Darrell Mark Grams (born August 23, 1953) is an American lawyer who specializes in international and immigration law. He was the head of the Grams Law Firm in Addison, Texas, as well as the nationwide Grams Capital brokerage firm.

Darrell Grams
Born
Darrell Mark Grams

(1953-08-23) August 23, 1953 (age 71)
Education
OccupationLawyer
Years active1979 - present
Political partyRepublican
Children3
Parents
Relatives
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch Navy
Years of service1979 - 1983
UnitJudge Advocate General's Corps

Early life

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The Louton family in South Africa (c. 1961) Back row L-R: Lois Joy Louton, Edgar Louton, A. G. Louton, Eugene Grams; middle row: Barbara Hughes Louton, Louise Rettinger Louton, Evelyn Phyllis Louton Grams; front row: David A. Louton, Rollin G. Grams, Dennis Grams and Darrell Grams.

Family

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Grams was born on August 23, 1953, in Pietersburg, South Africa. He was the first of three sons born to Eugene Grams (1930–2016) and Evelyn Phyllis Louton (1931–2014).[1]

Many members of his family have been influential in religious leadership, business, and academia since the late 19th century, spanning various global locations. His great-great-grandfather, Adam Oster, was a successful businessman and a pioneering settler in Seliste (now Velimirovac), a German village in modern-day Croatia. In 1914, his great-grandparents emigrated to Detroit, where they engaged in diverse pursuits, including artisanship, investments, and Christian ministry.[2]

His maternal grandfather, A. G. Louton, became a missionary to South Africa in 1951, establishing significant influence in the Northern Transvaal region and ultimately founding over 50 churches. This work was continued by Grams' father, as well as his uncle, Edgar Louton. In the 1980s, his parents spearheaded revival efforts in South Africa, establishing the Cape College of Theology, a notable institution for training religious leaders in Cape Town. His younger brother, Rollin G. Grams, is a noted theologian.[2][3]

Education

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Raised in South Africa as a missionary kid, he frequently traveled back to the United States. In 1972, he enrolled in the University of Michigan, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued a Juris Doctor at Wayne State University Law School, completing it in 1979. To further specialize in law, Grams obtained a Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983.[4][5]

Career

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Grams (right) as a United States Navy officer in 1979

Grams began his legal career serving in the U.S. Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1979 to 1983. From 1979 to 1981, he was stationed as Trial Counsel in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, handling military justice cases and providing legal services in a high-profile international setting. Subsequently, from 1981 to 1983, he worked as an Appellate Government Counsel in Washington, D.C., representing the government in appellate cases. In this role, he gained experience in military legal proceedings, contributing to his understanding of law and justice systems. He also clerked for John Ashcroft for a time, who shared his Assemblies of God background as the son of an AG academic administrator. After his tenure with the Navy, Grams transitioned to private practice, establishing himself as an attorney in Texas[5]

In 1995, Grams was admitted to the Texas State Bar and has since practiced law extensively in the state. He is also licensed in Michigan,[6] several federal courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been associated with high-profile law firms such as Duane Morris and was a partner at Andrews Kurth.[7] In 2011, he founded Grams Capital, a commercial loan brokerage firm headquartered in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex with offices around the U.S. He serves as its president and sole owner, accross the United States.[8]

Grams is known for his proficiency in immigration and international law, assisting clients in navigating the intricacies of cross-border legal matters and using his fluency in French, Spanish, and several other languages.

Grams is an active member of several legal associations, including the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of Michigan, and the American Bar Association.

According to Martindale-Hubbell, Grams practices at The Grams Law Firm, P.C. in Addison, Texas.[9] According to Justia, he also has connections with Kyros Energy LLC as an investor and chief council.[10] He was formerly on the chief council staff for Ford Motor Company and defended them in several asbestos-related lawsuits.[11]

Personal life

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Grams has three children, Victoria, Brandon, and Michael.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Evelyn Phyllis Grams". greenlawnfuneralhome.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  2. ^ a b "www.christianbook.com/stewards-reflective-mission-biography-phyllis-africa/rollin-grams/9781498273367/pd/108249EB#CBD-PD-Publisher-Description". christianbook.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  3. ^ Louton, Nor (April 2024). The Communicator: A Portrait of My Grandfather. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "State Bar of Texas | Find A Lawyer | Darrell M. Grams". www.texasbar.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  5. ^ a b "Darrell M. Grams (born August 23, 1953), American lawyer |". prabook.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  6. ^ "Darrell M. Grams, Duane Morris". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  7. ^ "www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-m-grams-29591310/". linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.[self-published]
  8. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrellgrams/
  9. ^ "Mr. Darrell M. Grams Profile | Addison, TX Lawyer | Martindale.com". www.martindale.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  10. ^ Inc, Justia. "Darrell M. Grams". lawyers.justia.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Morris, Jim (2016-02-16). "Ford spent $40 million to reshape asbestos science". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 2024-11-25.

This article is associated with the extended Louton, Hughes, Oster, Rettinger, Ernst and Grams family involved in ministry, business and academia.