Blank Rome Expands Dallas Litigation Bench with Addition of Trial Lawyer Mark L. Johansen
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Mark L. Johansen has joined the firm as a partner in the Business Litigation group and the Financial Services industry team in the Dallas office. A seasoned commercial litigator with more than 35 years of experience, Mark represents Texas‑based and national clients in high‑stakes disputes involving financial services, energy, healthcare, real estate, private equity, technology, and early‑stage companies. He joins Blank Rome from Egan Nelson LLP.
“We are excited to welcome Mark to our growing Dallas office and our national Business Litigation group,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Chair and Managing Partner. “Mark is a highly respected trial lawyer with decades of experience handling sophisticated matters in courts in Texas and throughout the country. His arrival reflects our strategic investment in expanding litigation capabilities in North Texas and follows recent additions in the region, including partner David M. Clem, further strengthening our ability to support clients seeking sophisticated litigation counsel in Dallas. Mark’s substantial trial record and trusted client relationships will enhance our bench and advance our efforts to expand our top‑tier litigation team in Dallas.”
Mark focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation involving multimillion-dollar contract and fraud disputes, mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), business torts, securities and shareholder litigation, labor and employment, trade secrets, and professional liability. His M&A-related disputes stem from corporate transactions such as spinoffs, representation and warranty issues, and post‑closing disputes. He has represented clients in state and federal courts in Texas and across the country, arbitrations, and government enforcement actions.
“Mark has long been recognized as one of the leading commercial litigators in Texas, and his ability to handle complex disputes makes him a tremendous resource for our clients,” said Jayme L. Butcher, partner and co-chair of the Business Litigation group. “With Mark and David Clem now in Dallas, we’re strengthening our litigation bench at a time when the North Texas landscape is becoming more demanding—more matters are moving into the Texas Business Court, more contract and governance disputes, more private equity‑related issues, and a noticeable rise in regulatory and compliance litigation. Our clients need trusted, on‑the‑ground trial counsel to manage these increasingly high‑stakes cases. Mark’s trial record and insight into the Texas courts will be invaluable as we expand our capabilities in Dallas and beyond.”
A member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”), Mark has tried more than 20 trials and arbitrations and secured significant victories in recent years, including a $50 million defense jury verdict in 2022 and a $22 million plaintiff jury verdict in 2024.
“Blank Rome offers an incredible platform for my clients, with the national reach, talent, and industry depth that complex litigation demands. I’m excited to join a firm that combines exceptional trial capability with a strong transactional practice and industry focus particularly in financial services, energy, healthcare, and real estate, where my clients operate. Reconnecting with former colleagues, including Dallas partner Steve Block, makes this move especially meaningful, and I look forward to working with my new partners in Texas and across the firm to deliver the highest level of service to our clients.”
In addition to his ABOTA membership, Mark is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a Life Fellow of the Dallas Bar Association, and a Master of the William “Mac” Taylor Inn of Court. Heearned his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas.
Source: Blank Rome