Engaged in the practice of law since 1973 in San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Veitch’s practice focuses on Insurance Law, Insurance Claims and Coverage, Wills, Trusts, Probate Law and Litigation, Expert Witness/Consulting, and General Business Law. Mr. Veitch was previously employed by insurance companies from 1963-1973 in claims, underwriting, sales, and management positions. Mr. Veitch also had an ownership interest in Commercial Underwriters Insurance Agency in San Antonio from 1981-1984, where he was a Founding Partner. Mr. Veitch’s total experience in Insurance Business exceeds 50 years and encompasses experience in claims adjusting, underwriting, sales, and field management positions, insurance defense work, agency consultation in mergers/acquisitions and valuations, mediation, expert witness/consulting, and other Insurance Law matters. Mr. Veitch also engages in resolving complicated or contested Trust, Estate, or Guardianship matters.
Thomas H. Veitch (Tom)
Industries
Education
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St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D., 1973
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Honors: Ranked in Top 10% of Total Student Body (13th of 152)
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Honors: Dean’s List
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Honors: American Jurisprudence Awards for Top Class Grades in Labor Law and Equity
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- Central Michigan University, B.S., 1960
Associations
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Boy Scouts of America, Activities Chairman, District 1, Alamo Council, 1974
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Oak Hills Lions Club, Past President
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Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M., Member
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Scottish Rite, Member
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Selective Service Board, Member (Local Board 113, 20 year term completed)
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The Rotary Club of San Antonio, Member, 1990 – Present
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Rotary Youth Education Foundation, Board of Trustees, 1993 – Present
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Northside Chamber of Commerce, Member, 1983 – 1986
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Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Member, 1987 – 1995
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City of Shavano Park, Former Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem
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SABOR Toastmasters, Member (Served as President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer), 1986 – 1991
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Business and Professional Toastmasters Club, Member (Achieved ATM Designation), 1989 – 1995
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The Lamplighters Dance Club, President, 1994 – 1995
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Honorable Order of Blue Goose, Past President – Alamo Pond
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Chartered Life Underwriters CLU, Past Chairman, Bylaw Committee
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Chartered Life Underwriters CLU, Official Chapter Spokesperson, 1992 – 1994
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Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, Past President of Alamo Chapter, 1974
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San Antonio Independent Insurance Agents Association, Director and Chairman of Education Committee, 1983 – 1984
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International Association of Financial Planners, Vice President of Education for San Antonio Chapter, 1983 – 1984
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American Association of Insurance Management Consultants (AAIMCO), Member and Former Vice President
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American Society of CPCU, Consulting Litigation and Expert Witness Section (CLEW), Member, National Governing Committee, 1994 – 2006
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Texas Legal Protection Plan, Inc., Board of Trustees, 1996 – 2010; Chair, 2009
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Working Group Appointed by Governor to Study Agency Licensing Laws & Recommend Legislative Changes, Member, 1998
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Texas Bar Association, Member
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Past Member, Committee on Professional Competence
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Served as Vice Chairman, Committee on Prepaid Legal Insurance
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American Bar Association, Member
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San Antonio Bar Association, Member
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Past Chairman, Supervising Law Students Committee
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Past Chairman, Mentor Committee
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Past Chairman, Law School Committee
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San Antonio Estate Planners Council, Member
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San Antonio Probate Law Association, Member
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Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1978 – 1986
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San Antonio Bar Foundation, Charter Member, Chair 2002 – 2003
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Diplomate Court Practice Institute, 1975
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Dominion Investment Group, Treasurer, 2005
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College of the State Bar of Texas, 1990 – Present
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American Bar Association, Property Insurance Committee, Member, 1977 – 2021
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St. Mary’s University and San Antonio Bar Foundation, Co-Chairman, Elder Law Institute, 1994
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St. Mary’s Law Alumni, Board of Directors, 1996 – 2001; Secretary, 2001
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State Bar Committee for “Alternate Methods of Resolving Disputes,” Past Member 1984 – 1986
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American Arbitration Association (AAA), Member, 1993 – 1995
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National Arbitration Forum, Member Arbitrator
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Society of Professionals in Disputes Resolutions (SPIDR), 1993 – 1996
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JAMS, Panel Member, 1996 – 1998
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Association of Attorney Mediators (AAM), Former Member and Chairman, National Insurance Committee
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Association of Attorney Mediators (AAM), President, Local Chapter, 1996 – 1997
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City of Shavano Park, Planning and Zoning Commission, 1985
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State Bar of Texas Insurance Trust, Trustee, 2002 – 2008
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Society of Financial Service Professionals, Board Member, 2004 – 2006
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Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare (AAPAW), Board Member, 2009 – Present; Board Chair since 2012
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Conflict Solutions of Texas, Panel Member, 2010 – 2020
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Texas Worker’s Compensation Appeals Panel, public representative, 2015 – 2020
Court Admissions
Board Certifications
- Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1985-2021
- Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) designation, 1983
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation, 1975
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), 1970
Awards
Accolades
- Charter Member, Expert 400, an invitation-only preeminent trial expert registry, honorary division of Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)
- Nominee, America’s Most Honored Professional Award, 2014 and 2015
- Best Lawyers in Trust and Estate Law, Scene in SA Monthly magazine, 2006-2013
- Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters- Insurance coverage, 2006-2012
- Best Lawyer in America, Woodward and White- Insurance Law, 2007-2014, 2026
- S.A.’s Best Lawyers 2018, San Antonio Scene, Insurance Coverage
- Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018
Personal Information
- Actively engaged with various organizations and the City of San Antonio to enhance the protection and welfare of pets in the San Antonio area
- Author of multiple books and articles, primarily pertaining to Insurance or Probate law
- Duplicate Bridge player
Cases & Publications
Books & Manuals
- What You Need to Know to Settle With Insurance Companies (John Wiley & Sons Publishing Co., March 1991)
- The Consultant’s Guide to Litigation Services, How To Be An Expert Witness (John Wiley & Sons Publishing Co., Oct. 1992)
- Author of a concentrated Study Course and outline for CPCU, Part 1, published by Insurance Achievement of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1975)
Insurance-Related Articles
- “Obligations of the Insured After Incurring a Property Loss” (INCL Brief March, 1980, published by the American Bar Association)
- “Current Developments Involved in Incorporating an Insurance Agency” (The Insurance Record, April 3, 1980, Vol. XLVI, No. 7)
- “Estate Planning Considerations for the Independent Insurance Agent” (The Insurance Record, September 15, 1983, Vol. XLIX, No. 19)
- “Non-Compete Covenants” (Texas Insuror, May – June 1984)
- “Property Insurance Considerations for the Practicing Attorney” (Texas Bar Journal, April, 1984)
Texas Law Reporter Articles
- “Texas Common Law Bad Faith: From Where We Were to Where We Are” (December 1995)
- “Understanding Insurance Policies and Determining Whether They Say What They Mean Or Mean What They Say” (January 1996)
- “Large Liability Claims” (February 1996)
- “What is an Occurrence” (March 1996)
- “Beware of Faulty Certificates of Insurance” (April 1996)
- “Understanding the Duty to Defend” (May 1996)
- “Timely Claims Handling” (June 1996)
- “Uninsured & Under Insured Motorist Coverage Issues” (July 1996)
San Antonio Lawyer Articles
- “Statutory Claims for Unfair Insurance Practices: A New Era” (3rd Quarter 1997)
- “Duties of the Insured After Loss” (March – April 1998)
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Lecturer, San Antonio Board of Realtors, 1980 – 1986
- Part-Time Instructor, Insurance Classes, San Antonio College, 1972 – 1982
- Part-Time Instructor, Life Insurance Law, Estate Planning and Business Planning, San Antonio College, 1972 – 1982
- Associate Adjunct Faculty, College for Financial Planning, Denver, Colorado, 1974 – 1980
- Nationwide Lecturer, Insurance, Estate Planning and Business Law Subjects, Insurance Achievement of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1974 – 1980
- Presenter, Seminar on Bad Faith Insurance Law, Lloyds of London Brokers and Personnel, London, England, 1996
- Speaker, CPCU National Convention, 1997
- Speaker, CPCU National Convention, 1999
- Frequent Speaker, Various Probate and Estate Planning Seminars
- Coordinator of ADR Symposium, CPCU Society, Dallas, Texas, 1996
- Coordinator of ADR Symposium, CPCU Society, Nashville, Tennessee, 1996
- Speaker, Various ADR and Mediation Seminars
- Presenter at various CLE Seminars on Probate and Insurance
