Gainesville Business Lawyers

Lisa R. Wilcox, Esquire has practiced law since 2004. Before graduating law school, Mrs. Wilcox owned and operated a popular South Tampa nightclub. Mrs. Wilcox graduated with her law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 2002. In 2003, she obtained a certificate of International Intellectual Property Law from Tulane Law School and graduated with honors with a Master of Law (LL.M.) in International and Business Law from Stetson University College of Law. Mrs. Wilcox is admitted to practice law in Texas and has sworn an oath before the Texas Bar to uphold this Code of Ethics. Mrs....

Holly R. Davis is a founding partner of Kirker Davis LLP. An accomplished and nationally-recognized family law trial attorney with over ten years’ experience, her legal practice focuses on high asset divorce, business and professional divorce, custody matters, and complex litigation. With a strong professional reputation for her litigation and courtroom skills, Holly has successfully represented cases ranging from multi-million--and even billion dollar—estates, to divorces involving family businesses and young professionals. Her core business philosophy is based on fidelity to the practice of law and a commitment to client service. It’s a perspective which has yielded significant success, particularly...

John has been representing businesses and business people in the North Texas area for more than thirty years. He has tried numerous cases at various levels of the judicial system, including federal district court and state district court. He has presented appeals to the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and ten of the fourteen intermediate courts of appeal in Texas. He has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association and JAMS, Inc. In addition to his trial practice, John is a trained mediator and summary jury trial...

Entering her fourth decade as a practicing attorney, Gretchen Benolken has chosen to divide her professional time into a small handful of areas. First, she spends some time in the service of long time, loyal, existing clients with various needs. Second, the majority of her time is spent with new clients, providing legal services in two specific areas: a) the drafting of wills and trusts for the purpose of protection of assets, and b) representing clients in the probating of the estates of their deceased loved ones and guiding them step-by-step through this judicial process during what is a most...

I work with clients to help them succeed, whether this involves setting up a new business, working with them to understand and comply with complicated federal and state laws, developing their estate plan and preparing the necessary documents, or helping them resolve their firearm legal issues.

I can work with you by providing the following legal services:

(1) Business Law: Work with businesses owners to plan their organization, develop the legal documents necessary to get their business started, and address their ongoing legal concerns

(2) Regulatory Compliance: Work with business owners to help them understand and comply with statutory and regulatory requirements so...

During law school, Simon interned with the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) where he assisted families with release from detention centers, visa applications, and removal proceedings. Simon interned as a Certified Legal Intern for the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association and Florida A&M University College of Law Legal Clinic as a Guardian Ad Litem, representing the best interest of children inside and outside of the courts. Simon also interned with a boutique law firm in Dallas, assisting their clients with commercial real estate, intellectual property, social media, tax planning, employment law, and...

With almost twenty-five (25) years of experience as a dual-licensed Attorney and Certified Public Accountant, Darryl V. Pratt has practiced law in all areas of corporate and business law, non profit law, estate planning, probate, guardianship, asset protection planning, bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 13 and 11), real estate, and taxation. Mr. Pratt focuses his practice on business representation and estate planning-probate and is a regular speaker on a variety of business law, non profit law, estate planning, asset protection, tax, bankruptcy, real estate and taxation topics. Mr. Pratt is a member of the Collin County, Denton County and Dallas...

Lin feels blessed that he has the knowledge, ability and resources to help others who have suffered devastating losses through no fault of their own. He practices law to make an impact: preventing the powerful from using their power unfairly and to help those most in need. Lin’s word is his bond. He believes that integrity is the cornerstone of all relationships, and he lives this value when dealing with all the people touched by his practice, including clients, employees, and others he meets through the course of business. Lin has been a trial lawyer for over 20...

• Dallas Office Chair. Professional liability litigation group, including the defense of architects, engineers, design professionals, lawyers, insurance brokers/agents, medical, and other miscellaneous professionals. • Counsel and represent attorneys on ethics and grievance ir. matters. • Represent defendants and corporate plaintiffs in complex construction and business litigation. • Defend product liability, premises liability, trucking, and auto insurance defense claims. • Outside legal consultant for OmniSure Consulting Group, LLP, a national risk management and loss control consulting group assisting national insurance carriers in the A&E and allied health professionals space. • Represent and consult with college-level coaches in contract negotiation, hiring & firing matters, internal compliance, corporate...

Mark A. Walsh is a business litigation attorney in McKinney, TX, who has litigated hundreds of construction and business disputes throughout the State of Texas since 1997. He has extensive experience and has counseled clients in all manner of construction and business disputes, commercial contract drafting and litigation, public procurement law, partner/shareholder dispute litigation, and governmental entity representation.

Chris M. Kirker is a Texas trial lawyer handling highly contested divorce and custody matters. Chris has been successfully handling divorce and custody cases for years and places intense focus and attention on every client he works with. While most cases do not go to trial, Chris knows the importance of being ready for trial should it become necessary. After successfully handling many divorce and custody matters Chris has received numerous awards related to his prior clients’ satisfaction with his work. He has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in the State of Texas by the National Trial Lawyers (2014-2023)....

I was born and raised in Denton, Texas and graduated from Denton High School in 1998. My mother is and has been a physician in Denton since 1980. I feel that my educational background in science, business, and law gives me a unique perspective on any dispute including those involving complex business structures. Additionally, due to my experience with small businesses, I understands the issues and potential obstacles that affect them as well.

I received my law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 2008. Prior to law school, I received an undergraduate degree in Mechanical...

A dedicated advocate for her clients, Jill is experienced in serving clients in a wide range of legal needs. Born and raised in Denton, she is very involved in the local community and has been recognized with numerous awards. For instance, She was appointed by the Governor of Texas to the Texas Woman’s Board of Regents and was elected Chair of the Board in 2019. Jill graduated from Denton Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Denton program and currently serves as Board Chair of the Chamber. Jill was voted Best Civil Lawyer in the “Best of Denton County” publication (for 2016,...

Jeff Springer has more than two decades of experience serving as an advocate for individuals, families and businesses. He was an honors program graduate of Baylor University, and obtained his Juris Doctorate at Baylor Law School. Jeff is board certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. He is a past President of the Denton County Bar Association. A former Adjunct Professor of Law at Texas Woman's University, Mr. Springer has published a number of articles covering topics ranging from tort...

Levi G. McCathern, II is widely recognized as one of the premier litigation lawyers in Texas. He is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a double certification held by only 26 of the 87,000 attorneys in Texas.

Mr. McCathern specializes in catastrophic damage litigation and is frequently summoned to defend specialized, high-damage claims, including all types of commercial litigation. In addition, he has served as lead counsel for numerous jury trials and is regularly called upon to provide legal consultation to companies throughout the country.

Mr. McCathern serves as...

Laura Starr joined the firm in 2014. Laura received her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, graduating with a B.S. in political science. Laura attended law school in Chicago, Illinois at DePaul University College of Law where she received a certificate in business law. During law school, Laura externed for the Honorable Michael F. Otto at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois and was a member of the International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team. She was also a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. As a member of Starr Law Firm, P.C. Laura focuses in the areas of...

Jennette E. DePonte is a Partner at the McCathern office in Frisco, Texas. Mrs. DePonte has an extensive litigation and trial background, having tried numerous cases in state and federal courts in Texas. Her practice focuses on litigation involving employer-employee relations. Specifically, she has litigated tort and non-subscriber claims, employment-related torts, ERISA claims, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour claims and collective actions, and civil rights claims under state and federal law.

Mrs. DePonte has defended national and regional employers in a wide range of employment-related issues, represented employers before numerous federal and state agencies, and handled trials and...

Ty M. Sheaks is a partner with McCathern and is the go to “fixer” for McCathern’s most difficult and high-exposure litigation matters. He has a unique and diverse background counseling business partners in a variety of civil and commercial litigation matters on a national level. Prior to joining McCathern in 2013, Mr. Sheaks served as national trial counsel for a multi-national corporation handling all aspects of defending toxic tort and product liability claims in state and federal courts nationwide.

Mr. Sheaks heads up McCathern’s Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality Section, but has extensive experience and a successful track record in...

Hunter Sargent is an experienced attorney who has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2014. He is the founder and managing attorney of Hunter Sargent, PLLC, quickly growing the firm into Denton's premier estate planning law firm. Hunter focuses his practice entirely on estate planning and business planning. Hunter obtained his law degree from Texas A&M School of Law in 2014. After graduating from law school, Hunter began his legal career by working as an attorney in Denton, where he gained extensive experience in estate planning and business law. He then founded his own law firm, Hunter Sargent, PLLC,...

Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law

Candace received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University and has been an attorney for over 20 years. She is admitted and licensed to practice in all Texas and Louisiana Courts and over 15 Federal Jurisdictions including the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Candace's practice areas include: Real Estate Law (including real estate investors), Landlord/Tenant Law, Business set-up and governance, Contracts, Collections, Creditor's Rights, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Probate and Successions. She is excited about helping her clients resolve legal matters as quickly as possible. Sometimes, all it takes is a phone call. Other times, may involve going to...

At Colbert Law Group PLLC, we understand that taking on legal challenges can be daunting, and we are here to help. Our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your rights and options. We promise to provide consistent commitment and dedicated assistance so that you can rest assured knowing that you are in good hands. At Colbert Law Group PLLC, we have been representing clients in Texas and Oklahoma since 1992. Our experienced team will work with you one-on-one to ensure that your rights are protected and that you...

Although Ms. Davis specializes in construction litigation, she has a general practice which includes handling all problems from corporate inception to dissolution, partnership formation and disputes, real estate law, consumer litigation, contract disputes, and appeals.

Austin assists Plaintiffs, Defendants, and transactional clients in a variety of matters and disputes. He is uniquely situated to handle opposing counsel no matter the sophistication or size of his adversary. Austin has significant trial experience and has been successful in obtaining favorable verdicts on behalf of his clients in a variety of matters. He utilizes his large law firm experience while drawing on his client-centered results-driven experiences gained at smaller law firms.

Austin prides himself on being accessible to his clients and is committed to pursuing results that exceed expectations. His intent with every person whom he represents is to...

Mr. Montgomery is a dual-credentialed attorney and CPA. He is the founder and managing member of Provident Legal Counsel, PLLC. His primary practice areas include federal tax planning, preparation, controversies, and litigation; business planning and structuring; business advising and litigation; trust and estate planning; real estate transactions; and forensic investigations.

Bill is a native of Dallas who returned to the area after law school. Bill’s main area of practice is in personal injury litigation with many successful trials to his credit. He dedicates himself to serving the citizens of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. His greatest priority is ensuring that each client receives the legal remedy in their best interest.

Brantley Saunders is a business and real estate attorney in McKinney, TX, specializing in general business advice and litigation, who has been helping individuals and businesses solve legal issues for over 20 years. His experience in over 25 jury trials helps focus his clients on the important issues to attack. It also allows him to see the issues in advance for business planning and avoiding litigation when possible. Setting out a plan for success in litigation or transactional work is his bread and butter. Real estate, business entities, insurance, personal injury and mediation are his primary areas of focus.

Jack Ternan's practice includes extensive experience in commercial litigation, business litigation, arbitration, appeals and appellate, corporate litigation, real estate litigation, breach of contract, open government litigation, partnership / business divorce disputes, and other civil litigation. Mr. Ternan also has experience in advising businesses and individuals on how to resolve or settle disputes without litigation. Jack Ternan grew up in Plano, Texas, where he currently resides with his wife and sons. Prior to starting the Ternan Law Firm, Mr. Ternan was a partner at Bickel & Brewer, now known as Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. He has been...

ABOUT BEN
Dallas-based attorney Benjamin Palatiere is a courtroom veteran with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses in civil disputes.


Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Texas State University, magna cum laude, 2005


Licensed/Admitted

Benjamin is admitted to the Texas Bar and licensed to practice in all district and county courts at law throughout the state.


Groups / Clubs

Dallas Young Lawyers Association
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

I spent the first 8 years of my practice in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office in its Trial Division. There I tried over 300 cases to final verdict before juries and hundreds more bench trials, motions, and probation revocations. I took all that experience into the private practice of law which has now lasted 35 years. Thus equipped and trained, I have applied those skills to expand into civil litigation while continuing to practice criminal defense. I maintain membership in the State Bar of Texas College, which means I take 30 or more hours of Continuing Legal Education each...

Albin Yates Balius Roach believes in aggressively preserving the truth for our clients while advancing the integrity of the profession. We also recognize that we cannot successfully cast a positive vision for our clients’ futures without possessing one for ourselves. The attorneys, paralegals and support staff of Albin Yates Balius Roach have chosen to commit their time and talent to the firm because we believe in the firm’s priorities and its future.

Duncan is the sole shareholder of the firm whose practice primarily focuses on estate planning, trusts, business matters, and construction law. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1977 with a business administration degree in accounting and finance and earned his law degree from SMU in 1980.

Duncan has more than thirty-five years of legal experience and has been admitted to practice in the United States Tax Court, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and Fifth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals.

During the three years Inside Collin County Business conducted its annual awards,...

Mr. Kollmeier is Board Certified in Family Law. The Law Office of Gary A. Kollmeier has been dedicated to providing competent and caring legal services in the areas of Family and Probate law since 1991. The firm provides comprehensive, superior, and respectful advocacy in an environment in which the clients receive full attention and loyalty with the highest level of personal legal services. It is our focus to educate our clients about the reality of what to expect in every aspect of their legal case. As a lawyer, Gary Kollmeier is committed to high standards, as evidenced by his certification...

Brandon leads the firm's bankruptcy practice at Tittle Law Group, PLLC ("TLG"), with a focus on corporate reorganization, restructuring, acquisitions and litigation. He has a wealth of experience representing entities in their Chapter 7 and 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings and creditors' committees. His practice also includes extensive general bankruptcy litigation. He has extensive experience managing complex bankruptcy restructuring cases, both on a national and international scale. He provides seamless service to his restructuring clients facing complicated insolvency issues and has experience across multiple industries, including automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, retail, and real estate. As the...

Chosen by peers as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the entire Dallas/Fort Worth region according to SuperLawyers magazine.

Paul Grinke is Managing Partner of McCathern’s office at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Mr. Grinke has broad experience on a national level, litigating complex commercial and catastrophic event claims from both sides of the docket. He has successfully litigated commercial breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and employment covenant claims. In addition, Mr. Grinke prosecutes and defends claims involving personal injury, wrongful death, and disastrous property damage arising from construction defect, product defect, trucking, and liquor liability.

Mr. Grinke leads McCathern’s Construction Defect, Product Liability and related Fire Litigation practices. He has particular expertise in counseling institutional clients involved in tragic...

Eddie Cawlfield graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law. Prior to law school, Eddie earned degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and The University of North Texas. While in law school, Eddie served as a Staff Editor for the Texas A&M Journal of Real Property Law. Additionally, he was honored as a Fellow by The Texas A&M Law Fellowship for his performance of public interest legal services to those in need. During law school, Eddie was an active member of the Texas A&M University School of Law Trial Advocacy Program. He competed regularly in...

In 2009, Drew Christman founded a law firm where he practiced law with his partners for nine years. In 2018, he parted ways with his then partners and formed Christman Attorneys, PLLC, where he continued to provide clients with outstanding legal representation in a variety of practice areas. He was voted “Best Business Attorney” in Denton County in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Most recently, Christman Attorneys merged with another firm and is now Christman, Ramsey & Foster PC. The firm offers legal services in the practice areas of Business/Corporate, Family Law, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate, and Title...

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