Wayne Lindsey Robbins, Jr.
Lyn Robbins has over thirty-three years of experience in a wide range of trials, appeals, arbitrations, administrative matters, regulatory determinations, and other litigation matters. He has tried more than sixty cases to verdict and has been involved in dozens of appeals. He spent more than twelve years as the senior general attorney for one of America’s largest railroads, supervising both personal injury and commercial litigation and leading trial teams involved in complex litigation in a variety of venues across the country. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected as a “Texas Super Lawyer” for a number of years. He is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel.
Lyn is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts in Texas and Tennessee, in the United States Supreme Court, in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Circuits, and in the federal court of North Dakota. In addition, he has been specially admitted to practice in courts all over the country. He has tried cases as lead counsel in California, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington and has been lead counsel in arbitrations in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas.
He has argued in numerous appellate courts across the country, including two state Supreme Courts and a variety of federal and state courts of appeal. He has briefed cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, several state Supreme Courts, and numerous federal and state courts of appeal.
His cases have included complex matters of wrongful death, Federal Employers Liability Act claims of life-altering injuries, employment disputes ranging from claims of discrimination based on protected status and whistle-blowing to employment contract issues, home construction and contract issues, claims of medical/dental/legal/pharmacy malpractice, railroad grade crossing accidents involving catastrophic injuries, commercial contract matters involving eight-figure disputes, regulatory matters ranging from professional licensure to claims of environmental pollution violations, governmental relations issues, advice on startup and windup business issues for clients ranging from short line railroads to individuals, trademark infringement, will contests, collections, fraud, blasting damages, hazardous exposure claims, and real estate transactions gone bad.
He is a former President of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. He was for over a decade Adjunct Professor of Law at Baylor University School of Law, teaching Advanced Trial Advocacy Skills and Beginning Advocacy Skills, and he has served on the faculty of the Academy of the Advocate held at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
He was National Debate Champion and the first person ever named the top individual college debater in the nation for two consecutive years, and he later coached the national championship team. He graduated cum laude from Baylor University School of Law, where he was the Lead Articles Editor of the Baylor Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Barristers.
Lyn is active in his church, as a writer, and in the community, where he has appeared in occasional community theatre productions and coached both baseball and softball for many years. He was a long-time member of the Board of Directors of an NGO dedicated to promoting sustainable growth among some of the world’s poorest and most challenged populations.
- J.D. cum laude, 1990 – Baylor University School of Law
Leon Jaworski Scholar
Lead Articles Editor, Baylor Law Review
Order of the Barristers - B.A with honor, 1987 – Baylor University
Majors – history, political science, economics
- Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1996-present
- Certified in Civil Pretrial Practice/Civil Practice Advocacy by National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2012-2022
- Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, 1999-present
- Inaugural Recipient of Outstanding Service Award from the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel – 2010
- Baylor University Outstanding Young Alumnus – 2005
- National Debate Championship Team – 1987; Top Individual Debater in U.S. – 1986, 1987
Legal Publications
- “Witness Preparation for the In-House Team,” TEXAS PARALEGAL JOURNAL, Volume 16, Number 3, Winter 2011
- The Lawyer’s Guide to Texas Insurance Code Article 21.21, Michie (Carlsbad, Cal. – 1995) (editor)
- “When Two Liberal Values Collide in an Era of ‘Political Correctness’; First Amendment Protection as a Check on Speech-Based Title VII Hostile Environment Claims,” 47 BAYLOR LAW REVIEW 789, Number 3, Summer 1995
- “The Government Contract Defense after Boyle v. United Technologies Corporation,” 41 BAYLOR LAW REVIEW 291, Number 2, Spring 1989
- Numerous articles in various periodicals.
- “Railroad Grade Crossing Litigation” – Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, Downtown Sheraton, Fort Worth, Texas, September 29, 2022
- “Preparing the Railroad Witness for Deposition and Trial” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 68th Annual Meeting, The Four Seasons, Chicago, Illinois, July 25, 2022
- “The Ethics of Witness Preparation” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 66th Annual Meeting, presented virtually, July 27, 2020
- “The Ethics of Errors, Omission, and Mistakes – Ignore, Cover Up, or Admit?” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 65th Annual Meeting, The Embassy Suites Downtown, Denver, Colorado, July 29, 2019
- The Lawyer’s Approach to Trial: What Should Be Going Through Your Mind?” – 42nd Annual General Practice Institute, Baylor Law School, Waco, Texas, April 26, 2019
- “Making the Most of the Doctor’s Deposition” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Fall Meeting, The Royal Sonesta, New Orleans, Louisiana, October 9, 2018
- “Examinations: Detailed Inspections, Formal Tests, Random Lists of Questions, or Something Else?” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 64th Annual Meeting, The Four Seasons, Chicago, Illinois, July 30, 2018
- “A Matter of Privilege: Upjohn and Beyond” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 63rd Annual Meeting, The Four Seasons, Chicago, Illinois, July 26, 2017
- “We’ve Been Working on the Railroad: Is Joint Enterprise Recognized under the FELA?” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona, March 7, 2017
- “Who May Talk to Whom? Ethics in Railroad Litigation” – Association of American Railroads General Claims Conference, The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee, October 12, 2016
- “The Other Ten Commandments – The Client Told You to Do What?” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Fall Meeting, The Four Seasons, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, September 28, 2016
- “Arguing Damages: Question, Concerns, and Frustrations” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Florida, March 16, 2016
- “Railroad Dep Prep: Getting the Railroad Witness Ready to Testify” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Fall Meeting, The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Del Mar, California, October 16, 2015
- “The Care and Feeding of Inside Counsel” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 61st Annual Meeting, The Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, Pennsylvania, July 27, 2015
- “Opening Statements: More than Just ‘What the Evidence Will Show’” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, LaQuinta Resort and Club, Palm Springs, California, March 2, 2015
- “Slip Slidin’ Away: Trying the Walking Conditions Case” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Special Litigation Conference XXV, The Resort at Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley, California, February 5, 2015
- “Variations on a Theme: How Two Sentences Control a Trial” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Fall Meeting, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, Louisiana, October 26, 2014
- “From the Cheap Seats: Trial Lessons Learned as the In-House Lawyer” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 60th Annual Meeting, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 30, 2014
- “What In-House Counsel Expect from Outside Paralegals” – State Bar of Texas – Paralegal Division Annual Meeting, The Fort Worth Club, Fort Worth, Texas, June 27, 2014
- “Good Company Story: Proceed with Caution” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix Arizona, March 10, 2014
- “How the Other Half Lives: The Railroad as Plaintiff in Derailment Collection Cases” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Special Litigation Conference XXIV, The Viceroy, Snowmass, Colorado, February 7, 2014
- “Don’t Raise Your Voice; Improve Your Argument: Closing Argument and Bishop Tutu” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona, March 4, 2013
- “Fundamentals of Cross-Examination and Effective Impeachment” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 59th Annual Meeting, The Four Seasons, Boston, Massachusetts, July 31, 2013
- “The Lawyer’s Approach to Trial: What Should be Going Through Your Mind?” – Houston Bar Association Seminar, The Junior League of Houston, Texas, August 9, 2012
- “Taking Depositions with Trial in Mind” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 58th Annual Meeting, Four Seasons Resort – The Biltmore, Santa Barbara, California, July 30, 2012
- “The Art of Voir Dire” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona, March 5, 2012
- “Witness Preparation for the Paralegal” – Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, Marriott Hotel and Golf Club at Champions Circle, Fort Worth, Texas, October 6, 2011
- “Yes, There are Thirty Minutes Worth of Things to Say about Direct” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 57th Annual Meeting, The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Quebec, July 25, 2011
- “Veit v. BNSF: Speed Preemption is Alive and Well” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Fairmont Turnbury Isle, Aventura, Florida, March 9, 2011
- “Witness Preparation” – State Bar of Texas, Division 3 Paralegal Division, Cacharel Grand Ballroom, Arlington, Texas, November 12, 2010
- “We Didn’t Do It! (But If We Did, It Wasn’t Our Fault)”– National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Fall Meeting, Four Seasons at Troon North, Scottsdale, Arizona, October 13, 2010
- “Opening Statements: More Than Just ‘What the Evidence Will Show’” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 56th Annual Meeting, The Inn at Loretto, Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 26, 2010
- “Straight Talk from the Clients” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Fall Meeting, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 26, 2008
- “Defending Railroads: The Roles and Relationships Among Inside, Outside and Coordinating Counsel” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 52nd Annual Meeting, Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California, July 31, 2006
- “If I Am In-House Now, Was I Outhouse Before? What In-House Counsel Wish Outside Counsel Knew and Vice-Versa” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 51st Annual Meeting, The Four Seasons, Boston, Massachusetts, July 26, 2005
- “Trial by Ad Hominem – The Tactics of Personal Destruction” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 50th Annual Meeting, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 28, 2004
- “Man Bites Dog — The Railroad as Plaintiff in Crossing Accident Cases” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 44th Annual Meeting, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, July 29, 1998
- “Dealing with Plaintiffs’ Experts” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel 44th Annual Meeting, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, July 28, 1998
- “Defendant’s Summary Judgment in an FELA Case — Not Necessarily an Oxymoron: Finding the Winning Issue” – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel Winter Meeting, The Wigwam, Litchfield Park, Arizona, March 2, 1996