Young, Betsy

Nancy Archer Yanochik is an attorney with Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC, based in Houston, Texas. Ms. Yanochik has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of matters, including trial and appeals, in both state and federal court. In addition, she has handled multiple mediations and arbitrations. She has also served as mediator in numerous cases, giving her a balanced view of the process for alternative dispute resolution. Ms. Yanochik is licensed to practice in the State of Texas, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and has been admitted pro hac vice in a variety of other states and federal courts.

Ms. Yanochik is married and has two sons and enjoys organic gardening, biking, various art projects, upcycling and spending time with her family. Ms. Yanochik is very active in both The Woodlands and Houston, serving on boards and providing both pro bono legal and design services to non-profit entities, including two preschool programs for at-risk students in Houston's First and Fifth Wards, a tutoring/mentoring program for inner-city junior and senior high students, and various churches and schools.

Practice Areas/Experience

Ms. Yanochik has experience in tort and commercial litigation and environmental matters. She is currently part of a team serving the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office in connection with the natural resource damages arising from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to her current focus on environmental litigation, Ms. Yanochik has represented a broad range of clients including large petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and transportation companies, as well as automobile manufacturers, governmental entities, and healthcare organizations. She has substantial experience in working with expert witnesses and challenges to expert witness testimony and medical issues. Representative experience includes:

• Tried products-liability suits as both first and second chair to favorable verdict on   behalf of automobile manufacturer.
• Obtained favorable outcomes for several pharmaceutical, medical-devices and manufacturing  clients in various products-liability suits.
• Conducted corporate due diligence in several environmental matters.
• Coordinated expert testimony in several complex toxic tort and products-liability matters.
• Selected, prepared and presented key liability witness in successful trial defense of legal  malpractice claim.
• Obtained favorable mediation outcome for public utility in clean-up and cost-allocation  matter.

Professional Background

Before joining Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC, Ms. Yanochik practiced for over 8 years with Baker Botts, LLP in the environmental and litigation sections. She also practiced with Beck, Redden & Secrest, LLP and Connelly Baker Maston Wotring & Jackson, LLP.

Ms. Yanochik graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design and Art from Abilene Christian University. She graduated with high honors from The University of Texas School of Law in 1991, where she was a member and note editor for the Texas Law Review, and a member of the Order of the Coif and Chancellors (she was named Keeper of the Peregrinus for having the fourth-highest GPA in her class).

Professional Activities

• 2006-present, Executive Board of The Woodlands Christian Academy, The Woodlands, Texas
• Texas Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association
• 1993-2000, Board Member, Small Steps Nurturing Center, Houston, Texas