David Denny

Practice Area : Civil litigation. Mr. Cracken represents businesses and individuals in civil litigation. He acts as general counsel for his clients, identifying their best claims, identifying and recruiting the best law firms to jointly represent his clients in the prosecution of their claims, and then participating in the related litigation. For example: Today, Mr. Cracken serves as co-counsel in the joint representation of: (1) more than 1,400 Georgia claimants in PFAS contamination litigat...

Thomas Laughlin is one of the founding partners of the Dallas office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Thomas regularly represents clients in mergers and acquisitions (including controlling investments, preferred equity and other minority investments, and SPAC transactions), divestitures, joint ventures, debt and equity financings, restructurings and other corporate matters. Thomas has broad experience across many industries, but in particular, he has focused his practice representing clients in t...

Jeffrey B. Simon is a founding shareholder of Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC. Mr. Simon was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1993, and is licensed to practice law in Texas, California and New York. An experienced and skilled trial attorney, Jeffrey has excelled at litigating toxic tort and pharmaceutical injury cases for many years after graduating from The University of Texas School of Law in 1993. Prior to law school, Jeffrey graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude in 1990 from Col...

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&...

C. Matthew Terrell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law. C. Matthew, who practices law in Southlake, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Blake A. Bailey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Antitrust. Blake A., who practices law in Southlake, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Blake A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

George Parker is a family law attorney serving clients in McKinney, Texas and throughout Collin County, Dallas County, and North Texas. For nearly four decades, he has represented individuals and families in divorce, child custody, and other family law matters before Texas family courts. George approaches each case with careful planning and practical judgment, developing strategies that reflect his clients’ goals, priorities, and long-term concerns. He is a founding partner of Mueller F...

Mitchell McCrea is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Mitchell, 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 Mitchell is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kelly Hartmann focuses on resolving client issues through innovative, cost-effective strategies that align with business goals—balancing aggressive litigation with practical resolution. He represents energy, maritime, and construction firms, their underwriters, and insurers, and handles complex litigation including wrongful death, Jones Act, drilling operations, health care, and trucking liability cases. Kelly also advises clients on contracts and commercial documents, including master ...

Member, UT Harry Ransom Center Advisory Council