Lana Byrne

Professional Summary

Lana Byrne’s current practice focuses on risk management, personal injury and insurance defense litigation. Her practice involves representing clients in complex litigation matters in a variety of areas, including sexual assault and other professional misconduct cases.  She has handled various litigation matters, including cases involving construction defects, premises liability, wrongful death, contractual issues, employment conflicts and claims arising out of landlord-tenant and other real property disputes.

As previous corporate and claims counsel for Great American Insurance Company, Lana managed complex and multi-party litigation in attorney and other professional malpractice cases across the United States.  She also has extensive business and real estate experience from her time spent in private practice at the former Dallas law firm of Geary, Stahl & Spencer P.C., where she practiced in both the Real Estate and Business Litigation sections of the firm, handling various banking, real estate, business litigation and contractual matters on behalf of her clients.

Before joining Byrne, Cardenas & Aris, LLP, Lana gained extensive litigation and jury trial experience while serving as an assistant district attorney with the Lubbock County District Attorney’s office. As a felony prosecutor, Lana managed her own felony court docket and successfully prosecuted over 60 cases to a jury verdict, including cases involving DWI, Theft, Robbery, Burglary, various Drug Offenses, Aggravated Assault, Sexual Assault and Murder.   During her tenure as a prosecutor, Lana served as the lead prosecutor in both the 364th District Court and County Court at Law No. 1 in Lubbock County.

A Dallas resident since 1982, Lana attended Southern Methodist University where she earned Bachelor degrees in Business and Economics cum laude, and later earned her Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law, holding her law license from the State Bar of Texas since 1989.

Community Activities and Personal
In addition to her work as an attorney, Lana enjoys working with non-profits and serving as a community leader and volunteer.  She has previously been employed as the Director of Operations and Legal Counsel for the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity in Dallas, Texas, a non-profit organization which provides care and services for women and children affected by poverty and domestic violence. Lana’s volunteer work also includes service on the Advisory Board for Mosaic Family Services and the City of Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force Committee, where she co-authored the Dallas City Council Resolution which declared freedom from domestic and family violence a fundamental human right.

Lana is further involved in the community as a member of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, serving as a Stephen Minister, and Watermark Community Church, where she leads a group of women in the Re:generation discipleship program and in a community small group.  She is a regular volunteer at Austin Street Center, Catholic Charities, the Dallas Women’s Foundation grants selection committee and various other non-profit groups in the Dallas community.

Lana is happily married to Joe Byrne, also an attorney, and they have two adult children. In her spare time, Lana enjoys traveling, dining out, walking her dog Dixie and spending time in the country with the company of family and friends.

Lana’s varied legal background and success as a trial lawyer, along with her business and community leadership experience, provides her with a unique legal and business perspective for assisting her clients and finding the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for their legal and litigation needs.

Admissions and Memberships

• • State Bar of Texas
• • United States Supreme Court
• • United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
• • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
• • Dallas County Bar Association

Community Involvement and Affiliations

Advisory Board Member – Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Advisory Board Member – Mosaic Family Services
Honorary Chair Mosaic Family Services 2016 Gala
Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force Member
Dallas Women’s Foundation – Grants Selection Committee
Volunteer & Fundraiser, Catholic Charities of Dallas
Volunteer, Fundraiser and Chair of Dallas Relay for Life, American Cancer Society
Volunteer, Austin Street Shelter
Stephen Minister, St. Rita Catholic Church
Re:generation Ministry and Community Small Group Leader – Watermark Community Church

Publications

2015 Dallas City Council Resolution: Freedom from Domestic and Family Violence as a Fundamental Human Right