Ron Kirk is a partner at the law firm of Vinson & Elkins, where his principal area of practice is public finance and public policy. Kirk served as Mayor of the City of Dallas from 1995 until 2001, and in 1994, he served as the Texas Secretary of State. He has over 20 years of experience as legislative counsel for numerous public and private entities. Kirk is a former Dallas Assistant City Attorney for Governmental Relations and served as aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Brinker International, Dean Foods Company and PetsMart, Inc., and he is a National Trustee for the March of Dimes.
Kirk has over 20 years of experience providing legislative counsel to numerous governmental and corporate entities, including the City of Dallas, City of Fort Worth, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority, Southwest Airlines, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Builders and New Car Dealers Association of Metropolitan Dallas. He has provided counsel to corporations on extremely sensitive matters related to diversity initiatives, and the disposition of actions brought on race, class, or ethnic discrimination.
Kirk is a graduate of Austin College. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.