Michael C. Barrett - Addison, TX

Overview

Mr. Barrett founded and served as chairman of the nation's leading mortgage banking law firm, our Texas-based Barrett Daffin Frappier Turner & Engel, LLP, as well as National Default Exchange LP where he served as Chairman Emeritus. A member of the Executive Advisory Board of Frost Bank Group, Michael also served on the Executive Board of the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University, where he established the Jean Kyle Jury Award.

Mr. Barrett graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in 1974 and a Master of Arts in 1975. He obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1977. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and Phi Delta Phi fraternities. During law school he was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for excellence in torts, was selected for membership in the Journal of Air Law & Commerce and was a Russell E. Baker Merit Scholar. He received the USFN-American Association of Mortgage Banking Attorneys' highest distinction, the Lifetime Achievement Award.

During graduate school he was Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor of Behavioral Science at the Institute of Urban Affairs, University of Texas. Upon obtaining his law degree, he became a Litigation Associate with the firm of Johnson, Shanklin, Billings, Kelton & Porter, PC and the Law offices of William F. Billings in Dallas. From 1980 through 1990, he was Vice President, Director, and Chairman of the Litigation Department at Riddle & Brown, PC, in Dallas, Houston and New Orleans.

Mr. Barrett was admitted to the Supreme Court of Texas in 1978; the Supreme Court of Colorado in 1990; the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in 1978; the U. S. District Courts for the Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas in 1982; the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits in 1983; and the United States Supreme Court in 1983.

Mr. Barrett was a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas and Dallas Associations of Defense Counsel, the Texas Association of Bank Counsel, the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, the Litigation and Real Estate Sections of the American Bar Association, the Loan Administration Committees of the American and Texas Mortgage Bankers Association, and the Texas Academy of Mortgage Attorneys. He also served as a member of the American Mortgage Bankers Association Default Standardization Committee. He had been a frequent appointee of the Texas Supreme Court to mortgage industry study committees including the Commission on Home Equity Lending. He became board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1988.

His passionate support for many charitable and public service organizations included work with Hope's Door, KickStart and Dallas Junior Forum. An avid supporter of veteran's causes, the Addison Police Department and numerous local charities.

Michael was a man of remarkable generosity who achieved excellence in everything he undertook while inspiring and challenging others to excel.