Biography
Dallas Kratzer has built his litigation practice on teamwork and curiosity. With plenty of hands-on experience working in the United States courts, Dallas brings an inside perspective on the processes and systems within our legal system that benefits his appellate practice and clients. Dallas has worked on more than 300 appellate matters, including cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Sixth Circuits, the Supreme Court of Ohio, and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. His experience and knowledge of complex federal litigation cases make him a trusted advisor in these areas.
Thanks to a number of clerkships, Dallas has intimate knowledge and an understanding of federal courts and procedures, allowing him to understand the litigation strategies and approaches that most often have favorable outcomes in the different cases he handles. As a trusted team member and natural collaborator, both inside and outside the firm, Dallas’ appellate work often complements his professional peers who may need to challenge or defend a trial court judgment. Dallas enjoys working on a team and is skilled at evaluating the court’s decision to determine the best path forward post-trial.
Dallas’s intellectual curiosity and genuine passion for simplifying complex concepts or problems make him an asset to clients. He is motivated by providing efficient solutions that enable clients to grow their businesses and succeed. While he understands and prefers that his clients avoid litigation, he knows that sometimes it’s unavoidable. Dallas’s collaborative approach and calming manner enable him to find solutions in stressful situations.
His dedication to his community is reflected through his leadership roles at the Wilmington Lacrosse Academy. As the executive director of the Wilmington Lacrosse Academy, his goal is to offer free lacrosse clinics to youth to increase diversity in the sport and reduce economic barriers to participation.
Clerkships
- Law Clerk to Judge Stephanie D. Thacker (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit)
- Law Clerk to Judge Robert B. King (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit)
- Law Clerk to Judge Joseph R. Goodwin (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia)
- Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and D.C. Circuits
- United States District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, and Southern District of Indiana
Representative Experience
- Represented parent organizations and parents of children attending public charter schools as lead counsel in an amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court for a landmark case concerning public charter schools and First Amendment principles argued during the October 2024 term
- Represented West Virginia’s brick-and-mortar public charter schools in state court in a case raising a state constitutional challenge and threatening to close the public charter schools
- Represented 30 U.S. Senators and House Members in amicus briefs filed in the Fifth and Sixth Circuits for a case involving separation of power concerns and emissions regulations
- Represented businesses and business owners in civil RICO and RICO conspiracy case in the Southern District of Indiana involving complex financial and fraud allegations relating to medical practice
- Co-authored amicus briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of Ohio on behalf of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and in support of energy companies and renewable energy projects that resulted in favorable appellate decisions
- Represented federal criminal defendants as court-appointed counsel in federal appellate courts
- Represented publicly traded international online retailer in state and federal proceedings
Education
- J.D. West Virginia University College of Law
- B.A. Wheeling Jesuit University
Memberships
- Co-Founder & Executive Director, Wilmington Lacrosse Academy
- Amicus Committee, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
- General Counsel Committee, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel for the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Sixth Circuits
- Member, Judge John A. Field Jr. American Inn of Court