Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
13 Client Reviews
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Lionel James Roach Jr.
also known as Lonnie Roach
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About Lionel
Biography
Lonnie Roach represents clients with disability claims including long term disability claims, ERISA disability claims and Social Security disability claims. He is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law.
The son of a career army officer, Lonnie Roach was born at Fort Lewis Washington in 1963. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he graduated with honors with a B.A. in Political Science. He then moved to Austin in 1988 to attend law school at the University of Texas at Austin. While in law school, he and his close friend, Greg Reed, won the State Bar of Texas Moot Court Competition, a prestigious State-wide competition. This was Mr. Roach’s first experience in appellate law. He’s been winning ever since.
After completing law school, Mr. Roach began his career practicing personal injury trial law and became Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization the first year he was eligible. In addition to his trial practice, he is the firm’s primary appellate lawyer and has successfully argued cases before the Texas Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
It was natural that Mr. Roach’s career path would eventually lead him to the field of ERISA law, especially as it applies to long term disability insurance. Disability benefits cases are, by their nature, medical cases. They involve volumes of medical records that require a solid medical background to interpret. These are the skills of a Board Certified Personal Injury lawyer. When these cases go to trial, however, they take on the aspect of appeals. Disabled claimants are appealing the decision of powerful claims administrators. These trials call for the skills of an appellate attorney. Mr. Roach is both and has become a recognized expert in the field of ERISA, Long Term Disability. He has successfully overturned denials of disability benefits at the administrative level, at trial in United States District Court, and at the United States Court of Appeals.
Our disability benefits legal services are state-wide. At any given time, Mr. Roach is likely to have cases pending in all four federal districts in Texas. He is a Board Certified Texas attorney and is admitted to the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Texas, and the Western District of Texas, as well as the United States Court of appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Lonnie Roach - 26 years of winning litigation experience - handles Long-Term Disability claims
Lonnie Roach has 26 years of winning litigation experience and handles Long-Term Disability claims
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Insurance
100%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
Awards
Licenses
Licensed in Texas for 34 years
State: Texas
Acquired: 1991
No misconduct found
Location
Bemis, Roach & Reed
(512) 453-6335
Fax
4100 Duval Rd, Bldg 1, # 200, Austin, TX, 78759-3550
brrlaw.com/Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Lionel online.
Lionel James Roach Jr.'s Reviews
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Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Communication Style
Posted by Jeff | May 18, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Social Security Disability
Stellar Service
The attorneys and staff at Bemis, Roach & Reed have provided me and my husband, Jeff, with stellar advice, care, and service. They made navigating the SSDI process easy, painless, and as timely as possible. During this difficult time in our lives it was a tremendous relief to know they were on our si...
Posted by Kyle | September 28, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Employee Benefits
Did Outstanding Work for Me
I contacted this office in March 2016 after I researched on the internet with the office having good reviews. I had to appeal a decision made by the insurance company regarding my LTD benefits from my employer. After some confusion on what to do, I had only 2 weeks left to do the appeal and Lonnie ...
Posted by Charles Lemmond Montgomery , Texas 77356 | July 03, 2011 | Insurance
HOW TO WIN AN APPEAL
Mr, Roach represented me against one of the largest insurance companies in the U,S, He and his extremely professional staff upon accepting my case expedited the case to an immediate favorable decision, It only took one or two visits with Mr, Roach and assistants and we were all on a first name bases,...
Lionel James Roach Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements
"Lonnie has developed a reputation as a leader in the area of long term disability law and ERISA claims throughout Texas. He is one of the most prepared and skilled advocates of the disabled in Texas and regularly achieves results for his clients that others thought were not possible. I endorse this lawyer without reservation."
"Lonnie always provides the service and consideration our mutual clients deserve. A highly experienced litigator and trial attorney, Lonnie is a person of tremendous integrity. Working diligently for all of his disability clients, he is meticulous and methodical, enabling him to achieve great results. I never hesitate to recommend Lonnie to any of my clients with disability issues."
Gregory Reed
Social Security & Disability lawyer
Lloyd Bemis
Social Security & Disability lawyer
Experience
Honors
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2022
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2022
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2022
Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
1996
Board Certified - Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Work Experience
1993 - Present
Partner, Bemis, Roach & Reed
Associations
1991 - Present
Capital Area Trial Lawyers AssociationMember
1991 - Present
State Bar of TexasMember
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Member
Austin Bar Association
Member
1999 - 2001
Capital Area Trial Lawyers AssociationDirector
Sample of Legal Cases
George v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
The Fifth Circuit ruled agreed with Mr. Roach that no mental/nervous condition “contributed” to our client’s disability because even without his diagnosis of depression, Mr. Roach’s client would still be disabled due to solely physical causes.
Scheuermann v. Unum Life Ins. Co.
The Court agreed with Mr. Roach and concluded that Unum abused its discretion in denying long-term benefits.
Robinson v. Aetna
The Court of appeals concluded both that Aetna failed to substantially comply with ERISA procedures and that Aetna abused its discretion by terminating Mr. Roach’s client’s benefits.
Garcia v. United States, 799 F. Supp. 674 (W.D. Tex. 1992)
Rossi v. Precision Drilling Oilfield Services Corp. Employee Benefits Plan (5th Cir. 2013)
Rossi v. Precision Drilling Oilfield Services Corp. Employee Benefits Plan (5th Cir. 2013)
Education
1991
University of Texas School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1988
University of Texas at Dallas
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2013
Advanced Insurance Seminar
ERISA Long Term Disability
2012
Advanced Civil Trial Law
ERISA Long Term Disability
Languages
English