Kelly Wise

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...

Brandon M. Hill’s practice focuses on the representation of lenders, borrowers and investors in interim, permanent, tax-exempt bond, reserve-based, construction, and other types of financing transactions, whether secured or unsecured. His public finance practice includes serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, disclosure counsel, and bank’s counsel in tax-exempt and taxable financings for municipalities and non-profit entities including school districts, cities, coun...

Jennifer Stanton Hargrave, J.D., is the founder of Hargrave Family Law, a boutique family law firm based in Dallas, Texas. Her practice is focused exclusively on Family Law, with an emphasis on guiding individuals and families through divorce and related matters with clarity, care, and respect. As a Dallas divorce attorney, Jennifer works closely with clients to help them understand their options and make informed decisions during challenging life transitions. She has built a dedicated legal ...

Jim Young is a Dallas, Texas attorney, arbitrator , mediator, and corporate general counsel with approximately four decades of experience addressing business, corporate, securities, transactional, and insurance-related matters. As a qualified arbitrator and mediator, he supports the use of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, to help businesses address disputes outside of traditional litigation. Mr. Young began his legal career with Cox & Smith, now Dykema,...

John DeGroote is a former global company general counsel who has mediated and arbitrated complex and significant commercial and business disputes nationwide since 2013. Having served as outside counsel, chief litigation counsel, general counsel, company president, and corporate director, he understands the legal, business, and practical decisions that often determine whether a case settles or not. As a mediator, John has been named the Lawyer of the Year for Mediation in Dallas/Fort Worth by ...

According to Michael Rustad, a Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, “Les Weisbrod has obtained more medical malpractice punitive damage jury verdicts for his clients than any other attorney in the United States.” In August 2014 Mr. Weisbrod obtained a summary jury trial verdict in Dallas County Court At Law No. 1 for $3.7 million on behalf of an injured 79-year-old client which included $2 million in punitive damages. Since May 1986, Mr. Weisbrod has tried ...

Gary L. Nickelson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Gary L. practices law in Fort Worth, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Gary L. Nickelson since 1995. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Gary L. Nickelson is held by other lawyers.

Celeste R. Yeager is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in labor and employment and represents employers across the country in employment disputes before local, state and federal administrative agencies and courts. With over 18 years of experience, Celeste maintains a vibrant labor and employment practice litigating and consulting on behalf of management regarding a variety of employment topics, including: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act The Americans with Disabiliti...

Thomas Whelan’s practice encompasses a broad range of leasing, financing, and other real estate transactions, as well as commercial litigation emphasizing landlord-tenant, lender liability, brokerage, and other real-estate-related matters. He has authored numerous articles and is frequently invited to speak on matters including leasing, receiverships, real estate brokerage and other real estate related topics. Before receiving his law degree from Southern Methodist University, Mr. Whela...

Esther R. Donald is a family law attorney at Goranson Bain Ausley in Dallas. She has been admitted to the Texas Bar since 1988 and has practiced family law for 38 years. Esther is a Master Credentialed Collaborative Professional through Collaborative Divorce Texas and is admitted to practice in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Esther has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law from 2017 through 2026 and for Collaborative Law: Family Law from 2024 throug...