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Texas
St. Mary's University School of Law
Mike Bassett is a highly regarded transportation defense attorney and trial lawyer whose name is well known in the Dallas legal and trucking communities. With decades of experience representing motor carriers, commercial transportation companies, logistics providers, and other defendants in high-exposure litigation, Mike focuses his practice on transportation, personal injury defense, product liability, professional liability, and mediation. His reputation has been built not only on results in sophisticated litigation, but also on his longstanding leadership, thought leadership, and significant involvement in the organizations that shape transportation law and defense practice in Texas and across the nation.
Before joining Chartwell, Mike founded and led The Bassett Firm for 24 years, building it into a respected Dallas-based litigation firm with a strong transportation and defense practice. His move to Chartwell, together with his full team of attorneys and support staff, demonstrates both the strength of the practice he built and the confidence his team and clients have placed in his leadership over many years.
Mike is widely recognized as a prominent voice in transportation law. He is an active member of the American Trucking Association, DRI’s Transportation Committee, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and several other leading defense organizations. He is also a frequent speaker and author on issues affecting the transportation industry and civil defense practice. His extensive list of presentations and publications includes topics such as trucking litigation strategy, nuclear verdicts, noneconomic damages, expert witness examination, FMCSR compliance, and mediation. Among his many contributions are presentations for DRI, the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and the American Trucking Association, as well as publications such as The Life of a Trucking Lawyer, FMCSR’s: The Trucking Defense Lawyers’ Keys to Success, and I’ll Know It When I See It: Analyzing Noneconomic Damages After Gregory. In 2021, Mike’s book, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, was published. The book explores how life’s “ditch," a place of brokenness and hardship, can lead to radical transformation.
Mike earned his J.D., with distinction, from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor for the St. Mary’s Law Journal. He received his B.B.A., cum laude, from The University of Texas at El Paso. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. In recognition of his work, Mike was named to The Best Lawyers in America in 2023.
American Bar Association – Litigation Section
State Bar of Texas
American Trucking Association
DRI Transportation Committee (Trucking Subcommittee)
Transportation Lawyers Association
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Dallas Bar Association
International Association of Defense Counsel
Best Lawyers in America (2023)
Mike H. Bassett, Non-Economic Damages: I'll Know It When I See It, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Personal Injury, San Antonio, TX (Jul. 17, 2024)
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Santa Fe, NM (Apr. 26, 2024 and Jun. 13, 2024)
Mike H. Bassett, et al., I Plead the Fifth: Encountering the 5th Amendment in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Evidence and Discovery, Dallas TX (Apr. 5, 2024 and May 9, 2024)
Mike H. Bassett, Aaron J. Rolen, A Map to Minimize Massive Verdicts, Cottingham & Butler Claims Services, Charlotte, NC (Apr. 9, 2024), Dubuque, IA (May 2, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Santa Fe, NM (Apr. 26, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., I Plead the Fifth: Encountering the 5th Amendment in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Evidence and Discovery, Dallas TX (Apr. 5, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Southern Methodist University’s 58th Annual Air Law Symposium, Dallas, TX (Mar. 22, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, Justin Hill, Trucking and Auto Injury Cases: Deposing Accident Reconstruction and Biomechanical Experts, Strafford, Webinar (Feb. 27, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, Beyond Brawls: Artful Approaches to A-Hole Attorneys, Sentry, Stevens Point, WI (Jan. 24, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, DRI, San Antonio, TX (Oct. 27, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, When to Use a Biomechanical/Human Factors Expert, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Conference, New York, NY (Sept. 21, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, A View from the Trenches: The Latest Plaintiff Tactics in Trucking Litigation, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Summer Seminar, Crested Butte, CO (July 20, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, State Bar of Texas, Annual Conference, Austin, TX (June 22, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, MJ Dobbs, The Life of a Trucking Lawyer, DRI, Trucking Litigation Essentials, Charlotte, NC (June 14, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Protecting Your Client’s Fifth Amendment Privilege, State Bar of Texas, 36th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Seminar, San Antonio, TX (May 18, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Negotiations and the Stowers Doctrine, Sentry, Webinar (Apr. 10, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Begin with the End in Mind: The Jury Charge from a Civil Defense Lawyer’s Perspective, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Winter Conference, Steamboat, CO (Feb. 1, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Help Me Help You: Damages from a Defense Perspective, State Bar of Texas: Prosecuting & Defending Truck and Auto Collision Cases, Houston, TX (Nov. 18, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, Avoiding the Ditch Along the Road – Lessons from an Experienced Driver¸ Texas Association of Defense Counsel, San Antonio, TX (Sept. 15, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Advantages and Importance of Early Case Management, The Litigation Psychology Podcast, Episode 131 (Aug. 29, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et at., Bullying in the Law, a panel at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course, Houston (July 6, 2022), Dallas, TX (Aug. 17, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, Lessons Learned from a $7.3 Billion Dollar Verdict, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Summer Seminar, Big Sky, MO (July 14, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Same Dog and Pony, New Show: Innovative Strategies to Succeed at Mediation, DRI, Austin, TX (Apr. 28, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, On Getting Out of the Ditch, Overcoming Shame, and Finding Redemption, Intentional Leader with Cal Walters, YouTube (Mar. 3, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Conference on Justice and Social Concerns, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX (Feb. 21, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, St. Mary’s Ethics Symposium, San Antonio, TX (Jan. 28, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, Aaron J. Rolen, HB-19 and Trucking Litigation in Texas, DFW Council of Safety Professionals, Arlington, TX (Nov. 17, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Renea H. Hooper, Cross-Examination of the Plaintiff’s Trucking Safety Expert: Eight Steps to Neutralize One of Your Biggest Threats, DRI, Webinar (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, FMCSR’S: The Trucking Defense Lawyer’s Keys to Success, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Meeting (Sept. 23, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Preventing ‘Reptile’ Nuclear Verdicts: 30(b)(6) Deposition Testimony, American Trucking Association Litigation Forum (July 23, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Whitney Greene, Pump the Brakes: Going Back to the Basics of Trucking Law, DRI, Webinar (Mar. 24, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, 18 Wheelers & Stories: Why Crafting a Compelling Narrative is Critical in Trucking Litigation, American Trucking Association, Webinar (Mar. 3, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Getting Deposed? How to Nail it!, Cottingham & Butler Claims Services (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Deposition Bootcamp: Mistakes I Have Made and Lessons Learned in 33 Years of Taking and Defending, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Virtual Annual Conference (Oct. 2, 2020).
Mike H. Bassett, Steve Irwin, Working with an Accident Reconstruction Expert, DRI, Podcast (July 17, 2020).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Preventing Nuclear Verdicts in Trucking and Transportation Cases in the COVID-19 Era, DRI, Webinar (2020).
Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
St. Mary's University School of Law
J.D., 1987, with distinction
University of Texas at El Paso
B.B.A., cum laude, 1984
Mike Bassett is a highly regarded transportation defense attorney and trial lawyer whose name is well known in the Dallas legal and trucking communities. With decades of experience representing motor carriers, commercial transportation companies, logistics providers, and other defendants in high-exposure litigation, Mike focuses his practice on transportation, personal injury defense, product liability, professional liability, and mediation. His reputation has been built not only on results in sophisticated litigation, but also on his longstanding leadership, thought leadership, and significant involvement in the organizations that shape transportation law and defense practice in Texas and across the nation.
Before joining Chartwell, Mike founded and led The Bassett Firm for 24 years, building it into a respected Dallas-based litigation firm with a strong transportation and defense practice. His move to Chartwell, together with his full team of attorneys and support staff, demonstrates both the strength of the practice he built and the confidence his team and clients have placed in his leadership over many years.
Mike is widely recognized as a prominent voice in transportation law. He is an active member of the American Trucking Association, DRI’s Transportation Committee, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and several other leading defense organizations. He is also a frequent speaker and author on issues affecting the transportation industry and civil defense practice. His extensive list of presentations and publications includes topics such as trucking litigation strategy, nuclear verdicts, noneconomic damages, expert witness examination, FMCSR compliance, and mediation. Among his many contributions are presentations for DRI, the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and the American Trucking Association, as well as publications such as The Life of a Trucking Lawyer, FMCSR’s: The Trucking Defense Lawyers’ Keys to Success, and I’ll Know It When I See It: Analyzing Noneconomic Damages After Gregory. In 2021, Mike’s book, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, was published. The book explores how life’s “ditch," a place of brokenness and hardship, can lead to radical transformation.
Mike earned his J.D., with distinction, from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor for the St. Mary’s Law Journal. He received his B.B.A., cum laude, from The University of Texas at El Paso. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. In recognition of his work, Mike was named to The Best Lawyers in America in 2023.
American Bar Association – Litigation Section
State Bar of Texas
American Trucking Association
DRI Transportation Committee (Trucking Subcommittee)
Transportation Lawyers Association
Texas Association of Defense Counsel
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
Dallas Bar Association
International Association of Defense Counsel
Best Lawyers in America (2023)
Mike H. Bassett, Non-Economic Damages: I'll Know It When I See It, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Personal Injury, San Antonio, TX (Jul. 17, 2024)
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Santa Fe, NM (Apr. 26, 2024 and Jun. 13, 2024)
Mike H. Bassett, et al., I Plead the Fifth: Encountering the 5th Amendment in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Evidence and Discovery, Dallas TX (Apr. 5, 2024 and May 9, 2024)
Mike H. Bassett, Aaron J. Rolen, A Map to Minimize Massive Verdicts, Cottingham & Butler Claims Services, Charlotte, NC (Apr. 9, 2024), Dubuque, IA (May 2, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Santa Fe, NM (Apr. 26, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., I Plead the Fifth: Encountering the 5th Amendment in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Evidence and Discovery, Dallas TX (Apr. 5, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Southern Methodist University’s 58th Annual Air Law Symposium, Dallas, TX (Mar. 22, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, Justin Hill, Trucking and Auto Injury Cases: Deposing Accident Reconstruction and Biomechanical Experts, Strafford, Webinar (Feb. 27, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, Beyond Brawls: Artful Approaches to A-Hole Attorneys, Sentry, Stevens Point, WI (Jan. 24, 2024).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, DRI, San Antonio, TX (Oct. 27, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, When to Use a Biomechanical/Human Factors Expert, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Conference, New York, NY (Sept. 21, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, A View from the Trenches: The Latest Plaintiff Tactics in Trucking Litigation, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Summer Seminar, Crested Butte, CO (July 20, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, State Bar of Texas, Annual Conference, Austin, TX (June 22, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, MJ Dobbs, The Life of a Trucking Lawyer, DRI, Trucking Litigation Essentials, Charlotte, NC (June 14, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Protecting Your Client’s Fifth Amendment Privilege, State Bar of Texas, 36th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Seminar, San Antonio, TX (May 18, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Negotiations and the Stowers Doctrine, Sentry, Webinar (Apr. 10, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Begin with the End in Mind: The Jury Charge from a Civil Defense Lawyer’s Perspective, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Winter Conference, Steamboat, CO (Feb. 1, 2023).
Mike H. Bassett, Help Me Help You: Damages from a Defense Perspective, State Bar of Texas: Prosecuting & Defending Truck and Auto Collision Cases, Houston, TX (Nov. 18, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, Avoiding the Ditch Along the Road – Lessons from an Experienced Driver¸ Texas Association of Defense Counsel, San Antonio, TX (Sept. 15, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Advantages and Importance of Early Case Management, The Litigation Psychology Podcast, Episode 131 (Aug. 29, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et at., Bullying in the Law, a panel at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Course, Houston (July 6, 2022), Dallas, TX (Aug. 17, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, Lessons Learned from a $7.3 Billion Dollar Verdict, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Summer Seminar, Big Sky, MO (July 14, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Same Dog and Pony, New Show: Innovative Strategies to Succeed at Mediation, DRI, Austin, TX (Apr. 28, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, On Getting Out of the Ditch, Overcoming Shame, and Finding Redemption, Intentional Leader with Cal Walters, YouTube (Mar. 3, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, Conference on Justice and Social Concerns, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX (Feb. 21, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in the Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today, St. Mary’s Ethics Symposium, San Antonio, TX (Jan. 28, 2022).
Mike H. Bassett, Aaron J. Rolen, HB-19 and Trucking Litigation in Texas, DFW Council of Safety Professionals, Arlington, TX (Nov. 17, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Renea H. Hooper, Cross-Examination of the Plaintiff’s Trucking Safety Expert: Eight Steps to Neutralize One of Your Biggest Threats, DRI, Webinar (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, FMCSR’S: The Trucking Defense Lawyer’s Keys to Success, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Meeting (Sept. 23, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Preventing ‘Reptile’ Nuclear Verdicts: 30(b)(6) Deposition Testimony, American Trucking Association Litigation Forum (July 23, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Whitney Greene, Pump the Brakes: Going Back to the Basics of Trucking Law, DRI, Webinar (Mar. 24, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, 18 Wheelers & Stories: Why Crafting a Compelling Narrative is Critical in Trucking Litigation, American Trucking Association, Webinar (Mar. 3, 2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Getting Deposed? How to Nail it!, Cottingham & Butler Claims Services (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Deposition Bootcamp: Mistakes I Have Made and Lessons Learned in 33 Years of Taking and Defending, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Virtual Annual Conference (Oct. 2, 2020).
Mike H. Bassett, Steve Irwin, Working with an Accident Reconstruction Expert, DRI, Podcast (July 17, 2020).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Preventing Nuclear Verdicts in Trucking and Transportation Cases in the COVID-19 Era, DRI, Webinar (2020).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., I'll Know It When I See It: Analyzing Noneconomic Damages After Gregory (2024).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., I Plead the Fifth: Encountering the 5th Amendment in Civil Litigation, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Evidence and Discovery (2024).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., In the Shadows of Loss: Evaluating Non-Economic Damages After Gregory, State Bar of Texas: Damages in Civil Litigation (2024).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Protecting Your Client’s Fifth Amendment Privilege, State Bar of Texas: Advanced Evidence and Discovery (2023).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Begin with the End in Mind: The Jury Charge from a Civil Defense Lawyer’s Perspective, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Winter Conference (2023).
Mike H. Bassett, MJ Dobbs, The Life of a Trucking Lawyer, DRI, Trucking Litigation Essentials (2023).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., The Trial Lawyer’s Toolkit: Effective Use of Biomechanical and Human Factors Experts, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Fall Conference (2023).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., A View from the Trenches: The Latest Plaintiff Tactics in Trucking Litigation, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Summer Conference (2023).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Help Me Help You: Damages from a Defense Perspective, State Bar of Texas: Prosecuting & Defending Truck and Auto Collision Cases (2022).
Mike H. Bassett, et al., Same Dog and Pony, New Show: Innovative Strategies to Succeed at Mediation, DRI (2022).
Mike H. Bassett, The Man in The Ditch: A Redemption Story for Today (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, FMCSR’s: The Trucking Defense Lawyers’ Keys to Success, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Fall Magazine (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Justin Hill, Trucking and Auto Injury Cases: Deposing Accident Reconstruction and Biomechanical Experts, Strafford (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Trucking Regulations, State Bar of Texas: Prosecuting/Defending Truck/Auto Collision Cases (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, FMCSR’S: The Trucking Defense Lawyer’s Keys to Success, State Bar of Texas: Prosecuting & Defending Truck and Auto Collision Cases (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Renea H. Hooper, Cross-Examination of the Plaintiff’s Trucking Safety Expert: Eight Steps to Neutralize One of Your Biggest Threats, DRI (2021).
Mike H. Bassett, Prosecuting and Defending Truck Cases, State Bar of Texas: 36th Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law (2020).
