Brian E. Armstrong

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...

Chad A. Key’s legal experience includes all aspects of real estate, with an emphasis on acquisitions and dispositions of real property, development of real property, financing, and commercial leasing transactions. He represents a variety of publicly traded and privately held corporate clients, real estate funds, and individuals in all types of complex real estate matters, including industrial, office, hotel, retail, ranch land, and multi-family projects. Mr. Key also has experience in t...

With more than 25 years of experience, Jill Cronin advises clients on trademark law, social media issues, insurance coverage matters, and complex commercial disputes. Her practice combines intellectual property strategy with extensive litigation and insurance experience, allowing her to counsel clients through both day-to-day brand protection and high-stakes business challenges. Jill’s trademark practice focuses on trademark prosecution, enforcement, and brand protection strategies. She...

Mike is a trial lawyer with a passion for handling complex and technical cases. He has been repeatedly named a Texas Super Lawyer in commercial litigation, a Top Litigator, and a Best Lawyer in Dallas (D Magazine) and a Best Lawyer in America (Woodward White). Clients entrust Mike with their largest and most important cases, and he frequently represents clients as either a plaintiff and defendant where the amounts in dispute exceed $100 million. In the past few years, Mike has acted as trial ...

Abbey Garber focuses his practice on tax litigation and providing advice in connection with applying tax laws to individuals, estates, corporations, and partnerships. Serving more than 30 years in the Office of Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service, he tried cases of all sizes in Tax Court, earning significant favorable opinions in fraud, tax shelter, and many other cases; received a full Tax Court opinion in an attorneys’ fees case; and prosecuted criminal tax cases in United S...

Matthew T. Taplett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Matthew T., who practices law in Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark McElree focuses his practice on real estate transactions, finance, and oil and gas matters. His clients include real estate developers, owners and investors, national and multi-national corporations and money center banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions. Mark also represents owners, producers, and lenders in oil, gas, and other natural resource transactions. Mark’s broad-based real estate development and lending expertise includes representing clients on comp...

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

Rebecca is a fighter. She fights for her clients, her clients’ children, her clients’ financial well-being, and her clients’ futures. And she fights to win. Her prowess in the courtroom is well known throughout the legal community. She’s prepared, astute, quick-witted, and good on her feet. Even attorneys on the other side of the table appreciate working with her; yes, she’s an ardent advocate for the people she represents, but she’s also fair, good-natured...

Gary L. Nickelson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Gary L., who practices law in Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gary L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.