Jonathan R. Patton

Jon is a Tillotson Patton partner and first-chair trial lawyer with more experience than almost any lawyer his age. Clients trust Jon to navigate their most challenging disputes in courts and arbitrations across the country. His practice spans the full range of complex, high-stakes commercial litigation — fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, partnership disputes, trade secrets and non-compete, securities fraud and SEC enforcement actions, executive compensation, products liability, oil and gas, and defamation.

Jon has taken first chair and lead roles in a series of significant matters. He led the team pursuing two former executives for breach of fiduciary duty over $100 million in bonus payments, resulting in confidential settlements. Alongside Jeff Tillotson, he represented SCA Promotions, Inc. against Yahoo! in a dispute over the 2014 NCAA Tournament "Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge," securing a $5.5 million judgment in a case that drew national attention and featured high-profile depositions of Warren Buffett and then-Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer. He second-chaired a two-week jury trial with Jeff Tillotson resulting in a take nothing verdict for their clients on more than $50 million of potential liability on personal guaranties. He represented a minority partner in a fiercely contested partnership dispute, obtaining an advancement of his client's attorneys' fees that was affirmed by the Dallas Court of Appeals before a confidential settlement on the eve of trial. Together with Tillotson Patton attorney Nathaniel Buchheit, he won dismissal of fraud and fraudulent-transfer claims against a company's former CEO in federal court in Utah, and has won multiple summary judgments and injunction hearings he first-chaired.

After earning his JD from Vanderbilt Law School, Jon began working with Jeff as a young trial lawyer in Dallas. Early in their work together, the two pursued a $10 million arbitration award against Lance Armstrong on behalf of their client — the beginning of a lasting partnership. In 2016, Jon and Jeff founded Tillotson Patton on a shared vision of an elite boutique trial firm that could try any case for any client.