Aaron J. Burke

Darren Hauck is partner-in-charge of the firm’s Dallas office. He concentrates his practice on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, outsourcings and other large commercial transactions, with an emphasis on technology and the travel and travel service industries. Darren’s practice has involved a wide variety of complex transactions, often involving three or more negotiating parties of more than one nationality. He also has advised clients on the crea...

Michael D. Emerson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Michael D., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

We are in a battle for the future of our democracy. The frontline is the courtroom. Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? Maybe a little heavy-handed? I write and speak like this because it matters. And I care. At our founding, Thomas Jefferson said this: “I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” Access to our courts is the bedrock of our democracy. But the truth is that the civil jus...

Lee Susan Meyercord is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law. Lee Susan, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lee Susan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christine Demana is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Christine, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kelly has worked with major pharmaceutical and medical device clients in in all phases of the litigation process, including discovery, motion practice, expert workup, and trial preparation. Her pharmaceutical and medical device experience is focused on the management of consolidated mass tort actions, particularly in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) context. Kelly has assisted in trying multiple MDL bellwether trials as a member of the trial team. Kelly also has prior experience defending r...

I am a God-fearing believer in helping the foreigner in the strange land. Immigration is my passion, and I seek justice for my clients. Compassion for the less fortunate, and for those who seek a better life in America, the land of freedom and opportunity, drives me.

Stephen A. Melendi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Stephen A., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kate Smith earned her J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and later earned her LL.M. from Pepperdine University School of Law. She is skilled in representing a variety of complex legal issues, including planning and zoning, family law, contract disputes, corporate formation, and more. Kate has also received several honors and has been consistently recognized by Super Lawyer Fort Worth Texas Magazine since 2007. In 2014 and 2015, Kate was also nominated as a Texas Super Lawyer &l...

Wayne B. Whitham has over 30 years of experience in counseling public and closely-held companies and individuals in general corporate, securities, and partnership matters, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, leveraged acquisitions and recapitalizations, venture capital transactions, securities offerings, financings and joint ventures and similar matters. Mr. Whitham has worked on behalf of clients from a broad range of industries, including manufacturing companies, real estate firms, technol...