Background

Dr. Ferrill is primarily involved in civil litigation with a special interest in representing veterinarians and other professionals.  Dr. Ferrill also handles administrative hearings, business formations, practice mergers, acquisitions and sales, employment matters and appeals.  Dr. Ferrill has represented parties on appeal before the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of appeals, Texas Supreme Court and the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th District Courts of Appeals of Texas.  He is admitted to practice before all four Texas Federal Districts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prior to attending law school, Dr. Ferrill practiced veterinary medicine for four years in Stephenville, Texas, and continues to maintain his license to practice.  Dr. Ferrill also manages the Ferrill Family Cattle Company in Comanche, Texas raising Red Angus seed stock in cooperation with the RA Brown Ranch and commercial Hereford cattle.  Dr. Ferrill operates Ferrill Farm & Ranch, assisting buyers and sellers of ranches, farms and leisure properties.

Awards & Recognitions

AV-Rated Martindale-Hubbell®: Preeminent™

Named a “Top Attorney” in 2019 to present by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine

2007 Clinical Referral and Consultation Award, Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice

-Member, The John M. Harlan Society of the School of Law of the St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas

-Senior Associate Editor, St. Mary’s Law Journal, 1991-1992

Areas of Practice

Litigation

Veterinary law

Administrative law with experience before the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the Texas Board of Nursing

Agricultural law

Business formations, sales, acquisitions and mergers

Equine law

Mediation

Associations & Memberships

Member, American Veterinary Medical Association

Member, American College of Equine Attorneys

Member, American Veterinary Medical Law Association

Member, Texas Veterinary Medical Association

Director 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 through August 2019

Practice Council Chairman and member of the Executive Committee August 2019 to Present

Member, American Association of Bovine Practitioners

Publications & Presentations

Donald A. Ferrill, Liz Choate & Laura Calhoun, Update on DPS Rules (Current Rules on Writing Prescriptions), Tramadol Update, etc. + Employment Issues Panel: Work Force Commission –Hiring, Firing Presented at 2015 TVMA Annual Conference and Expo, Arlington, Texas, February 28, 2015

Veterinarians’ Liability in Diagnosis and Management of Bovine Trichomoniasis Presented at Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, 2017 Veterinary CE Beef Cattle Short Course, Memorial Student Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, August 6, 2017

 

Education

  • Tarleton State University, B.S.-Biology with honors, 1981
  • Texas A&M University, B.S.-Veterinary Science, 1983
  • Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine, D.V.M.,1985
  • St. Mary’s University, School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1992, Phi Delta Phi

Bar/Court Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas, November 6, 1992
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

 

 

11/21/24

FW Magazine names 31 to the Top Attorney List for 2024

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC announces 31 attorneys have been selected as "2024 Top Attorneys in Tarrant County" by...
2/15/20

Dr. Don Ferrill, featured on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s podcast

Dr. Don Ferrill, licensed attorney and veterinarian, was featured on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s podcast, Veterinary Vitals.  In the...
11/6/19

Donald Ferrill featured on the TVMA.ORG

Donald A. Ferrill, DVM and J.D., a member of our firm is featured on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s new...
9/1/19

Donald A. Ferrill DVM joins Whitaker Chalk

Donald A. Ferrill joined our law firm August 28, 2019, and practices professional liability litigation and regulatory compliance, general business...