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Find Lawyers in Dallas, Texas for Commercial Litigation
Practice Area Overview
Litigation increasingly occurs in various venues, from state and federal courts to private arbitrations and administrative hearings. Proceedings can involve business-to-business disputes or any number of government agencies. Understanding the motivations and outlook of each of the litigation participants is important for determining weak points to exploit and strong points that will persuade the audience in question. During the past decade, commercial litigators have seen a dramatic uptick in multidistrict and inter-disciplinary litigation, making the stakes higher, the cases more complex, the parties more numerous and the discovery more complicated and unwieldy. Firms that are able to develop and implement a creative legal approach to each individual problem, efficiently focus on the key legal and factual issues, and master and manage the various aspects of these complex matters will be the busiest in the years to come.
In the current challenging economic climate, commercial litigators are under increasing client pressure to keep costs in check, which has both sides testing the efficacy of alternative fee arrangements and the scope of reasonable discovery. Whether the “death of the billable hour” is ultimately realized, the keys to a commercial litigator’s success will continue to be strong client relationships, thought leadership, practical management skills, deep experience, and personal commitment.
Sherri Alexander serves as Chair of the Health Care Litigation practice. She has represented hospitals, surgical centers and national healthcare systems for more than 30 years. Sherri is committed to understanding clients’ medical staff and operational needs and delivering workable solutions. When litigation is unavoidable, she relies on her experience in the courtroom to efficiently obtain desired results. Sherri’s practice focuses on: Representing clients in cases involving medi...
In the last five years, Clayton Bailey has saved his clients approximately $500 million in potential exposure. His practice focuses on the litigation and trial of complex tort and commercial litigation matters. His experience includes handling contract disputes, business torts, RICO, ERISA, employment law, trade secrets, deceptive trade practices, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, antitrust, Packers and Stockyards Act, and wrongful death. Mr. Bailey’s litigation experience also includes ...
Bill Banowsky focuses his practice on complex business litigation and arbitration, securities litigation, and corporate governance investigations. He also represents national and international energy industry clients in various disputes involving contract rights and business torts. In recent years, he has become involved in numerous disputes representing healthcare providers including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, medical device suppliers, physician groups and ancillary providers. Mr...
Mr. Biermacher, a director of the Firm, is the most senior member of the Litigation Section in the Dallas office. His general broad trial and appellate practice and experience representing clients on both sides of the docket not only encompass personal and bodily injury defense provided on behalf of insureds and self-insured entities arising out of catastrophic injury, wrongful death, toxic and mass tort, sick building, false arrest, rape, defamation and professional negligence claims, but al...
Laci Bowman represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, modification proceedings, premarital and post marital property agreements, suits affecting parent-child relationship, and enforcement issues. Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2013, Ms. Bowman has extensive experience negotiating difficult settlement agreements or, when appropriate, taking a case through trial. She has tried multiple jury trials, bench trials, and arbit...
A fourth generation attorney, Debbie Dudley Branson is a key member of The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, one of the most respected trial firms in the Southwest. Her work focuses on high-level litigation strategy in a broad array of cases, from catastrophic personal injury claims to complex commercial litigation. Holding an advanced degree in psychology, Ms. Branson also directs focus groups, attitudinal surveys, voir dire, witness preparation, argument, and jury debriefing. Additionally, B...
In law, as in life, success is rarely left to chance. Instead, it’s the product of focused dedication and personal commitment. It’s what Frank L. Branson and the attorneys at The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson have consistently demonstrated for more than three decades. Branson and the lawyers at the firm’s Dallas-based offices are frequently the first choice of individuals who have suffered injuries in truck crashes, transportation accidents and other acts of recklessness a...
Alex Brauer is a sought-after trial attorney who helps clients resolve their business disputes. He has taken numerous matters through trial before both judges and juries and has an exceptional track record. Given his expertise, clients utilize Alex to handle disputes in state and federal courts in Texas and throughout the country. While Alex has assisted several clients with disputes involving the sales and purchases of businesses, clients call on Alex to resolve various disputes ranging from...
Eli Burriss represents clients in sophisticated litigation matters, with a scope that includes derivative actions, M&A disputes, software license and data breach litigation, antitrust litigation, and trade secret litigation. Eli also has extensive experience litigating matters that arise under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), including 401(k) litigation, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) litigation, and representing some of the world’s largest health plan admi...
For over two decades, Kirsten M. Castañeda has briefed and argued state and federal appeals and original proceedings that raise issues critical to businesses and industries across Texas and the nation. In pursuing appellate relief, she never loses sight of the fact that every appeal involves more than just the law. Learning a client’s business and ultimate goals allows Kirsten to craft legal arguments and strategy that serve not only the case at hand, but also the client’s ...
Douglas A. Cawley is a Principal in the Dallas office of McKool Smith. For more than thirty years, he has been engaged in the trial of complex cases, and has handled major intellectual property matters throughout the United States and the world. He was lead counsel in trials resulting in National Law Journal top 100 jury verdicts in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Mr. Cawley is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the American Bar Association Section on Intellectual P...
Proven hustle. Unrivaled grit. Bold execution. Daniel has spent years on the front lines of high-stakes litigation in both federal and state courts throughout the country, coast to coast, and international arbitrations around the world. He is equally comfortable in a courtroom talking to a jury as he is in a boardroom talking to executives or on a gravel road talking to witnesses. Daniel uses a combination of experience, intellect, grit, and compassion to achieve his client’s goals. And...
David Clouston has been practicing securities, commercial and employment litigation in Dallas, Texas since 1993. With a reputation for unparalleled advocacy in state and federal court, as well as in various arbitration forums, he works closely with brokerage firms, oil, gas and chemical companies, manufacturers and distributors, real estate brokers and agents, and wholesale/retail businesses in a variety of matters, including litigation avoidance, customer disputes and claims, employment and ...
Stephanie is a skilled and seasoned litigator focusing on complex commercial litigation and government investigations, enforcement, and compliance. She has been recognized by Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America ® for her commitment to delivering resolutions in courtrooms and before government and regulatory agencies on behalf of her clients. Stephanie is a seasoned trial lawyer who has successfully represented clients in both federal and state courts across the U.S. in major bet-...
Erin Nealy Cox, the former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, is a trial lawyer who represents corporations, boards of directors, and executives involved in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and high-stakes investigations. As a partner in the Firm’s Dallas and Washington, D.C., offices, she is a member of the Firm’s Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group. Erin has a broad practice focused on matters arising from alleged viol...
Trey Cox a litigation partner with Gibson Dunn. He is an accomplished and sought after advocate and trial lawyer. He has spent his entire professional life as a courtroom attorney and litigator helping clients resolve large, complicated and often high-profile business disputes. His courtroom experience is unusually broad and extensive. He has tried over 35 cases involving trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, product liability, trademark, insurance coverage, energy, oil a...
Gary Cruciani is a Principal in McKool Smith’s Dallas office. He has handled complex commercial litigation for a wide variety of clients for more than 20 years. His commercial litigation expertise includes antitrust claims, oil & gas contracts, tax disputes, intellectual property and trade secret matters, construction claims, breach of fiduciary duty and partnership disputes, and general contract cases. Mr. Cruciani’s courtroom track record includes representing both plaintiff...
Greg Curry focuses his litigation practice on complex commercial (including real estate and construction), oil and gas, insurance coverage, and environmental matters. Greg is recognized annually by his peers as one of the top lawyers in Texas. He has an active trial practice, having secured significant settlements and judgments for plaintiffs and defending numerous complex cases with substantial monetary claims. Greg works on a number of high profile and high risk domestic and international a...
David Elrod is a partner in the firm of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP and represents clients in all aspects of business and commercial litigation, including trials, arbitrations and appeals. He has been a trial attorney for more than 40 years and has defended large and small claims against businesses in courts across the nation. Mr. Elrod has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients through verdicts and settlements and this exceptional success—including ...
For over 25 years, Dawn's practice has focused on trial work, representing a variety of large and mid-sized corporate clients in claims involving a wide range of litigation topics. Dawn is an AV Preeminent® rated lawyer with a proven ability to manage and resolve sophisticated disputes. Dawn is comfortable in state and federal courts and arbitrations. Dawn serves as a court-appointed mediator, and she also serves on the American Arbitration Association's National Panel of Commercial and E...
Jeremy Fielding is a litigation partner in Kirkland’s Dallas office. He is an experienced trial lawyer, having tried dozens of complex commercial cases in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and other evidentiary proceedings across the country. Known for his energy, creativity, relentlessness and extraordinary ability to connect with and persuade a jury, Jeremy has been recognized as one of the top trial lawyers in America and Texas by Chambers & Partners, Super Lawyers, Benchma...
An experienced commercial litigator, Michael Gardner handles litigation and arbitration proceedings for clients in a variety of industries. His work includes disputes involving the hospitality industry, fiduciary duty claims, bankruptcy, environmental law, securities law, intellectual property and trade secrets, oil and gas disputes, employment law, insurance claims, real estate agreements, antitrust allegations, school law and white-collar criminal defense. Michael’s advocacy has earne...
Donald E. Godwin is considered one of the most respected and tenacious trial lawyers in Texas. For over 40 years Don has tried significant jury cases in courts throughout Texas and across the United States. He has the ability to translate complex matters of law and fact into easily understandable language for courts and juries. Don's practice covers a broad range of areas with an emphasis on complex litigation, including oil and gas, environmental, fiduciary duties, will contests, major famil...
Kevin Good’s practice is in the area of complex litigation and business transactions with particular emphasis involving the purchase, sale, leasing, financing and servicing of heavy equipment utilized in the aviation industry. Mr. Good represents clients in state and federal courts as well as before federal administrative agencies controlling regulated companies and individuals. He advises sellers, buyers, investors, lessors, lessees and lenders with respect to aviation assets operating...
Joe Griffith is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on products liability, financial services, and business litigation. His trial practice is national, extending to both federal and state courts across the country including multidistrict litigations (MDLs). A Past-President of the Dallas Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Joe is a frequent speaker on issues relating to trial strategy and federal court practice. Joe is AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent (5.0/5.0) by the Martindale-Hubbel...
Mike Gruber's practice primarily involves business litigation defense, although he has also posted a number of very large verdicts, judgments and settlements. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and co-authored the two volume treatise “Texas Litigation Plans and Forms.” Mr. Gruber is active in a number of civic and professional organizations, and recently the Award of Excellence by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers for his ser...
Jeff Hage is a Partner in Peckar & Abramson’s Dallas office. A highly adept litigator, Hage has over 35 years of experience representing clients in complex, high-stakes construction and commercial litigation matters. Over the course of his career, he has handled matters in numerous jurisdictions across Texas, as well as throughout the U.S. and internationally. Hage represents clients in the construction, real estate, energy and banking/finance industries, and focuses his practice on...
Brian Hail is one of the region’s most well-regarded trial attorneys, and he represents a multitude of clients in high-stakes business disputes, fiduciary and fraud claims, employment-related claims, and other complex commercial litigation. Brian is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has nearly three decades of courtroom experience handling complex commercial litigation. Brian’s trial record includes 25+ multi-million-dollar judgments...
Julie Heath focuses her practice primarily in the area of employment litigation and counseling. In addition to litigation and arbitration defense, she counsels HR departments and businesses of every size on all aspects of employment law, from addressing day-to-day employment and personnel questions, to investigating internal employee claims, to defending governmental agency audits, to advising clients on steps for litigation avoidance. Ms. Heath is rated AV®-Preeminent™ by the peer-...
Jennifer has extensive experience tackling complex problems for clients in many types of commercial disputes, from IT outsourcing contract disputes to mortgage-backed security suits. She has also successfully litigated product liability class actions; antitrust claims; and patent, trademark, trade-secret, IP licensing and other IP litigation. She has represented Fortune 100 companies in “bet the company” disputes, as well as underdogs taking on some of the largest companies in the...
Ladd Hirsch is a solution-oriented trial attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing companies and high net worth business clients in complex litigation cases and arbitration matters. Ladd is tenacious and pragmatic in both the courtroom and boardroom in seeking results that meet his clients’ short and long-term business objectives. Ladd has extensive experience prosecuting and defending complex business litigation matters, including disputes involving claims for breach ...
Dallas attorney Brad Jackson is an experienced trial lawyer who is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Brad represents individuals and business clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and throughout North Texas in a wide variety of high-stakes legal disputes. He is well known for putting clients first in cases involving business litigation, high-dollar will contests, trustee and executor fiduciary duty issues, estate and trust litigation, collecti...
In 2022, D Magazine named Randy to its inaugural Best Lawyers Hall of Fame. Randy commemorated the occasion by writing and recording a song about his legal career. That wasn’t surprising; Randy is a published poet, songwriter, and passionate guitar player. He also is the father of eight children. His wife, architect Tricy Magadini, remodeled a previous headquarters building of the JTB team. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and handles c...
Haleigh has broad commercial litigation experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants at every stage of lawsuits involving real estate, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, business divorce, personal injury and tort litigation, and aviation. Haleigh has distinguished herself as an associate by her maturity in the courtroom. She has briefed and argued motions at every stage of litigation, deposed fact and expert witnesses, successfully mediated disputes at their infanc...
Bill is a first-chair trial lawyer whose practice focuses on high-stakes disputes involving antitrust, class action, and other complex commercial litigation issues. Clients have described Bill as an "A+ litigator who would be on anyone's list of lawyers if you had a problem" and have praised him for his "good reputation, which is well deserved." Bill is regularly listed in Chambers USA "Leaders in Their Field," The Best Lawyers in America®, and Texas Super Lawyers®.
Joe Kendall is a former federal judge of 15 years, appointed to the bench by President George H.W. Bush in 1992. In 1999, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton as a Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, where he served until 2002. Prior to his federal judicial service, Judge Kendall practiced as a trial lawyer, representing individuals and corporations in complex cases in both Texas state and federal courts. He then spent 5 ½ years as a Texas State District Court Judge. ...
Michael Lang focuses on complex commercial, bankruptcy and probate disputes on behalf of trustees and the beneficiaries of wills and estates or trust representatives. Michael handles cases in a wide range of issues involving: · Breach of fiduciary duty · Breach of contract · Fraud · Fraudulent transfer and preferential transfer claims · Tortious interference · Partnership-Related Disputes · Derivative and shareholder disputes · Theft of ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.