Roland K. Johnson

Roland Johnson is a proven leader in the Texas legal community. A former president of the State Bar of Texas, he has been repeatedly honored for his professionalism and legal knowledge, and is often asked to speak on ethics, professionalism, arbitration, and leadership issues.

An attorney at Harris, Finley & Bogle since 1982, Roland’s experience benefits his clients and the community in their quest for justice in commercial litigation, arbitrations, and legal malpractice arenas. 

Roland is a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, a member of American Board of Trial Advocates, a member of the American Law Institute, Treasurer of Texas Access to Justice Foundation and Vice-Chair to Texas Access to Justice Commission. But perhaps most importantly, he has served as Swine Barn Superintendent for the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show since 1998. Roland's wife, Cindy, also values service to her community and is currently the Chair of the Board of Fort Worth Sister Cities International. Roland and Cindy are proud parents of two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandsons.

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Education

• Baylor University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1979
• Baylor University – B.S., magna cum laude, 1976

Additional Highlights

• Board-Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
• Life Fellow of American Bar Foundation
• Life Fellow of ABOTA Foundation
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel
• America's Top 100 Attorneys
• Board Member, Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show
• Member, American Arbitration Association's Commercial and Large/Complex Cases and Commercial Panels, American Arbitration Association
• Vice-Chair, Texas Access to Justice Commission
• Member, Texas Access to Justice Legislative Committee
• Treasurer, Texas Access to Justice Foundation (2023-Present)
• 360 West Top Attorney (2018-Present)
• Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney (2013-Present)
• Listed in Texas Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters service published in Texas Monthly (2003-Present)
• Swine Barn Superintendent, Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show (1998-Present)
• Fellow, Texas Bar College (2024)
• Chair, The College of the State Bar of Texas (2022-2023)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® by BL Rankings for work in practice areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation or Commercial Litigation (2010-2020)
• Longhorn Council - Boy Scouts of America - Law "Good Scout" Award (2019)
• Board Member, The College of the State Bar of Texas (2015-2019), Treasurer (2019-2020)
• Board Member, The Board of Disciplinary Appeals (2013-2019)
• Chair, Tarrant County Bar Foundation (2013), Charter Fellow, Sustaining Life Fellow
• Sustaining Life Fellow, Board Member, Texas Bar Foundation (2011-2015)
• Chair, State Bar of Texas Redistricting Task Force (2011-2012)
• President, Baylor Alumni Association (2011–2012)
• State Bar of Texas Michael J. Crowley Award (2011)
• President, State Bar of Texas (2009-2010)
• Power Lawyer by Fort Worth Business Press (2008)
• President, Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court (2007-2008)
• Honorary Serjeant’s Inn of Dallas – Fort Worth Inn of Court (2007-2008)
• Chair, State Bar of Texas, Professionalism Committee (2007-2008)
• Board Member, Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism (2007-2008)
• State Bar of Texas – Board of Directors (2003-2006); Outstanding Third Year Director (2006)
• President, Tarrant County Bar Association (2001-2002); Professionalism Award (2004)
• Texas Wesleyan University School of Law – Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award (2005)
• Commissioner, Fort Worth Civil Service Commission (1990–1999); Chair (1994–1999)

Speeches & Presentations

• “The Justice Gap: Proposal for Licensed Non-lawyers to Provide Limited Legal Services” presented at the Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar 2024 (10-3-24)
• “Rohrmoos and You are Indispensable! An Attorney Fee Update” presented at the Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar 2022 (9-30-22)
• “Drafting Ethical Representation Letters and Agreements” presented at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting (12-9-21)
• “Access to Justice,” Texas A&M University Law School Professional Responsibility Class (11-20-19)
• “Access to Justice,” State Bar of Texas Guide to Ethics for New Attorneys (11-8-19)
• “Ethics,” Tarrant County Bar Association, Brown Bag Seminary Series (9-27-19)
• “Schooled by the Board of Disciplinary Appeals,” TADC – Fort Worth CLE (2-27-19)
• “Arbitration: How Preparing for an Arbitration is Different Than Preparing for Trial – Including Discovery” presented to the Texas Bar College Summer School in Galveston, Texas (7-14-17)
• “Resources for Attorneys Working with Low-Income Clients” presented to the Poverty Law Section at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas (6-22-17)
• “Fiduciary Litigation Update – Six Cases You Need to Know” presented to the Denton County Bar Association Monthly Meeting (1-6-17)
• “One Six Pack to Go: Six Cases You Need to Know” presented to the State Bar of Texas 11th Annual Fiduciary Litigation Course (12-1-16)
• “How to Win at Arbitration in a Consumer Case” presented to the State Bar of Texas Advanced Consumer & Commercial Law Course (9-16-16)
• “Update: State Bar of Texas” presented at State Bar College Summer School 2016 (7-16-16)
• “Taking Control of Arbitration to Provide Greater Value and Efficiency” presented at the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Luncheon (6-22-16)
• “Taking Control of Arbitration to Provide Greater Value and Efficiency” presented at the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Luncheon (6-22-16)
• Speaker at State Bar of Texas Annual Meetings panel on Poverty Law (6-16-16)
• Keynote Speaker at Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas, Inc.’s Annual Awards Banquet (2-19-16)
• “Arbitration Trends: What’s Happening Now” co-presented at the SBOT 2016 Advanced Trial Strategies CLE (2-19-16)
• “Leadership for Social Change” presented to Baylor Law School’s Leadership Class (1-22-16)
• “What Should I Do in Arbitration and What Do I Do if I Don’t Like the Result” co-presented at the SBOT Business Disputes Court 2015 Seminar (9-10-15)
• “How Do You Win an Arbitration” co-presented at the State Bar College Summer School 2015 Program (7-16-15)
• “Ethics and Professionalism in a Changing Legal Landscape” co-presented at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting (6-18-15)
• “Reconsidering Access to Justice” Keynote Address, conference sponsored by Texas A&M University School of Law (4-30-15)
• “Strategies in Arbitration” presented at the SBOT 2015 Advanced Trial Strategies Course (2-27-15)
• “Retiring or Closing Your Office” presented to the Tarrant County Bar Association (10-16-14)
• “Arbitration Panel” presented to the Business Litigation Section of the Tarrant County Bar Association (4-16-14)
• “Not Quite Dallas” presented to the Dallas Women Lawyers Association (9-24-13)
• Arbitration Update and Panel at the State Bar of Texas' 28th Annual Advanced Litigation Update Institute (1-20-12)