John S. Birkelbach

Haleigh has broad commercial litigation experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants at every stage of lawsuits involving real estate, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, business divorce, personal injury and tort litigation, and aviation. Haleigh has distinguished herself as an associate by her maturity in the courtroom. She has briefed and argued motions at every stage of litigation, deposed fact and expert witnesses, successfully mediated disputes at their infanc...

Jeff Dickerson is the firm’s senior corporate lawyer, and the managing shareholder of the firm’s Austin office, which he helped to establish in 2008. Jeff serves as outside general counsel to businesses in a number of different industries, including refinery services, beverage distribution, oilfield services, and physician practices. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions and general corporate work. Education B.A., English, with Honors, University of Texas, 1983 M.A., English,...

Kyle helps clients in the financial services industry navigate risk and solve problems. He advises banks, lenders, loan servicers, and securities firms regarding their legal obligations, and then he advocates for their interests when disputes arise. Because of his keen judgment and informed perspective, clients trust Kyle for the real-world advice they need to solve their problems. Kyle’s versatility allows him to perform a wide range of different roles and tasks effectively. From disti...

Billy Coe Dyer is a board-certified civil trial attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing landowner clients against condemning authorities at the local, county, state, and national levels. Widely recognized as an authority in the condemnation and eminent domain arenas, Billy’s lengthy list of notable victories includes the largest jury verdict for a property owner in a condemnation case in Texas and representation of the landowner in Interstate Northborough, the Texas ...

Bart A. Rue has over 30 years of trial practice in oil and gas related matters as well a complementary commercial litigation background. Since 2010, Mr. Rue has served as lead counsel in over 200 oil and gas litigation and commercial litigation matters, including lease interpretation issues, royalty underpayment issues, surface use disputes, lease termination disputes, and other issues affecting land and mineral ownership. Mr. Rue currently represents exploration companies and landowners in s...

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...

Serving as Office Managing Partner of Akerman’s Houston office, Scott Marrs is a formidable trial lawyer litigating high profile matters in state and federal courts as well as arbitrations in the United States, South America, the Middle East, and Europe. Scott focuses on legal issues in virtually all aspects of the energy sector, including oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, storage, power, chemical, petrochemical, energy marketing, and well service. He also litigates i...

Don J. McDermett, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Information Technology Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Securities Regulation. Don J., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Don J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and...

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...

Arthur T. Carter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management. Arthur T., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Arthur T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.