Montague County Lawyers

Charles McFarland has extensive experience representing property owners whose private property has been taken by the government for public use. His primary area of practice focuses on highway and roadway widening projects that impact retail, commercial, industrial and special use properties. He also has successfully represented clients affected by pipelines, electric transmission lines, flood control, and other public-use projects.

An honors graduate of both the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas School of Law, Charles was a partner at Vinson & Elkins before forming McFarland PLLC, a boutique law firm focusing exclusively on condemnation and eminent domain...

I am a dynamic and highly strategic corporate attorney with over 9 years of commercial contract expertise and a proven track record of balancing legal and business priorities to facilitate purposeful growth. I work with owner operated businesses from start-up to sale. I guide businesses through entity formation, contract package formation, contract review and negotiation, employment policy formation, hiring practice formation, employee categorization, employee termination, and eventual sale. I earned my Juris Doctorate degree in 2013 from The University of Colorado Law School and my Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Communication, as well as a Business Foundation Certification, from The...

Stephen Kennedy has been practicing law since 1988 in the areas of general litigation, intellectual property and related business areas. He has an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell, is a Texas Super Lawyer and is a member for the Dallas Bar Association Ethics Committee.

Nejat Ahmed has litigated multi-million dollar insurance coverage disputes involving both primary and excess commercial property policies in state and federal courts. She has many years of experience litigating coverage disputes involving homeowners policies and third-party primary and excess liability policies. Ms. Ahmed has devoted her legal practice to complex insurance coverage litigation with a focus on commercial and residential insurance policies. She has litigated numerous first party property claims arising out of major catastrophes, including Hurricanes Rita, Ike and Harvey.

Having represented insurance companies for over a decade, Ms. Ahmed has the unique perspective that is valuable to policyholders in...

Mindy Sauter served as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice. She has served as both a federal prosecutor and as a state prosecutor, and has had the benefit of conducting hundreds of trials. Mrs. Sauter directed some of the most complex healthcare prosecutions, including cases of home health and hospice fraud, multi-jurisdictional FDA investigations, and durable medical equipment and pharmaceutical cases. She also prosecuted other complex white collar crimes, including public corruption cases, and Hobbs Act Cases on behalf of the United States government.

Steven Clary was born in Winston Salem, NC and moved to Dallas, TX at age seventeen, He served in the U.S. Air Force for 9 and a half years. He is a former flight instructor and currently holds a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating and is current in high performance and complex aircraft. He spent many years in the computer field as a software developer and software development manager. Even now many of the computer software products he and his groups developed are running in many major companies in the United States and overseas. He is married and...

Peter Smythe is a Martindale-Hubble AV-rated attorney who handles federal and Texas appeals. He has tried cases to verdict in county courts at law and state district courts and also federal district courts. He has handled appeals on both the state and federal levels.

Bonnie Sudderth, former Chief Judge of the Fort Worth Municipal Courts, was first elected to the 352nd District Court bench in the March 1996 primary. (She had no opponent in the November general election.) Although her term was scheduled to commence on January 1, 1997, the bench was vacant at the time of her election. Consequently, shortly after the primary, Texas Governor George W. Bush appointed her to fill the vacancy for the remainder of 1996. Having continuously served that court until January 7, 2015, Judge Sudderth was the longest-serving judge in the history of that court. Since January 8,...

1972 to present - licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas
1985 to present - member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association

One word: “Experience”. I have worked hard over the years ever since I became a criminal defense attorney. After 28+ years of practice, I am proud to represent my community and I believe that everyone is entitled to a strong defense when faced with the emotional stress and life-changing effects of a DWI, including inability to be qualified as an instructor for your child’s driver’s education. I am a DWI Attorney that is board certified in DWI Defense by the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD), which is a certification that is not easily or freely earned.

I practice criminal defense law in Fort Worth, Texas. I work primarily in Tarrant County, but also Parker and Dallas Counties. My practice focuses on criminal defense and DWI defense. I defend people who are charged with misdemeanors as well as felonies. people who are charged and accused of all crimes, including assault, drugs charges, white collar crimes, and theft, just to mention a few. Hiring a lawyer to defend you is a pivotal moment in your defense. If you find yourself searching for a criminal defense lawyer, it’s probably not the best of times. I understand that....

Mr. Hassibi is the leading lawyer of the Fort Worth firm, the Law Office of A. Oliver Hassibi. Attorney Hassibi has been practicing law for more than a decade, and he is committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have been charged with a criminal offense. He is admitted to practice in federal courts, as well as the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. For more information about the representation Attorney Hassibi may be able to provide you with, do not hesitate to contact the firm.

Stephen Harrison knows construction law. He is a founding partner of a lawfirm that practices exclusively construction law. Stephen is Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been named many times as one of the Super Lawyers of Texas by Texas Monthly magazine, and frequently lectures in construction law seminars, and has taught Construction Law at Texas A&M Law School. Stephen is also a Registered Professional Engineer. He frequently represents parties in construction defect litigation, delay damage claims, construction contract disputes, professional liability cases and construction arbitrations. He graduated with honors from the University...

The practice consists of handling cases for various private individuals and corporations. The cases handled involve the following theories of law: General negligence, personal injury, automobile accidents, products liability, insurance claims, fraud, deceptive trade practices, breach of warranty, contracts, business disputes, residential and commercial real estate, oil and gas and construction liability. The most important goal of the firm is to provide quality legal work that is responsive to our clients' needs at a competitive cost and to handle our clients' cases efficiently and economically while giving each of our clients the attention that they deserve.

Attorney Keith Morris is the founding attorney of Keith Morris & Stacy Kelly, Attorneys at Law. Mr. Morris graduated from Texas A & M University in 1997. He achieved his Juris Doctor at the University of Houston Law Center in 2001. Since then Mr. Morris has devoted himself to the practice discipline of probate administration as well as litigation involving estates, probate, guardianships, fiduciary duty, commercial, and other general litigation. His firm represents individuals, small businesses, and larger corporations with general legal assistance, mediation, and litigation. Mr. Morris has been named a 2015 Texas Super Lawyer, an H Texas Magazine...

Mr. Childers joined Freeman Mills PC with more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He began his career as an independent field landman performing all aspects of onshore land services for domestic exploration and production companies. From 2006 to 2015 he held the following positions with independent domestic upstream operating companies: Land Manager, Land Manager and General Counsel, Vice President - Land, Executive Vice-President - Exploration and Production, Chief Operating Officer and President.

During his tenure in the energy business, Mr. Childers has been charged with leading the management of exploration and production operations, the acquisition...

Shawn’s practice includes a wide variety of civil litigation including: intellectual property litigation (patent, trademark, and trade secret), commercial litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights, and employment law. This broad practice has given him experience in many different aspects of litigation including: case assessment and research, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, hearing presentation, and trial presentation. Shawn has tried multiple jury trials to successful verdict as lead trial counsel and has been selected by Thomas Reuters as a Rising Star in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Katherine (“Katie”) Hawkins is a dedicated immigration attorney based in North Texas, with a strong commitment to serving diverse communities. She graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2018. Before pursuing a legal career, Ms. Hawkins worked as an elementary school teacher in South Louisiana, where she taught third and fourth graders. Ms. Hawkins holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, which she utilizes to provide trauma-informed legal care. Her journey into law was inspired by witnessing a grandmother’s determined fight to protect her grandchildren and access...

Michael R. Parker completed his law degree from the Whittier Law School in 1999. He is the founder and managing partner of Parker Straus LLP’s Dallas office. His practice areas primarily include complex civil litigation, such as insurance fraud, insurance claims, bad faith defense, civil RICO, SIU, and many more. Prior to managing his own firm, he worked for Liberty Mutual and was a private investigator. He has well-rounded insight and deep legal knowledge, especially in insurance & SIU cases. Known as a leader in his field, he regularly presents on topic that include fraud, coverage, and bad faith issues.

Michael R. Cramer’s practice includes extensive experience in business law, civil and commercial litigation, employment law, corporate law, construction law, real estate, civil defense and estate planning. Attorney Cramer has more than 21 years of practice. Michael developed a statewide practice focused on litigation. His cases range from breach of contract to construction delay claims against the State of Texas. He also works with Family Law and Divorce cases. His business litigation practice includes the representation of corporations of all sizes. Michael has considerable experience in assisting corporations to avoid litigation through consultancy and risk avoidance. He counsels business...

Frank Sellers is a trial and appellate attorney, who focuses on representing citizens and businesses facing criminal investigations and prosecutions. Frank maintains an active criminal trial practice, and he has earned a reputation as a knowledgeable, skilled trial lawyer. In addition to trial work, Frank focuses a smaller portion of his practice on criminal appeals and writs of habeas corpus.

Since beginning his practice, Frank has represented people charged with all types of offenses and from all professional backgrounds, including doctors, lawyers, and even a district judge. He has won Not Guilty verdicts in cases ranging from DWI (both breath...

Business, commercial litigation, transactional, and bankruptcy attorney with experience representing lenders, investors, borrowers, insurance companies, debtors and creditors, and plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes litigations, bankruptcies, workouts, transactions, asset protection, liquidations, management disputes, and financial matters. CURRENT/RECENT CLIENTS: Representation of major U.S. retailer; Texas-based regional lender; Los Angeles-based restructuring and bankruptcy firm; Grammy nominated multi-platinum recording artist, and Illinois-based commercial lessor. LITIGATION: Lead litigation counsel in complex tort and contract disputes. Exceptional legal advocacy in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts, and in all pre-trial and trial aspects of litigation, including discovery, summary judgement, mediation, settlement, and appeals; thorough...

Taylor Mohr distinguishes herself by offering effective, affordable, and compassionate legal services. Her practice focuses on family law in Williamson and Travis counties. She is a member of the Williamson County Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Baylor Law Alumni Association.

Taylor graduated from the Baylor Law School. She attended this prestigious university with a full-tuition scholarship. As a law student, she balanced her studies with a variety of extracurricular work, serving as Secretary and Executive Vice-President for the Student Bar Association and working as an editing assistant for professor Gerald Powell, director of...

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...

Matthew Gilpin began working for McCathern as a partner in 2018 and his practice primarily focuses on probate matters, estate administrations, and inheritance issues in the North Texas region.

Mr. Gilpin’s probate experience involves managing all aspects of cases – legal and administrative – from start to finish. This includes helping his clients find the most efficient and cost-effective solutions to settling estate matters. Additionally, he advises clients regarding estate planning and asset protection and he drafts trusts, wills, directives, releases, and other estate planning documents.

Mr. Gilpin firmly believes that to create the most effective estate plan, it must be...

I believe that trying a case to a jury is the best part of my job. That belief is the basis for the entire way I handle cases at Samples Ames PLLC. When our firm accepts cases, I am evaluating the prospects of that case in front of a jury. I size up the case, and I also size up the client. I always ask myself if a jury will relate to my client, and our firm regularly conducts focus groups before we accept the case.

I am Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal...

Mark has been licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas to practice in Texas state courts since November 1, 2013. Mark attended the University of North Texas in Denton, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in August 2005. He studied law at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and graduated with his Juris Doctor in May 2013, after which the school became Texas A&M University School of Law in the fall of 2013. Mark served in the United States Army from August 2005 until July 2009. He was stationed in Germany most of that...

Before joining McCathern as a partner in 2019, Scott J. Becker presided over the 219th State District Court in Collin County, Texas from 2010 through 2018. As a court of general jurisdiction, Judge Becker presided over a broad variety of matters including multi-million dollar civil litigation, family law matters including divorces and child custody disputes, and felony criminal matters including murder. Two of the cases over which Becker presided have been the subject of television episodes: CBS’s 48 Hours: Taken Away (aired September 2017) and Dateline NBC’s: Someone Was Waiting (aired December 2016).

Judge Becker is Board Certified in Family Law...

Whitney has been in the practice of law for 20 years. She specializes in Estate Planning, Probate and Business Incorporation.

Ronda Haynes is a solo practitioner who opened her own law firm in December 2017. She received her J.D. from Texas A&M School of Law in 2015. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Business and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies.

Ronda was born and raised in Azle, having graduated from Azle High School in 1990. After moving away for many years, she returned home to open her law practice. She is involved in her local community and in the Fort Worth Community. She volunteers with the VITA program and sits on the Board of Directors of Guardianship Services, Inc.

Ronda held...

From complex million-dollar estates and complex custody cases to simple property division and agreed upon shared custody arrangements, Michael Youngberg has helped all kinds of clients achieve their goals. Mike’s practice includes divorce, child custody, child support, modifications of existing orders, enforcements, division of property, characterization of property, spousal maintenance, temporary restraining orders, and protective orders.

Mike understands the emotional and financial toll that a family law case can take on a person, so he lightens that burden for his clients through pragmatic and compassionate representation. Mike concentrates his efforts on prosecuting his client’s interests as well as the children’s interests...

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 | Daniell Attorneys, where he continues 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, and the firm has received similar accolades in Family and Business Law in the years since. Christman | Daniell Attorneys offers legal services in the practice areas of Business/Corporate, Family Law, Civil Litigation, Probate, Real Estate,...

Carey Thompson has been practicing Social Security Disability Law Since 2008 after he graduated from Texas Wesleyan School of Law, now known as Texas A&M school of Law in Fort Worth, TX. While at Texas Wesleyan he served on Law Review. Prior to going to Law School, Mr. Thompson was a High School Band Director for four years using his degree in Music Education from Michigan State University. Prior to Attending Michigan State, he attended Aledo Schools from Kindergarten to graduate. Mr.Thompson feels strongly about serving the people of Tarrant County.