About Us:

William J. Sharp

William J. Sharp (Bill) has been a healthcare defense trial lawyer in Texas since 1988. His practice emphasizes defense of medical malpractice, hospital, and nursing home claims in state and federal courts. Bill has been an insurance defense trial lawyer since 1985, with appearances in Texas and Louisiana state district, appellate, and Supreme Courts, and U.S. District Court, trying numerous trials to judgment, involving products liability, premises liability, and virtually all areas of personal injury defense.

Bill is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Louisiana. He is additionally Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial law by the State Bar of Texas, and is a member of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. He has maintained membership in the College of the State Bar of Texas since 1998. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating.

Bill has been involved in health care risk managment in the Houston area for over 10 years. He is a past president of the Greater Houston Society for Healthcare Risk Management and remains an active member. Apart from his day-to-day practice in advising physicians and health care providers in litigation matters he is a frequent speaker on topics involving medical malpractice prevention and litigation.

- Appellate Law Clerk, First Circuit Court of Appeals, Baton Rouge, LA, 1983-1985
- Gold, Weems, Bruser Law Firm, Alexandria, LA 1985-1987
- Cook, Davis & McFall, Houston, TX 1988-1990
- Ellis & Associates, Houston, TX, 1990-1992
- William J. Sharp & Associates, Houston, TX, 1992 - present

- Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1995
    - Re-certified, 2000-2005; 2005-2010
- Member, College of the State Bar of Texas, 1998 - present
- Author, Sharp's Texas Med Mal Update, monthly newsletter, January 1998-present
- "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

BAR ADMISSIONS
Texas - November 10, 1988
Louisiana - October 7, 1983
U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, USDC Southern District of Texas, USDC Eastern District of Texas,
    USDC Western District of Louisiana

EDUCATION
    -Legal: Louisiana State University, J.D. 1983;
    -Louisiana Law Review, 1981-1983
    -Undergraduate: Louisiana State University, B.S. in Gen. Business Administration (Economics minor) 1980

PERSONAL & COMMUNITY
- Married with three children, ages 19, 16 and 12
- Founding Member, St. Vincent DePaul Parish Family Guild, St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Volunteer Youth Sports Coach (football, basketball, baseball, softball)
- Active member of St. Vincent DePaul Parish and school Dad's Club

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, 2004-present.
Greater Houston Society for Healthcare Risk Management (GHSHRM), 1989 - present
- Board of Directors, 1996-1999
- President, 1998
Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1988 - present
- Nominating Committee, 2007
Defense Research Institute, 1986 - present
- Medical Professional Liability Committee, 1996-present
- Insurance Law Committee, 1996-present
Texas State Bar Association, 1988 - present
- Member, Health Law Section, 1989 - present
- Member, Litigation Section, 1992 - present
Houston Bar Association
- Member, Health Law Section, 1999-present
- Member, Litigation Section, 1989 - present
- Member, Physicians/Attorneys Interprof. Relations Committee, 1988 - 1991, 2000
- Member, Speakers' Bureau Committee, 1990-1991, 2000, 2005
- Member, Membership Committee, 1993-1994
- Louisiana State Bar Association, 1983 - present
Texas Bar Foundation, 1995 - present (Life Fellow)

Kristin Elizabeth Cook

BAR ADMISSION
    Texas, November 2007

EDUCATION
Case Western Reserve University School of Law – Cleveland, OH
J.D.,Cum Laude, May 2007
Richard A. and Brandon S. Collier Award, Outstanding Achievement in the Law-Medicine Curriculum
    Certificate of Concentration in Health Law with Honors
    Dean’s Honor List – Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007
    Health Matrix Journal of Law-Medicine – Associate Editor 2005-2006; Executive Board, Executive Copy

The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
B.A. – History & Government, May 2003
    Kappa Delta Sorority – Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002; SET
    Gamma Sigma Alpha Greek Honor Society

WORK EXPERIENCE
    Office of General Counsel, Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Lyndhurst, OH
    Law Clerk, Summer 2006

PUBLICATIONS
    Ethical and Legal Issues Accompanying Legislation Requiring HPV Vaccination of Girls, 18 HEALTH MATRIX (Winter 2008).

    Note, The Illegality and Immorality of Seeking Familial Consent When an Organ Donor’s Wish to Donate Has Been Documented, 17 HEALTH MATRIX 117 (Winter 2007).

Jaimi Blakeman (of counsel)

Jaimi Blakeman is an associate attorney of counsel with William J. Sharp & Associates. She began her legal career with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago, IL, in 1999. She began defending health care providers with a respected local defense firm, and soon joined William J. Sharp & Associates in November 2003.

Jaimi received her legal education at Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2001 where she was a member of the Health Law Society. Her undergraduate degree is from Albion College, where she participated in Women’s Varsity Basketball and Softball. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Health Law Section, the State Bar Of Texas, Health Law Division, and the Houston Bar Association.