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Chris McDowell
Chris McDowell has spent the last 20 years representing the operating and legal needs of businesses ranging from startups, to partnerships, to Fortune 500 companies. As a trial lawyer, he understands that sometimes a company's interests must be protected in the courtroom, but his experience has shown that many issues may be resolved more efficiently and economically before they require litigation.
Chris takes an interest in each client's business, listening to their goals and models, learning how they work, and what is important to each. He encourages his clients to address potential legal issues alongside business issues, as many problems can be prevented through negotiation, drafting, or review of agreements and documents. Chris is responsive to calls and questions, so he can help clients understand the potential legal consequences of policies, procedures, and decisions. If an issue does develop into a legal problem, however, Chris prosecutes and defends claims in the courthouse as well as in mediation and arbitration.
Each client and matter is unique. It is essential to thoughtfully explore the available legal options and the risks, benefits, and likely outcomes of each case. From the outset of each relationship, Chris partners with clients to formulate a plan of action that will best achieve their goals and make the most efficient use of resources. To learn more about Chris' experience and successes, please review some of his representative cases.
Practice Areas
- Commercial disputes
- Business torts and fraud
- Contract drafting and review
- Breach of contract and contract disputes
- Employment law including covenants not to compete
- Business partner disputes
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Officer and director liability
- Collections
- Trade secret protection and misappropriation
- Intellectual property protection and disputes
- Premises liability, product liability, and wrongful death
- Real estate fraud and disputes
Education
- The University of Memphis, J.D. cum laude, 1997
- Editor-in-Chief, The University of Memphis Law Review
- Moot Court and Mock Trial
- Baylor University, B.B.A. in Economics and Finance, 1989
Admissions to Practice
- Texas
- United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- All United States District Courts within the State of Texas
- All United States District Courts within the State of Arkansas
- United States District Court, Western District of Missouri
Professional Affiliations
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Leadership Coppell
- Judge, Coppell Teen Court, 2000-present