Curtis L. Cukjati

Curt is a founding partner of the San Antonio-based law firm Martin Cukjati & Tom, LLP. He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Texas and is admitted to practice before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Curt is committed to helping those who are most deserving of focused legal services. Curt achieved an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell in 2011, which he maintains to this day.

Curtis “Curt” L. Cukjati is a founding partner of the San Antonio-based law firm Martin & Cukjati, LLP. Practicing law since 1989, he focusing on all aspects of complex civil litigation. Curt is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Texas. He is also admitted to practice before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Curt is a seasoned trial lawyer who has experience at every stage of litigation, from filing lawsuits through appeals. He handles an array of litigation for businesses and individuals on both the plaintiff and defense sides throughout Texas. Across his career, he has represented clients in litigation involving personal injury, business law and commercial litigation, and more.

Curt is committed to helping those who are most deserving of focused legal services. He believes that justice can be very elusive in our legal system. Because of this, he finds nothing more rewarding than taking a case he knows is meritorious that has been rejected by others and establishing accountability, no matter the size of the claim.

He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with honors, in 1986. Curt was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society, Co-Chairman of the Student Affairs Committee, and a Staff Writer for the yearbook during college. He earned his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law, with honors, in 1989. During law school, Curt was selected for inclusion in the John Harlan Honor Society, received multiple merit scholarships, was selected as the St. Mary’s Law Journal Note and Comment Editor, and served as a Research Assistant. In addition, he won the Writing Award for Best Law Review Article on a Litigation Topic.

Curt achieved an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell in 2011, which he maintains to this day. Martindale-Hubbell has evaluated attorneys for more than 130 years on legal ability and ethical standards. An “AV” rating means an attorney has reached the highest level of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.

He has served as a member and leader of numerous professional associations, including on the Editorial Advisory Board for Texas Pretrial Practice Manual, as the Editor in Chief of The San Antonio Lawyer, as a Sustaining Member of the Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, and more. Outside of work, Curt enjoys spending time with his family and at his ranch.

• St. Mary’s University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, with honors, 1989

  • Top 6% of class

  • Harlan Honor Society/John Harlan Society

  • Balfour Merit Scholarship, 1989

  • Brackenridge Scholarship, 1987

  • Gilpin, Pohl & Bennet Writing Award for Best Law Review Article on Litigation Topic

  • St. Mary’s Law Journal, Note and Comment Editor

  • Research Assistant

  • Phi Delta Phi, Vice Magister

• The University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with honors, 1986

  • Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society

  • Co-Chairman of Student Affairs Sub-Committee

  • Staff Writer for Yearbook

• Texas

• United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

• United States Supreme Court

• State Bar of Texas

• William S. Sessions American Inns of Court, Former Barrister

• Editorial Advisory Board for Texas Pretrial Practice Manual, 2000

• San Antonio Bar Association, Publications Committee Co-Chairman, 1993 – 1996

• The San Antonio Lawyer, Editor in Chief, 1993 – 1995

• Texas Antitrust and Business Litigation Bulletin, Contributing Editor, 1990 – 1992

• The Subpoena, Contributing Editor, Co-Author to Honorable Nancy Stein Nowak, 1990 – 1992

• American Bar Association

• Federal Bar Association

• San Antonio Bar Association

• Texas Trial Lawyers Association

• Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, Sustaining Member

• Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

• San Antonio Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

• University of the Incarnate Word®, Adjunct Professor of Business Law, 1992 – 1998

• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2011 - present

• San Antonio’s Best Lawyers List, Scene in SA Magazine

• Texas Lawyer‘s “40 under 40,” 2001

• Crown Life Ins. Co. v. Casteel—Return of the Prodigal Son, The Appellate Advocate, Vol. XIII, No. 3.

• Jury Argument: To Object or Not to Object, The Appellate Advocate, Vol. XIII, No. 1, 2000.

• Superseding the “Other Judgment,” The Appellate Advocate, Vol. XII, No. 1.

• Motion Practice In the Court of Appeals, A.B.A. Sem. (1996).

• Tape Recording of Conversations: Ethics, Legality and Admissibility, 59 Tex. B.J. 950, Vol. 59 (1996).

• Perfecting the Fifth Circuit Appeal, The San Antonio Lawyer, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1994)

• San Antonio Court of Appeals: Local Rules and a Few Hints The San Antonio Lawyer, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1994).

• Tunnel Visison: Appellate Review of a Summary Judgment Order Stating a Specific Ground for the Judgment, The Appellate Advocate, Vol. VII, No.3 (1994).

• Innovations in State Court Securities Litigation, High Stakes Litigation in State Court, State Bar of Texas (1991).

• Protecting the Fetus from Maternal Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Proposal for Texas, co-authored with Tom Rickhoff, St. Mary’s Law Journal (1989).

• Criminal Law—Right Of Confrontation—Screen Used at Trial That Prevents Testifying Child Sex Abuse Victim From Viewing Accused Violates Accused’s Sixth Amendment Right To Face-To-Face Confrontation, St. Mary’s Law Journal (1988).

• Community Justice Program Pro Bono Attorney, 2006 – present