Sumner Schick was recently featured in Attorney at Law Magazine’s cover story.
Founding partner Steve Sumner was interviewed about his professional baseball career, his legal career, and the history and future of the law firm.
Read excerpts below or read the full article online or in e-magazine format.
THE EVOLUTION OF A BALL PLAYER
After graduating from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, Steve Sumner signed a professional baseball contract to pitch for the Houston Astros and for the next four years, he pitched for the Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Washington Senators. His successful baseball career ended abruptly due to a shoulder injury.
It was competitive. It was intense. It had a lot of the same earmarks of pitching in professional baseball. I’ve always thought that played a part in my ultimate decision to go on to law school, and I knew then – I was going to be a trial lawyer.
– Steve Sumner
THE EVOLUTION OF AN ATTORNEY
Sumner and his partner, David C. Schick, formed Sumner Schick in 1986 and the firm has grown to represent some of the most notable persons and organizations in the nation, including Fortune 200 and Fortune 500 companies.
Sumner’s record as a Trial Lawyer includes being a member of the defense team in all three criminal capital murder and solicitation of capital murder trials of Cullen Davis, which resulted in acquittals for Davis. Sumner notes that for three years, he learned his trade as a trial lawyer by working closely with his mentor, Richard Racehorse Haynes.
He was lead trial counsel for the World Boxing Council in a libel/slander civil lawsuit filed against Howard Cosell and the New York Post in Federal Court in New York City.
He successfully defended Ricky Kyle in Los Angeles against charges of murdering his father, after two trials and fifteen months in the courtroom. The book Ulterior Motives by Suzanne Finstad was written about the case and the television series, Investigation Discovery, also featured the case in a 30-minute segment.
It is natural to think of Sumner solely as a criminal trial lawyer after such high-profile cases, but Sumner disagrees.
I’ve tried lots of civil cases. I was a criminal trial lawyer, and I had great success in the criminal arena, but the truth of the matter is that ten years after the Cullen Davis criminal trials, I successfully defended Cullen Davis as lead trial counsel in the wrongful death civil suit which was one of the biggest civil trials ever in the State of Texas.
I started representing Darwin Deason who I think played a huge part in my career. He was the founder of ACS – Affiliated Computer Services. I initially represented him in his personal work and then represented ACS and Xerox. I still represent Darwin and his companies.
– Steve Sumner
Representation of Deason and ACS was a major factor in the decision to dramatically shift direction and move into major commercial litigation representing large companies.
THE EVOLUTION OF A LAW FIRM
Not content to remain static or to rest on past successes, Sumner Schick continues to evolve and re-invent itself to meet the ever-changing needs of the legal community, including entry into one of the most demanding and most exciting legal arenas – Whistleblower litigation. The evolution began when the firm began representing some of the country’s largest companies in Qui Tam defense cases – representing Lockheed Martin, ACS, and Computer Sciences Corporation, for example.
I don’t think there’s anybody in Texas who can compare to our machine in terms of Whistleblower representation.
– Steve Sumner
Sumner has led the efforts to expand into another legal arena. Vern Clemons has recently joined the firm. Clemons earned advanced degrees in health care compliance and the firm has begun representing healthcare providers.
Although Sumner remains fully active in the firm, he is “shifting more of the heavy lifting” to his son. Justin Sumner is a trial attorney who is experienced in a wide range of general civil and complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts. He joined the firm in 2006.
My son is the future of Sumner Schick. He’s represented all these major companies and handled major disputes. I’m still practicing full time, but I’m very fortunate to have someone of Justin’s experience and capability to evolve the law firm in to the future generations.
– Steve Sumner
AN EVOLVING PERSONAL LIFE
As with his career, Sumner’s personal life continually changes. Perhaps that is best exemplified by the changes in his family life.
I buy into the philosophy if you build a field, they will come. Our field is a lake house on Cedar Creek Lake. It’s a fabulous place for the family, especially our two sons, Justin and Grant, their wives, and our five grand kids. They love it and we, as a family, love to spend quality family time at the lake house.
– Steve Sumner
He is active in several bar associations. He is a big baseball and football fan. He and his wife have been snow skiers and have skied throughout America and Canada for more than 40 years and still enjoy snow skiing.
Sumner is active in the Association of Former Baseball Players because he is a member of an exclusive group of men – former professional athletes who have become attorneys.