Alternative
Dispute Resolution:
We help clients resolve
challenging legal issues in the forum that is best suited to
the client’s strategic interests. Our attorneys are skilled
advocates in arbitration, mediation and other alternative
dispute resolution processes.
Appellate Litigation:
We maintain an active appellate
practice, briefing and arguing legal issues that impact the
way our clients conduct business. We have a history of
appellate success that spans more than sixty years. For
additional information on our appellate successes, also visit:
Reported Decisions.
Banking:
Our banking practice includes
the representation of both lenders and borrowers in a broad
range of finance and lending transactions including the
negotiation, structuring and documentation of acquisition
loans, term and revolving credit facilities, working capital
loans, senior debt instruments, letter of credit facilities,
construction loans and real estate financing transactions.
Our attorneys have considerable experience with both single
bank and syndicated loans.
Bankruptcy and
Corporate Reorganization:
We have extensive experience in
all types of bankruptcy proceedings, representing primarily
creditors in Chapter 11 business reorganizations, Chapter 7
business liquidations and Chapter 7 and 13 individual debtor
cases that involve business issues. We frequently represent
secured lenders, landlords, trade creditors and Chapter 7
trustees in significant bankruptcy cases.
Collections:
We represent businesses,
collection agencies, banks, credit unions and other
commercial creditors in the collection of debts. Our
practice includes protecting and enforcing creditor’s rights
and remedies - including remedies when a debtor has filed
for bankruptcy protection.
Construction
Law:
We advise construction industry
clients, including general contractors, sub-contractors,
architects, engineers, developers, owners, lenders and
suppliers, on a wide variety of construction related
business and litigation matters ranging from mechanics’ lien
claims and payment disputes to complex matters involving
substantial alleged construction defects.
Contract:
We have broad-based experience
in the negotiation, documentation and enforcement of
commercial transactions. This practice includes the
acquisition and disposition of businesses, real estate and
personal property. Our services include contract drafting,
negotiation, enforcement and litigation, together with
secured transactions, title, premises, liens, oil and gas
and environmental issues.
Corporate:
We provide advice on a
full range of corporate transactional and other matters,
including corporate finance,
corporate governance and restructurings. We also advise
clients on a variety of other corporate matters including
officer/director duties and liabilities.
Family
Law:
We represent clients in all
aspects of family law including divorce, child support, child custody, pre and post-nuptial agreements and
complex property division.
Governmental
Law:
We act as city attorney for a
number of municipalities and as legal counsel for special
use districts. We have extensive experience in development
issues (development agreements, MUDs, PIDs, strategic
partnerships and industrial districts), annexations, the
Open Meetings Act (conducting meetings/parliamentary
procedure), the Public Information Act, the Texas Local
Government Code, employment, economic development, zoning,
Code enforcement, liquor licensing, interfacing with the
District Attorney, the County Attorney, the State Attorney
General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller’s Office,
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and other
Federal and State level authorities.
Insurance:
We have extensive experience in
the defense of routine and complex general liability cases. We have also
developed expertise in assisting insurers with coverage
questions including, but not limited to, duty to defend and
duty to indemnify.
Labor and
Employment Law:
Our labor and employment
practice includes litigating claims alleging wrongful
termination, and the like, as well as drafting and reviewing
employment agreements.
Litigation and
Trial:
For more than eighty years,
clients have turned to us for their litigation needs. We
are seasoned litigators. We routinely represent businesses and governmental entities in
litigation throughout Texas. The Firm’s civil
litigation practice centers on business related litigation
and real estate. Other areas of focus include issues
related to banking, bankruptcy, employment, environmental
and products liability law. We also have extensive
experience related to insurance policies and bonds
concerning the banking, general business and construction
fields.
Real Estate:
We have particular expertise in representing
clients in real estate related matters. We represent
owners, landlords, tenants, operators, developers, lenders
and investors in a wide range of real estate transactions
and related services. Our experience includes the purchase,
sale, restructuring, financing and development of commercial
and residential buildings and property. In addition, we
represent tenants and landlords in commercial and retail
leasing transactions. We are routinely involved in all
aspects of the sale, acquisition, leasing and financing of
real estate.
Securities
Arbitration:
We have substantial experience
in securities arbitration and litigation. We have a history
of successfully representing investors, registered
representatives and broker-dealer firms in a variety of
arbitration cases before FINRA (the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority) and its predecessor arbitration forums
(NASD -- Dispute Resolution, and the New York Stock Exchange
Board of Arbitration). Our experience extends to both
customer and employment cases. We are, of course, prepared
to represent clients in such cases in state or federal court
in the rare instances in which there is no contractual
agreement to arbitrate.
UCC and Secured
Transactions:
We often advise clients on all
aspects of personal property law, with special emphasis on
issues that arise under Article 9 (secured transactions) of
the Uniform Commercial Code.
Wills, Trusts
and Estates:
Our wills, trusts and estates
practice ranges from routine wills to complex plans for
large estates. Areas of emphasis include the preparation of
wills and trusts, administration of probate and trust
estates, estate planning and representation of executors and
trustees.
