William H. "Willie" Hornberger

Chalk is a 1973 graduate of University of Texas School of Law (J.D.), with prior M.A. (1967) and B.S. (1962) degrees from Tennessee Tech University, and A.A. degree (1956) from Freed-Hardeman College. Prior to joining in 1986 Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC, Fort Worth, Texas, and its predecessors, Chalk was President of Dabney Capital, Dallas, Texas (1984-86) (real estate finance), General Counsel and Vice President of LaJet, Inc., Abilene, Texas (1978-84) (petroleum refining and ...

Priya Gupta Arshanapalli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Venture Capital Law. Priya Gupta, 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 Priya Gupta is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Darren Hauck is partner-in-charge of the firm’s Dallas office. He concentrates his practice on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, outsourcings and other large commercial transactions, with an emphasis on technology and the travel and travel service industries. Darren’s practice has involved a wide variety of complex transactions, often involving three or more negotiating parties of more than one nationality. He also has advised clients on the crea...

Richard B. Phillips, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Richard B., 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 Richard B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen M. Halbeisen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Insurance Law. Stephen M., 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 M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephanie Urano joined WLBO when the firm launched in 2023. She represents clients in various aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including, acquisitions and dispositions, development, leases, brokerage agreements, and transactional financing. Prior to joining the firm, Stephanie served as in-house counsel to an insurance company and as an associate in a large Dallas law firm. Stephanie was listed in The Best Lawyers in America ® for her work in Real Estate law for 2024.

I help businesses solve problems involving intellectual property (IP) law, business strategy, and technology law with an emphasis on intellectual property rights, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, anti-counterfeiting, IP portfolio strategy, and commercial litigation. Intellectual Property Litigation & Business Litigation I have handled more than 500 intellectual property disputes, including over 40 patent infringement cases and hundreds of IP enforcement actions. I also have...

Michelle Heron, a dedicated divorce attorney based in Dallas, Texas, has a well-established practice in family law with nearly 30 years of trial experience. At Hargrave Family Law, Michelle passionately represents families navigating transitions, including over five years focused on securing protective orders in cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect. Her dedication is guided by a profound understanding of the complexities of family law and a commitment to the protection and wel...

Karl G. Dial is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Securities. Karl G., 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 Karl G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Liz Schartz represents management in client counseling and litigation of employment and labor law matters. Her expertise includes litigating discrimination, wage-and-hour, employee benefit, and state-law contract and tort claims; counseling employers on sensitive personnel and complex employment law matters; workplace investigations; employee classification issues; executive compensation, change-in-control, and separation issues; drafting and litigating non-competition and related covenants; ...