Charles H. Smith

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.

Mark Johansen's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts. He also regularly represents clients in arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Mark has handled litigation and arbitrations involving mergers and acquisitions, contract disputes, business torts, labor/employment, trade secrets, securities/shareholder litiga...

Jessica began her law career as a paralegal, and it shows: Paralegals get things done. She’s smart, too. Jessica graduated magna cum laude from Texas Woman’s University, and later, while earning her law degree at the Texas A&M University School of Law, she served as Vice President of the Family Law Student Association and represented clients in the school’s Family Law Legal Clinic. “I knew from the start that I wanted to be a family law attorney,” says Jessic...

Preston Mundt is an experienced trial lawyer. He has served as lead counsel representing individuals, corporations, and other institutional clients in significant litigation throughout Texas, New Mexico, and abroad. He has extensive experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of matters, including oil & gas litigation, personal injury, breach of contract, business torts, premises liability, intellectual property, insurance coverage disputes, marital matters, employ...

Stephen T. Masley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Litigation. Stephen T., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chip Gage is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Chip, 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 Chip is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Baum is a seasoned trial lawyer and respected courtroom advocate specializing in employment and commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on disputes involving non‐competition and employment agreements, theft of trade secrets, tortious interference with contracts, and breach of fiduciary duties. Mr. Baum is frequently consulted by employers and executives on a wide range of matters, including employee discipline, employment investigations, and strategic employment decisions. H...

“ The Best Lawyers in Dallas ” – Since 2005, Chad Ruback has consistently been named one of “The Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine. This is true of only four other appellate lawyers. “ The Best Lawyers in America ” – Chad is included in the “Appellate Practice” section of The Best Lawyers in America. “ Texas Super Lawyers ” – Chad is included in the Thomson Reuters “Texas Super Lawyers” list, which i...

An accomplished trial lawyer, Darren Nicholson has been trying cases in state and federal courts for more than twenty years. After beginning his career at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington D.C., one of the country’s premier law firms, he returned to Dallas in 2008 and became a partner at the nationally-recognized trial boutique Sayles Werbner PC. Darren joined Burns Charest LLP in 2019 with one goal in mind – to help build one of the premier trial firms in the country. Darren&...

Steven H. Stodghill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television and Oil and Gas Law. Steven H., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.