Hoover Slovacek LLP

5847 San Felipe, Suite 2200  •  Houston, Texas 77057  •  Phone: (713) 977-8686  •  Fax: (713) 977-5395
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Pickford@hooverslovacek.com


Martindale-Hubbell rated AV® Preeminent™
An AV® certification mark is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

Court Admissions:

  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
  • Texas State Courts

Education:

  • St. Mary's University School of Law
    San Antonio, Texas
    Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1985
  • University of Kansas
    Lawrence, Kansas
    Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Social Studies, 1981

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • State Bar of Texas
    Member
  • Houston Bar Association
    Member
  • Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce
    Member
  • CFISD Community Leadership Committee
    Member

Thomas M. Pickford, Jr.

Partner

Areas of Practice:

Bar Admissions:

  • Texas, 1985

Thomas M. Pickford is a partner in Hoover Slovacek LLP commercial litigation practice, and has been practicing commercial litigation focused on real estate for the past 26 years. 

In his practice, Mr. Pickford represents plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of matters at every stage of the litigation process.  This includes acting for the client by drafting and responding to demand letters; preparation and filing of pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, and responses; and the preparation for and attendance at hearings, depositions, mediations, trials, and appellate arguments.  By not limiting his practice to either plaintiffs or defendants, Mr. Pickford is able to maintain a more neutral perspective allowing him the experience to better predict the opposing side's reaction to a particular strategy during the litigation process.  Mr. Pickford has represented clients in Justice of the Peace Courts, County Courts, Texas State District Courts, the Texas Court of Appeals for the 1st, 4th, 13th, and 14th Districts, The Texas Supreme Court, The United States District Courts for the Western District of Texas, The United States District Courts for the Southern District of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit. 

Accomplishments:

Mr. Pickford along with Joseph O. Slovacek successfully obtained a judgment in favor of defending their client’s foreclosure on a residence against Evander Holyfield and several others Plaintiffs.  The final judgment included an award of attorney fees to their client.  Mr. Pickford recently procured a summary judgment on behalf of Amegy Bank for a loan default by GB Foods. Inc.  Mr. Pickford successfully assisted the defense of a client in severe personal injury lawsuit involving a worker struck by a train at a rail crossing.  Mr. Pickford also obtained a Dismissal without having to go to trial of a Homeowners Lawsuit brought by sixteen homeowners regarding construction and maintenance of common areas in subdivision against his client, Mr. Sam Boyd, a Residential Real Estate Developer.  Mr. Pickford successfully handled breach of contract lawsuit for Oil & Gas Prospect Company regarding Oil & Gas lease in the Gulf of Mexico.  Mr. Pickford assisted in the successful negotiation of the purchase of undivided interest in residential lot involved in tax lawsuit, and procured dismissal of tax lawsuit for client.  Mr. Pickford also assisted in obtaining successful result for client in defense of California asbestos lawsuit.

  • Mr. Pickford's clients include Focus Exploration LLC, Crossland Construction Company, and Mr. Hiram Butler.
  • Mr. Pickford's name appears in numerous published opinions including 7979 Airport Garage v. Dollar Rent A Car, 245 S.W.3d 488 (Tex. App. 2007, review denied); Oldfield v. City of Houston, 15 S.W.3d 219 (Tex. App. 2000, no pet); Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc. v. Harris County Appraisal Dist., 985 S.W.2d 618 (Tex. App. 1999, no pet); and Law Offices of C. Kendall Harrell, P.C. v. Commerce Sav. Ass'n., 824 F.Supp. 1159 (W.D. Tex. 1993)

While attending St. Mary's University School of Law, Mr. Pickford was awarded the Best Brief, Norvell Moot Court, in 1985.  Mr. Pickford served as the Articles/Symposium Editor of the St. Mary's Law Journal (1984-1985).

Prior to joining Hoover Slovacek LLP in 1995, Mr. Pickford practiced in San Antonio handling complex commercial litigation including a number of landlord/tenant matters.  In addition, his practice at that time included school law and the representation of various School Districts in the San Antonio area. Prior to Law School Mr. Pickford served as the Research Director for the Republican Party of Kansas preparing legislative research, and acting as a campaign advisor for legislative candidates. 

Mr. Pickford has spoken at numerous seminars and is the author of the following legal articles: Co-Author, Coping with Violent Disruption in Texas Schools, in Univ. Tex. School of Law 10th Annual School Law Conf. (1995); Co-Author, Due Process and the Term Contract Nonrenewal Act, in Univ. Tex. School of Law 9th Annual School Law Conf., Tab 15 (1994); Co-Author, Competitive Bidding: The Best for Less ?, Texas School Administrators' Legal Digest, Volume 7, Number 8, September 1991; Author and Lecturer, Actions For Damages Under Commercial Lease, Texas Commercial Landlord and Tenant Law Seminar, Lorman Education Services, July 25, 2000 (Houston), November 14, 2000 (Austin),  June 12, 2002 (Austin); Author and Lecturer, Exploring Premises Liability Issues, Security Issues Confronting Commercial Landlords, Lorman Education Services, June 21, 2001 (Houston). 

Mr. Pickford can be found online at Linked In and on Twitter under PickfordTM.