The Colony Real Estate Lawyers

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...

Michael Presbitero joined Starr Law Firm, P.C in November 2017. His practice focuses primarily on business/commercial and real estate transactional matters for small to mid-size private businesses. Prior to joining Starr Law Firm, P.C., Michael was an attorney with two Dallas law firms and represented clients in a variety of litigation (in state and federal courts) and non-litigation matters across the state of Texas, with a focus in business, creditor rights and commercial matters. He has experience representing clients in matters involving a variety of legal areas: mergers and acquisitions, real estate, contracts, insurance, bankruptcy, nonprofit, business/commercial (such as choice...

Mr. Montgomery is a multi-credentialed attorney, CPA, and CFE. He is the founder and managing member of Montgomery Legal, and he serves as an adjunct professor of estate planning at the University of North Texas. His primary practice areas include: wills, trusts, and estate planning; probate; federal tax planning, preparation, controversies, and litigation; business planning and structuring; business advising and litigation; outside CFO/counsel; real estate transactions; personal injury claims, and forensic investigations.

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

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.

The Law Office of Jenna Zebrowski, PLLC, helps real estate professionals and smart business owners protect their interest and prevent problems in their leases, purchases and sales, and contracts and legal documents.

I am Board Certified in both Residential Real Estate Law and Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have been practicing in the DFW area since 1986. I started my own firm in 1995.

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...

License: Licensed with in Korean Bar Association since 2005 (2002YR 44TH NATIONAL LAW EXAM, JRTI 34TH) and Texas Bar Association since 2017. Major Practice Area: Regarding Korean Practice: Korean Law, International Arbitration, Litigation (Korean Court), Investment (Real Estate), M&A, Corporate Law, Business Law, Contract Law. Regarding US Practice: Business Law, Corporate Law, Business Set-up, Cross-Border legal issues, Immigration, Labor Law with corporation, Contract Law, Mediation

Craig primarily focuses on representing high-value commercial and residential real estate holders. He excels at crafting effective legal strategies and solutions, whether through negotiation or litigation, to address a wide range of real estate issues. With over 750 court appearances in his career, Craig has honed his skills in municipal, justice, county, district, and federal courts. In the realm of real estate litigation, Craig’s cases have encompassed matters such as neighborhood homeowner association disputes, easements, encroachments, trespass, landlord-tenant disputes (both commercial and residential), including eviction proceedings, brokerage fee disputes, and leasehold damage and repair issues. Additionally, he has provided legal counsel...

Mr. Sessions is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Leagal Specialization since December, 1991. He is experienced in handling complex litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and arbitrations. His practice includes prosecution and defense of claims, primarily in business-related litigation. In 2008, Mr. Sessions obtained a $22,178,403 unanimous jury verdict in the case of Sovereign Cherokee Nation Tejas v. Frank P. Hernandez, which ranked No. 98 in VerdictSearch's top 100 Verdicts of 2008. Mr. Sessions has been counsel of record in multiple litigation matters involving more than $10 Million in...

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,...

Attorney John Haugen has been serving the needs of his community and nation for his entire life. He graduated from West Point and then went on to spend five years as an U.S. Army Captain. After he was honorably discharged, he continued his higher education at USC, then received his Juris Doctor as Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Currently, he is a member of the Dallas County Bar Association, Denton County Bar Association, and the Tarrant County Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in all Texas courts, and advocates for clients who are facing family law matters, criminal defense...

John Brusniak is a nationally recognized property tax attorney. His ground-breaking appellate successes and his involvement with the legislature over the past 30 years have significantly influenced Texas property tax law. He is a frequently sought speaker and publisher of property tax articles and texts. John has been recognized by his peers with election to the positions of chair of the American Bar Association's Property Tax Committee, chair of the State Bar of Texas' Property Tax Committee, and chair of the entire State Bar of Texas Section of Taxation. He has repeatedly been selected as one of...

Professional Expertise: Since August of 2007, Jeffrey’s primary area of practice has been in real estate litigation, primarily in residential landlord-tenant disputes. Jeffrey has extensive experience with real estate litigation claims involving common law and statutory fraud, fraud by non-disclosure, negligent misrepresentation, and alleged violations of the Texas Consumer Protection – Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). In addition, Jeffrey has handled numerous business and consumer litigation matters as well as debt collection actions, including writs of execution and garnishment. Jeffrey has handled more than 1,500 cases ranging from municipal court to the Supreme Court of Texas In the...

Buffie Campbell is a highly skilled attorney practicing in the areas of oil and gas, real estate and estate planning/probate. Through her firm Campbell & Castillo, she provides title opinions and abstracts to oil and gas companies all throughout Texas. She is experienced in understanding and researching title chains and has performed title research in Tarrant, Dallas, Nacogdoches, Gregg & Upshur counties. Her knowledge of Texas title law has provided Buffie with greater resources as she aides clients in the acquisition and negotiation of real estate transactions and when preparing estate plans. Whether it be a...

I am Alisha Melvin, Esq., I have been a practicing attorney for more than 10 years, a licensed broker of real estate since 1998, and a minority woman-owned (MWBE) business owner of both law offices and real estate brokerages in four states. I am extremely proficient in real property, probate and estates law. In addition, I broker the sale and purchase of commercial and residential real estate. I have consistently been a multi-million dollar producer in real estate sales. I represent individuals, churches, schools, cities, counties and state entities. In my spare time, I teach Legal Update...

Michael F. Pezzulli is a seasoned attorney with the experience and track record clients trust. He is a powerful advocate in court for clients facing high-conflict divorce, complex asset division, and every kind of civil trial matter. Pezzulli leverages deep knowledge of the law and decades of experience with judges and courts across Texas to fight for his clients. His passion for taking a strong case to court for a jury to decide, when settling would yield a fraction of its potential, has produced highly favorable results for many.

Pezzulli understands the emotional and financial toll of taking legal action...

LeDouglas is an accomplished attorney who possesses a deep understanding of the business landscape, along with the foresight to proactively identify and address potential challenges. He demonstrates a unique blend of analytical thinking, composure, and strategic acumen. What truly distinguishes LeDouglas from his peers is his exceptional ability to swiftly align business objectives within the context of proactive risk management, complex commercial litigation, and innovative dispute resolution strategies. Whether standing at the boardroom table or in the courtroom, LeDouglas exudes a composed demeanor that conceals a remarkable tenacity. This tenacity has propelled him through a diverse array of challenges throughout his...

Matthew Tadlock was born in Dallas, but raised in Fort Worth. He studied political science at Baylor University and proceeded to the University of Tulsa College of Law, which was a natural fit. His love of learning and travel lead him to study abroad in Ireland and Austria, where he was taught by the United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy & studied European and International Business Law at the University of Vienna. Passionate about practicing law in Texas, Matt made is way back home so he could serve the community that had set him up so well...

Upon receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the Ohio State University, Yuri decided to pursue her law degree. Thereafter, she attended the Baylor University Law School. Yuri was raised in South Korea and speaks fluent Korean. Yuri worked as a law clerk for our firm and after passing the 2023 Texas Uniform Bar Exam, she began practicing law as an associate attorney. She is a member of good standing of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Texas. When not practicing law, Yuri enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, trying...

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...

As the Managing Attorney at Sul Lee Law Firm. Diren Singhe instills a philosophy based on client-centric legal representation rooted in legal ethics, simple pragmatism, and Abraham Lincoln’s observation that the law is fundamentally the best reasoning of the wisest, applied over the ages “to the transactions and business of mankind.” Following an early life spent all over the world from Europe to South America, California, and New York, Diren started his career as an executive at an energy industry startup in Houston before moving onto international commercial and intellectual property ligation, construction and design professional liability, fiduciary litigation, and then...

Jian Micah P. De Jesus was born in the Philippines and grew up in Miami, Florida, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Chemistry from Florida International University. After taking a gap year to move and work at a local church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jian decided to pursue a law degree from SMU Dedman School of Law. During law school, Jian took part in SMU's Corporate Counsel Externship Program and worked at an in-house legal department of an architecture firm, conducting legal research, contract drafting, and more. She also studied abroad in London through Southwestern...

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,...

A native of Commerce and Temple, Texas, Attorney Paul F. Wieneskie brings over 30 years of practice experience to Bailey & Galyen, with an emphasis on civil appeals, municipal law (representing cities or private citizens), economic development concerns, and land use and planning. He has been board-certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994, an honor accorded to less than one in every ten lawyers in the state of Texas. He is also AV-rated by his colleagues in the legal profession under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System®* (since 1997). Paul has successfully represented clients...