Michael Blachly
Chief Marketing Officer

It's my goal to work collaboratively with our firm leadership and attorneys to help define our brand, determine what makes Gray Reed unique, and assist in understanding our clients and their needs. In a sense I feel my role is to view all that we do from the eyes of our clients so we can connect with them and provide the best service we can. 

Michael directs all marketing and business development activities for Gray Reed, overseeing a team responsible for planning and executing innovative marketing and business development strategies and providing daily support across the firm. He is also a marketing consultant at Gray Reed’s subsidiary, Gray Reed Advisory Services, a business consultancy focused on strategy, operations, marketing, and technology.

With over 20 years of experience in corporate marketing and business development, Michael is an integral part of Gray Reed’s leadership, helping the firm accelerate growth through transformative strategies that enhance internal operations and optimize marketing performance.

A Certified TeamSight Consultant, he is a collaborator, consensus-builder and results-oriented problem solver who maximizes company potential by overcoming communication issues, instilling trust and building strong teams.

Before joining Gray Reed, Michael was head of marketing and communications for Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, Cornerstone Credit Union League, and his political consulting firm, Hamby & Blachly. 

Michael was the first president of the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA) Southwest Region and has held numerous other leadership positions with the organization. He was the first recipient of the region’s President’s Award and was recognized with the 2021 Distinguished Service Award.

As a legal marketing leader, he is regularly invited to speak on marketing and business development topics by the LMA, Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, the International Association of Business Communicators, and other prominent organizations.

Michael graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and from the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business’s Graduate Marketing Program.

Michael has pursued a passion for photography for most of his life. His landscape, travel, and outdoor scenes have been published in various magazines and earned him numerous awards. Visit www.michaelblachly.com to view his work. 

Thought Leadership / News
April 24, 2023 
 Speeches and Presentations
Worst Case Scenarios: What Steps Will You Take?

Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference - PR & Communications Pre-Con

October 14, 2022 
 Speeches and Presentations
CMO Panel: Charting the Future of Legal Marketing

Legal Marketing Association Southwest Regional Conference

September 8, 2022 
 Speeches and Presentations
The Keys to Developing, Growing and Keeping Great Clients

Texas Association of Defense Counsel

August 3, 2022 
 Speeches and Presentations
Planning & Preparation: The Key to Success

Deal Talk Live 2022 Conference

Honors
  • Gray Reed won a Gold Horizon Interactive Marketing Award for its 2022 holiday e-card.  
  • Recgonized by the Legal Marketing Association Southwest Region with their 2021 Distinguished Service Award. 
  • Gray Reed won Honorable Mention in the Legal Marketing Association's 2021 LMASW Your Honor Awards in the Brand Communications category for its brand launch video
  • Gray Reed won a Gold Horizon Interactive Marketing Award for its 2021 holiday e-card.  
  • Gray Reed won First Place in the Legal Marketing Association's 2020 LMASW Your Honor Awards in the Technology category for its proposal generator and experience database system. 
  • Recognized by the Legal Marketing Association as the first recipient of the LMA Southwest Region President’s Award in 2018. 
  • Gray Reed won a Gold Horizon Interactive Marketing Award for its 2018 holiday e-card.  
  • Gray Reed won honorable mention in the Legal Marketing Association’s 2016 Your Honor Awards in the Website category for its internet microsite system that allows for the creation of mini-websites relating to niche areas of law or legal issues.
  • The Legal Marketing Association, International Association of Business Communicators and the American Advertising Awards recognized Gray Reed in 2015 for its advertising campaign “Lawyer Jokes”. The campaign uses “old school” lawyer jokes but with the twist that they really are not jokes at all.
Related Employment
  • Vice President - Gray Reed Advisory Services (2021 - Present)
  • Director of Communications - Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University (2003 - 2008)
  • Communications & Marketing Consultant, Hamby & Blachly LLC (2002 - 2003)
  • Communications Director, Texas Credit Union League (1999 - 2002)
Organizational Involvement

Professional Activities, Memberships & Affiliations

  • Legal Marketing Association (2008 - Present)
    • PR/Communications Pre-Con Co-Chair - LMA Annual Conference (2023)
    • Co-Chair - Southwest Region Conference (2022)
    • Member - LMA 2030 Strategic Planning Task Force (2021)
    • Past President - Southwest Region (2018)
    • President - Southwest Region (2017)
    • President-Elect - Texas Chapter (2016)
    • Secretary - Texas Chapter (2012 - 2013)
    • Chair - Dallas Local Group Chapter (2010)
  • Lexwork International (2010 - Present)
    • Governing Board (2010 - Present)
    • Marketing Committee (2010 - Present)
      • Marketing Chair (2017 - 2018)

Community Involvement, Memberships & Affiliations

  • Gray Reed Foundation
    • Board Member (2021 - Present)
  • National Audubon Society
    • Advisory Board Member for the Trinity River Audubon Center (2023 - Present)
  • Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
    • Master of Ceremonies (2008 - Present)
    • Verger (2010 - Present)
    • Fellow of the Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church (2017 - Present)
    • Diocesan Delegate to the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas (2020 - 2022)
  • Family Compass (a child abuse prevention center)
    • Advisory Board (2013 - 2019)
  • Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park
    • Young Professionals Steering Committee (2014 - 2016)
  • Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
    • Marketing & Communications Advisory Board (2011 - 2012)
Education
  • Graduate Marketing Certificate, Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business (2008)
  • B.S., Journalism, Texas A&M University (1999)
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Avid photographer (check out my work at www.michaelblachly.com)
  • Traveling (and photographing) the world
  • Exploring the Dallas food scene
  • Spending time with my wife, family and dogs