Biography

West Menefee Bakke is an associate in Jackson Walker’s San Antonio office. His practice focuses on critical pre-trial motions and appeals. West also works closely with the office’s Energy group.

West argued his first appeal while still in law school before a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit. Upon graduation he served as a law clerk to federal judges in Houston (District Judge Andrew S. Hanen) and in Washington, D.C. (Circuit Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson). He previously interned for federal judges in Dallas (District Judge Jane J. Boyle and Circuit Judge Catharina Haynes).

Since joining Jackson Walker, West has been called upon to assist with a broad range of civil litigation matters, including actions in federal court, state court, MDL court, and bankruptcy court. West has also assisted clients with a variety of energy-related matters, including an appeal in the Supreme Court of Texas concerning construction of a downstream facility, advice to a midstream company regarding tort and contractual issues, and disputes between mineral and royalty interest owners.

West graduated first in his class at SMU Dedman School of Law, where he served as a Legal Research & Writing teaching assistant for first-year students. West also served as a student attorney at the school’s First Amendment Clinic and as a summer clerk in the Texas Office of the Solicitor General.

In between classes, West was a research assistant to Professor Anthony J. Colangelo, helping research foreign states’ constitutional due process protections for purposes of discerning peremptory norms of international law. West also served as an editor for the SMU Law Review Association, where he published his case note addressing the constitutionality of anti-camping ordinances under the Eighth Amendment.

Outside the office, West enjoys golf, hunting in South Texas, and practicing his Spanish. He is an Eagle Scout.

Education

B.B.A, Texas A&M University

• Business Honors Program

J.D., SMU Dedman School of Law

• Valedictorian
• SMU Law Review, Editor
• Legal Writing Teaching Assistant

Bar Admissions

Texas