20 Years of Advocacy: Celebrating Two Decades of Laminack, Pirtle & Martines
This year Laminack, Pirtle & Martines is celebrating 20 years of advocacy - a milestone that reflects two decades of dedicated service, landmark victories, and an unwavering commitment to its culture.
But the story of LPM began long before the firm opened its doors in 2006. It began with three attorneys - Rick Laminack, Tom Pirtle, and Buffy Martines - who worked together and shared a passion for trial advocacy and a commitment to pursuing justice for their clients.
Before LPM
Before the start of LPM, Rick, Tom, and Buffy all began their legal careers at the same firm, working in various roles within the Mass Tort Division. The years they spent working alongside one another gave them the opportunity to learn from each other, grow as trial lawyers, and build a bond that extended far beyond the courtroom. What makes their story particularly remarkable is the continuity of that relationship: Tom worked alongside Rick throughout his entire legal career until Rick's passing, while Buffy spent her entire legal career working alongside both Rick and Tom.
In 1987, the late Rick Laminack graduated second in his class from South Texas College of Law and embarked on a legal career that would span nearly four decades. His journey began alongside renowned Houston trial lawyer John O'Quinn, where he developed the trial advocacy skills and experience that would ultimately define his career. Rick later became head of the Mass Tort Division at O'Quinn, Kerensky & McAninch, an experience that proved instrumental in shaping the foundation of LPM.
In 1989, Rick welcomed fellow South Texas College of Law graduate Tom Pirtle to O'Quinn, Kerensky & McAninch as his law clerk. Tom began working closely with Rick and quickly established himself as a formidable trial lawyer. He eventually became the Senior Litigator in the Mass Tort Division, managing a diverse range of cases, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and other mass tort matters. His success ultimately led to him becoming a name partner of the firm, which was then known as O'Quinn, Laminack & Pirtle.
Working side by side, Rick and Tom litigated countless high-profile cases and achieved landmark victories, including the first jury verdict in the nation for women injured by silicone breast implants. Their partnership built not only on their shared commitment to their clients but also on a deep friendship and trust in one another's abilities as trial lawyers.
In 1999, Buffy Martines joined Rick and Tom as their law clerk. In 2002, she earned her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law and began her career as an associate attorney at O'Quinn, Laminack & Pirtle. Even before entering practice, Buffy had distinguished herself as an exceptional advocate, earning national recognition and some of the highest honors available to law students. Her accomplishments in law school foreshadowed the gifted trial lawyer she would become. She quickly became an integral part of the firm, working closely with Rick and Tom and beginning what would become a decades-long partnership.
Buffy's first cases alongside Rick and Tom were nothing short of extraordinary. Together, they secured a groundbreaking verdict for the family of a woman who tragically lost her life after taking the "Fen-Phen" diet drug combination. The $1.063 billion jury verdict was the largest single-plaintiff wrongful death jury award in U.S. history at the time - a significant victory that underscored the strength of the team they had built.
Starting LPM
In 2006, Rick and Tom asked Buffy to join them in starting a firm of their own. Without hesitation, she accepted, embarking with them on what would become an incredible journey. Laminack, Pirtle & Martines opened its doors in April 2006 with a box of "borrowed" legal pads from the old firm and the unwavering belief that success was inevitable.
Without an office or a case, the three partners found a home for LPM at IHOP on the Southwest Freeway. Rick's favorite meal of the day was breakfast, making IHOP a fitting place to begin building their new firm. For two months, the partners met there every morning, working through the logistics of starting a law firm from the ground up.
Eventually, they selected office space, but it required extensive renovations. Rather than wait, LPM set up a temporary office in the Lyric Centre downtown while construction on its new Montrose location was completed. Eighteen months later, the firm moved into its new home at 5020 Montrose Boulevard, where it still resides today.
Just three to four months after opening its doors, LPM took on its first case: representing a Dallas family who had tragically lost a loved one after exposure to a toxic chemical mixture used during home improvement. The case ultimately resulted in an exceptional settlement for the family and quickly became part of LPM history. With three named partners, an associate, and two staff members dedicating their efforts to only this case, it earned a comical reputation around the office as "the best worked-up case in the history of plaintiffs' litigation."
As the years went by, the number of cases grew exponentially along with their team. LPM is now proud to have a total of seven talented attorneys and 15 dedicated staff members who spend their days (and sometimes nights and weekends) working together to give their clients the justice they deserve.
A Firm Built to Last
The longevity of LPM extends far beyond its founding partners. One of the defining characteristics of the firm over the past 20 years has been the loyalty and longevity of the people who call LPM home. Many of the firm's employees have been with LPM for more than a decade, and several have been a part of the firm since its earliest days. This includes Senior Trial Paralegal Chuck Hunger and Office Manager, Gaye Hammond, who have each worked at the firm, or with its principals, for more than 30 years.
The sense of family is quite literal at LPM. Buffy's sister, Niki Rhodes, serves as one of the firm's accountants, and Niki's son, Brady, has spent the last several summers interning with an eye toward law school one day. The same is true for Chuck, whose son Colby now serves as LPM's IT professional. These family connections reflect the environment the firm has intentionally cultivated - one where relationships extend beyond individual cases and careers and become part of the fabric of LPM itself.
LPM works to extend this sense of family and connection to their clients. Each case represents more than a legal matter - it represents a person, or a family, going through the most difficult time in their life. LPM is proud to say that they maintain relationships with their clients long after the case is over and have enjoyed seeing each of them recover and move on from the tragedies that originally brought them to our doorstep.
Looking Ahead
As Laminack, Pirtle & Martines celebrates 20 years, the firm looks ahead with the same excitement and commitment to excellence that has guided it since day one. While things have changed over the past two decades, the values at the heart of LPM have remained the same:
"Whether a case is large or small, we treat each client with attitude that theirs is the most important case we will ever try." - Rick Laminack (1950-2023)
Twenty years is a milestone worth celebrating, but it is also a reminder that LPM's story is still being written. As the firm looks toward the next 20 years, they will continue to advocate at the very highest levels for those who need them the most. LPM looks forward to sharing those stories for years to come.
Driven by Results
Guided by Experience
We are a mass tort litigation firm that believes a group effort is essential to success, both inside and outside the courtroom. Each of our firm's lawyers contributes their unique skills and experience, collectively forming an exceptional team that offers clients a robust network of support and a wealth of expertise.