Firm History

Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C. –
Personal Injury Attorneys in Austin, Texas

The personal injury attorneys at Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C., serving Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and all of Texas, comprise one of the oldest, and most well-established plaintiffs’ law firms in the area. Since our firm was established in 1974, we have been at the epicenter of legal activity in Austin. With a history of achieving record verdicts and settlements in personal injury cases, our attorneys have the experience and knowledge necessary to maximize our clients’ success.

Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C., also possesses the financial ability to fund complex litigation. This advantage, combined with our attorneys’ skill, has allowed us to obtain two of the largest verdicts in history under the Federal Tort Claims Act, with our clients actually receiving over $18.9 million after attorney fees and case expenses in one, and the other totaling over $15.7 million after attorney fees and expenses. Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C. has also obtained one of the largest civil rights violation settlements ever under Section 1983, with our clients receiving $6.8 million after attorney fees and expenses.

Our Personal Injury Attorneys

Our three senior personal injury attorneys, William O. Whitehurst, Thomas R. Harkness and Eugene W. Brees II, are board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and are members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, among other prestigious organizations. Our attorneys include a registered pharmacist, an engineer, two instrument-rated pilots, and several former adjunct professors of Trial Advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law.

Our firm’s reputation is well recognized both inside and outside the legal community. Our firm has had more personal injury attorneys recognized among the “Best Lawyers in Austin" by Austin Monthly magazine than any other firm in the city. Texas Monthly has recognized all four of our attorneys as “Texas Super Lawyers." Two of our lawyers are listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America.

Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C., has a historical commitment to public service. Not only do our personal injury attorneys provide volunteer hours to residents of Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and other Texas communities, but they have also played a pivotal role in shaping local and national policy. Alumni of the firm have gone on to become a Texas Supreme Court Justice, a Texas Court of Appeals Justice, a U.S. Congressman, a State Senator, and a Mayor of Austin. Our attorneys have served as Chairmen of the Travis County Democratic Party, President of the State Bar of Texas, President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association, and President of the Austin Young Lawyers Association.

Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys – Serving Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Greater Texas

To learn more about our firm’s commitment to our clients and community, contact the Austin personal injury attorneys at Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C. today. Our personal injury attorneys serve residents of Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Texas, and across the country.