Educational and Professional Experience

Education and Experience

Bachelor of Business Administration – Real Estate and Finance

From – University of Texas at Arlington (1983)

20+ hours of Accounting. Alpha Chi scholastic fraternity.

Juris Doctor

From – Southern Methodist University Law School (1986)

In addition to attending class, actively served as a student lawyer in the Civil Law and Tax legal clinics; interned in the Office of the Dallas County Public Defender.

Pounders Computer Consulting (1980-86)

Self-employed

Independent contractor teaching beginner to advanced computer usage at YMCAs and college continuing education programs. Developed spreadsheets and databases for small businesses using Lotus 1-2-3 and DBase III.

Arthur Andersen & Co. (1986-1988)

Tax Accountant / Systems Consultant

Shared practice – 4-5 months a year as a tax accountant, the rest of the year as a consultant writing tax resolution opinions and creating complex financing and reporting models using Lotus 1-2-3 and various database systems.

City of Dallas (1988-2002)

Assistant City Attorney

Prosecutor (1988), Contracts/Administration (1988-2002). Sports/Entertainment lawyer – negotiated and drafted the deal that brought NHL Stars to Dallas and other high profile sports/entertainment matters. General counsel to the Dallas Convention Center, Reunion Arena, and Park & Recreation Dept. General Counsel for the Dallas Police and Fire Departments. General Counsel to most of the boards and commissions of the City of Dallas, including the Park & Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Sexually Oriented Business Appeals Boards. Dealt with ethics matters, rendering opinions and ordering administrative action. Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act compliance.

North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency

General Counsel (1992-93), Administrative Law Judge (1993-95)

Negotiated the creation of this agency through an interlocal agreement between Dallas and more than a dozen other North Texas governments during my tenure as a Dallas Assistant City Attorney. The Agency certifies minority and woman-owned businesses for local governments in North Texas (including Dallas) for compliance with Federal and State contracting mandates. Assigned as its first general counsel concurrent with my Dallas Assistant City Attorney duties. Subsequently served as its Administrative Law Judge on appeals of certification denials.

City of Cedar Hill (1997-2000), City of Grand Prairie (2000-02)

Municipal Court Judge

Criminal arraignments. Traffic and ordinance court dockets. General magistrate duties.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP (2002-2011)

Partner – Tax Collections

Multi-state corporate law firm specializing in collecting governmental receivables. Principal property tax lawyer for 18 local governments in Dallas and Collin Counties.

Pounders Law Firm PLLC (2011 – 2020)

Solo Practitioner

Tax Collection practice in Collin and Lamar Counties. General counsel to small business clients and small business development. Charitable organization representation.

Abernathy Roeder Boyd & Hullett, PC (2020 – present)

Tax Director

One of the oldest law firms in the USA (since 1876!). Merged my practice into ARBH to manage its property tax collection division. Prior to the merger the ARBH tax collection practice had 16 local governments in just Collin County – since then the practice has grown to 118 local governments across seven north Texas counties — and it’s still growing!

NON-SAR Community Involvement/Personal Information

  • Assistant Chancellor, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas
  • Active Board-member in several North Texas ISD education foundations
  • Active in Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
  • Dallas County Trail and Preserve Board (aka Dallas County Parks Board): former Chairman, joint appointee (unanimous appointee of the four commissioners and County Judge)
  • Former Chairman of the Sports & Entertainment Law Section, Dallas Bar Association
  • Former Senior Warden, Canterbury House SMU
  • Former President, Cedar Hill Parks Board
  • Former President, Cedar Hill Community Development Corporation (4B Tax Board)
  • Admiral, Texas Navy (Honor given by Texas Governor for community service)
  • Dallas Video Festival: Three time ‘People’s Choice’ winner, former Director
  • Youth of Unity: Former International President, Former South Central President (Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi)
  • Hobbies: videography, ham radio (AF5TP), CERT and musical performance
  • Currently lives in McKinney, Texas (Collin County) with our two dogs, Stormi and Puff
  • Married to the Rev. Dr. Marci Pounders / 2 children: Elizabeth Wims (DAR, husband Caleb) and Alex Pounders (SAR, wife Kiersten, and grandson Lucas)