bet-the-business" trade dress, unfair competition case and obtained a summary judgment and negotiated a large dollar settlement of a counterclaim
• Represented an employee in a case brought by an employee involving trade secret theft and unfair competition claims against the employee and obtained all of the balance owing on a severance and bonus package and dismissal of claims
• Represented separating employees in successful enforcement of non-competition agreements
• Represented creditors who opposed settlements by trustees of significant claims of the debtor resulting in substantially greater recovery for creditors
• Represented clients in successful settlement of litigation including the dissolution of corporations owning various health and fitness clubs including injunctive relief and various claims and counterclaims between the parties
• Represented business in suit by the general contractor on a construction project resulting in the general contractor's claim being dismissed and obtained an award for the business

Bar Admissions:
Texas, 1968

• U.S. District Court
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Tax Court

The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1968
L.L.B.
Honors: Order of the Coif

Rice University, Houston, Texas, 1965
B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude

Professional Associations and Memberships: 

• Dallas Bar Association, Bankruptcy & Commercial Law and Business Litigation Sections
  Member
• American Bar Association Member State Bar of Texas, Antitrust & Business Litigation, Business Law and Bankruptcy Sections
  Member

Past Employment Positions:

• U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, Law Clerk for Judge Claude Clayton, 1968 - 1969
• Geary Stahl & Spencer, 1969 - 1992
• Ungerman Hill, 1992 - 1994