Top Rated Business & Corporate Attorney in Dallas, TX

Honors/Awards:

• Leadership Dallas, Dallas Regional Chamber, Class of 1999
• Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
• One of 35 Leadership Dallas Alumni Heroes, 2011
• Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2013, 2015
• Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2012-2019
• Best Lawyers in America, Woodward White, Inc., 2016-2020
• Order of the Coif, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
• American Bar Association Award for Professional Merit, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, 1985 – 1988
• Army Meritorious Service Medal
• Leadership Dallas Alumni Heroes, Leadership Dallas Alumni Association, 2011
• Army Commendation Medal

Bar/Professional Activity:

• The Dallas Assembly, Board of Directors, 2005 – 2007
• Tech Titans, Board of Directors, January 2013 – December 2015
• Member, The Dallas Assembly, 2002 – present
• Member, Advisory Board Member and Secretary, NACD North Texas Chapter, 2007 – 2012
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
• State Bar of Texas
• Dallas Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Texas, 1984
• Between January 1985 and July 1988, I served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army. I worked as an Administrative Law Officer in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, III Corps and Fort Hood, in Fort Hood, Texas

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Black Tie Dinner, Inc., Lifetime Member
• Uplift Education, Member, Facilities Committee 2017 – Present
• Uplift Education, Chair of Uplift East Dallas Advisory Board, 2010 – 2014
• Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
• Dallas Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Since 2010, I have served on the board of directors of Uplift Education (2010 - 2017), a non-profit institution whose mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace. Our goal is inspire students for a life-long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world. Click here to learn more about Uplift Education. I am currently chair of the board's Facilities Committee (2014 – 2017)
• Since 2009, I have served as general counsel to Black Tie Dinner, Inc. (2009 - present), a non-profit fundraising organization that has raised more than $15 million to fund organizations that support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) individuals in North Texas. I served on the board of directors from 2004-2008 and have served on the advisory board from 2004-2011 and 2014-present. I served as Co-Chair in 2007 and 2008. Black Tie Dinner is a premier event of empowerment, education and entertainment in partnership with the community. For more information, visit the Black Tie Dinner website here

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Forum Focus—Board Governance Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of The General Counsel Forum, September 2011 (panelist)
• Board Succession: How and When to Hire or Fire a Board Member, North Texas Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, October 2009 (panelist)
• DAYL Diversity and Inclusion Forum, October 2009 (panelist)
• Trends in the Proxy Statements:  Shareholder Proposals and Responses, North Texas Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, January 2010 (moderator)
• A New Roadblock To Reverse Mergers, Law360 (Sec. & Corp. Fin.), August 2011 (author)
• Member, Southwestern Law Journal, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 1982-84
• Role of the Lead Director, North Texas Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, October 2011 (panelist)
• Getting Directors Ready for the Sale Process, 7th Annual Mergers and Acquisitions Institute, The University of Texas School of Law, October 2011 (moderator)
• Before Negotiating the Definitive Purchase Agreement, M&A Toolbox, January 2012 (co-presenter)
• Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Southwestern Law Journal, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 1983-84

Transactions:

• Representation of a public reporting specialty retailer in connection with a Rule 144A offering of $425 million in senior notes for a recapitalization transaction
• Representation of a publicly traded logistics provider in connection with multiple consolidating acquisitions in its industry
• Corporate and securities representation of Tyler Technologies, Inc. (a leading provider of information technology software and services to local government authorities), GNC Corporation (the largest global specialty retailer of health and wellness products), Linens ‘n Things, Inc. (formerly the second largest retailer of home textiles, housewares, and home accessories in North America), and IFCO Systems N.V. (an international logistics provider)
• Representation of a private company in connection with the acquisition of Eastman Kodak Company’s micrographics and conversion services businesses and their continued operations
• Representation of a public reporting specialty retailer in connection with its $1.65 billion sale to private equity firms, as well as related financing transactions, including Rule 144A debt offerings, debt tender offers, and bank financing
• Representation of a publicly traded leading provider of specialized contracting services in connection with multiple consolidating acquisitions in its industry
• Representation of a private interactive marketing solutions company in a $48.9 million sale to DealerTrack, Inc.
• Representation of a publicly traded global provider of products and services to the oil and gas industry in connection with a public offering of $1 billion in senior notes
• Representation of a publicly traded domestic logistics provider in connection with its acquisition by a Dutch international logistics provider headquartered in Germany, the international company’s initial public offering, and related financing transactions, including a Rule 144A debt offering (and subsequent exchange offer) and bank financing (total transaction value of approximately $1 billion)
• Representation of a private company in an acquisition of over 30 Pizza Hut franchises
• Representation of the shareholders of a privately held aggregator and provider of equipment purchasing information for health care facilities in connection with the sale of the company to a private equity firm

Educational Background:

• B.A. in Political Science with Special Distinction, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, Phi Beta Kappa, 1981