Announcements

Dallas — August 7, 2009 — Eleven attorneys at TAGLaw member firm, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C., a Texas based law firm with over 100 attorneys and offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin, have been named "Best Lawyers in America.”  Frederick W. Addison, III, William (Chip) T. Cavanaugh, Jeffrey D. Dunn, Mary W. Koks, Richard O. Kopf, James D. Jordan, E. Lee Morris, Russell L. Munsch, Sally  A. Schreiber, Joseph J. Wielebinski and Richard W. Wilhelm are among those honored and the 2010 list, published by Woodward/White, Inc., will be included in  Corporate Counsel magazine, Law.com and USNews.com.
Frederick W. Addison, III

Rick has over 30 years of experience in environmental and commercial counseling and litigation as well as other government regulatory matters.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law and Bachelor of Business Administration, graduating cum laude, from Southern Methodist University.

William (Chip) T. Cavanaugh

Chip is the Section Head of the firm’s Real Estate group, which consists of over 25 attorneys in Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas. His practice focuses on real estate, hospitality and health care companies with respect to a variety of real estate, corporate/securities and general business matters. In his career, Chip has represented investors, developers, private equity funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT's), management companies, lenders and corporations in the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management and sale of office, retail, multifamily, industrial, hospitality, health care, seniors' housing and residential properties. Chip has particular experience in the formation of partnerships, joint ventures and funds for the investment of capital in real estate opportunities.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School and Bachelor of Arts and Business Administration, graduating cum laude, from Southern Methodist University.

Jeffrey D. Dunn

Jeff represents banks and other financial institutions and private equity companies engaged in complex corporate finance transactions including loans, leveraged and true leases, sale leaseback transactions, multiple lender syndications and participations, swaps and derivatives, loan restructurings, letter of credit facilities, asset based financing, real estate lending, factoring transactions and corporate usury law compliance.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law, Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin and Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University.

Mary W. Koks

Mary has more than 26 years of experience in a practice focusing on environmental compliance and litigation.  She obtained her Master of Laws in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Law, Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law, Master of Arts in Government from University of South Carolina and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of South Carolina.

Richard O. Kopf

Rick was one of the firm's founding partners, is currently the firm's Vice Chairman and has served in virtually every position of responsibility within the firm including Managing Partner, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for over 12 years and as a member of our Compensation Committee for over 15 years.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law and Bachelor of Science from Bowling Green State University.

James D. Jordan

Jim served as Munsch Hardt's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1998 to 2005. He is currently a member of the Compensation Committee. The Dallas Business Journal has named Jim one of the six most influential leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth legal community and one of the top 15 business defense attorneys in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Key Professional Media, Inc. has also named him a Texas Super Lawyer. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, trade secrets, trademarks, covenants not to compete, and providing experienced, practical counsel to businesses seeking business solutions to difficult legal problems.  Jim obtained his Juris Doctor from University of Illinois College of Law, Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois and Bachelor of Journalism from University of Missouri.

E. Lee Morris

Lee has a broad range of bankruptcy expertise, having been in practice for 14 years and represented clients in all phases of reorganization and liquidation including debtors, committees, trustees, lenders, insurers, receivers, major creditors and directors and officers in a number of industries and commercial sectors including real estate, oil and gas, food service, retail, telecommunications, health care and financial planning. Lee also has a strong litigation background, having served as lead counsel in a number of complex commercial disputes and appeals involving avoidance action claims and claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and breach of contract.  Lee obtained his Juris Doctor, graduating cum laude, from University of Houston Law Center and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin.

Russell L. Munsch

Russ is one of the firm’s founding partners and serves as Section Head of the Insolvency, Restructuring & Creditors' Rights group, which consists of over 20 attorneys in Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas. He has also served as the firm’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the firm’s Management Committee. His experience relates to all phases of creditor rights, insolvency, bankruptcy and commercial law. His primary emphasis during the last several years has been in the representation of major creditors, bank groups and financial institutions in large loan workouts, restructure and bankruptcies. Russ represents trustees and creditors committees in cases throughout the country and has also served as trustee and examiner in cases in Texas.  Russ obtained his Juris Doctor, graduating cum laude, from University of Houston Law Center and Bachelor of Arts, graduating magna cum laude, from The University of Texas at Austin.

Sally A. Schreiber

For over 30 years, Sally has advised clients on a wide variety of corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity, partnership, franchise, contract and general business matters. Her clients range from small, start-up entities to large, publicly held companies. She has been actively involved in modernizing the business laws in Texas so that they better meet the needs of businesses.  Sally obtained her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and Bachelor of Business Administration from University of New Mexico.

Joseph J. Wielebinski

Joe's practice focus is on bankruptcy, creditors' rights and financial restructuring for almost 25 years and is active throughout the United States in a variety of complex restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy cases.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law, Master of Public Administration from Maxwell School of Syracuse University and Bachelor of Arts, graduating magna cum laude, from Temple University.

Richard W. Wilhelm

Rick was the former Section Head of the firm’s Real Estate group, which consists of over 25 attorneys in Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas. His practice focuses on commercial transactions, acquisition, development and financing of multifamily residential projects, acquisition and disposition of land and income producing properties and build-to-suit commercial and retail lease negotiations.  Rick obtained his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Munsch Hardt, a commercial law firm, provides the highest quality legal services and strategic business advice to companies and individuals of all sizes. Whether you’re a big business or a growing company seeking cost-effective results — Munsch Hardt is the … Right Firm. Right Now.®  Our practice groups include all aspects of Business Litigation; Corporate & Securities; Energy & Environmental; Finance; Insolvency, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights; Intellectual Property; Real Estate and Tax. Munsch Hardt is a multispecialty firm where experienced practitioners work together as a team across disciplinary lines to solve legal problems.  For more information, visit munsch.com.