Dallas · TX · Vetted Directory

Business Litigation Defense Lawyers in Dallas

If you've been sued — or you're about to file — a business litigation lawyer in Dallas is the partner who runs the case from intake through trial or settlement. The 8 firms below try cases in the Dallas County state courts, the Texas Business Court (Region 11), and the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Most can also handle arbitration before AAA, JAMS, or the FINRA panel when the contract requires it.

8
Vetted Firms
State + Federal
Full Stack
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When a Dallas business needs a business litigation defense lawyer

Litigation in Dallas moves on a real schedule. Dallas County district courts run docket call within months of filing, and the new Texas Business Court — which started taking cases in September 2024 for disputes over $5 million — has been issuing written opinions on a rocket-docket pace. Federal cases in N.D. Tex. are similarly disciplined, with most judges enforcing scheduling orders strictly. That speed cuts both ways: the right firm protects your timeline; the wrong firm gets steamrolled.

Who typically calls a Dallas business-litigation lawyer

A founder served with a partnership-dispute petition. A contractor on the wrong end of a multimillion-dollar payment dispute. A company sued for trade-secret misappropriation by a former employer or competitor. A vendor in a UCC-driven sales dispute. A board defending a derivative suit. A landlord or tenant in a commercial real-estate fight. A franchisee defending a termination. The common thread is real money on the line and a calendar that won't wait.

How to pick between the firms below

If the matter is bet-the-company patent, antitrust, or IP — Skiermont Derby, McKool Smith, Quinn Emanuel, or Gibson Dunn. For commercial litigation in the $1M–$50M range — Lynn Pinker, Reese Marketos, Reid Dennis & Frick, and Burke Bogdanowicz are the most-cited Dallas trial boutiques. For mid-market disputes paired with corporate or employment work — Barnes & Thornburg or a mid-sized full-service firm fits. Most of these firms quote initial case assessments at $25,000–$75,000 so you can budget before committing to discovery.

Firms in Dallas that handle business litigation defense

1

Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann, LLP

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 1990sMid-sized trial boutique

Practice focus: Commercial litigation, business torts, intellectual property, energy disputes, antitrust. One of Dallas's most cited trial boutiques. Recognized in Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation. Tries jury cases in Texas state and federal courts.

Hourly $550–$900Trial-ready
2

Reese Marketos LLP

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 2011Boutique trial firm

Practice focus: Commercial litigation, energy, real-estate disputes, business torts. Founded by former Lynn Pinker partners. Frequently engaged for plaintiff and defense commercial litigation including contingency fee structures in significant disputes.

Hourly + contingencyEnergy + commercial
3

McKool Smith

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 1991National trial firm

Practice focus: Patent litigation, trade secrets, antitrust, commercial litigation. Among the country's most prolific trial firms. Frequently appears in E.D. Tex., N.D. Tex., and the ITC for both plaintiff and defense bet-the-company matters.

Hourly / contingencyBet-the-company
4

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (Dallas)

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 1890 (Dallas est. 2014)BigLaw

Practice focus: Complex commercial litigation, white-collar defense, M&A litigation, securities, appellate. Dallas office of one of the country's largest litigation practices. Often retained for crisis litigation, internal investigations, and parallel proceedings.

Hourly $900–$1,400Crisis-grade defense
5

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP (Dallas)

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 1986 (Dallas est. 2017)BigLaw — pure litigation

Practice focus: Patent and complex commercial litigation, trade-secret misappropriation, antitrust, international arbitration. Litigation-only firm with a Dallas office focused on high-stakes trial work. Frequently named to Benchmark Litigation's 'Trial Lawyer of the Year' shortlist.

Hourly $1,000–$1,500Trial only
6

Reid Dennis & Frick

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 1996Boutique trial firm

Practice focus: Commercial litigation, business torts, fiduciary disputes. Dallas trial boutique with a depth of jury-trial experience in business disputes. Frequently chosen for partnership-dispute and minority-shareholder cases.

Hourly $475–$800Trial focus
7

Barnes & Thornburg LLP (Dallas)

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 1982 (Dallas est. 2018)Mid-sized national

Practice focus: Commercial litigation, employment, IP, product liability, real estate. Mid-sized national firm with a deep Dallas litigation bench paired with corporate, IP, and employment groups. Often picked when the matter needs more than one practice area.

Hourly $550–$900Multi-practice
8

Burke Bogdanowicz PLLC

📍 Dallas, TXFounded 2017Boutique trial firm

Practice focus: Commercial litigation, fraud, partnership disputes, securities litigation. Newer Dallas trial boutique built from former BigLaw litigators. Strong in fraud, fiduciary, and partnership-dispute jury trials.

Hourly $475–$850Fraud + fiduciary

What this typically costs in Dallas

Ranges from real Dallas firms, current to 2026. Government fees billed separately and pass through at cost.

Initial case assessment
$25,000 – $75,000

Document review, legal-theory mapping, written report. Most Dallas trial firms quote this as a discrete first phase.

Hourly rates — boutique
$400 – $850/hr

Dallas trial boutiques like Reese Marketos, Reid Dennis, Burke Bogdanowicz. Often the best-value option in the $1M–$10M range.

Hourly rates — mid-market
$550 – $950/hr

Lynn Pinker, Barnes & Thornburg, and similar firms. Strong jury-trial benches with multiple practice areas.

Hourly rates — BigLaw
$900 – $1,500/hr

Gibson Dunn, Quinn Emanuel, Vinson & Elkins. Used when the matter is parallel to a regulatory or criminal proceeding.

Contingency / hybrid
30–45% of recovery

Available on plaintiff-side fraud, breach, and IP cases from firms like Reese Marketos and McKool Smith when the damages model supports it.

Through-trial budget
$500K – $5M+

Realistic full-case budget through Dallas jury trial in a commercial dispute. Most cases settle before trial; budgets adjust at summary judgment.

AAA / JAMS arbitration
$200K – $1.5M

Arbitration is often cheaper than court but the panel fees ($10K–$80K) are billed on top.

Texas Business Court filing fees
$2,500

New (2024) Texas Business Court charges a $2,500 filing fee for cases over $5M in dispute.

Typical turnaround in Dallas

From the day you sign an engagement letter to the day you have something in hand, here is what the calendar usually looks like in Dallas.

  1. Week 1Conflict check, written engagement letter, intake of all documents and deadlines.
  2. Weeks 2–6Initial case assessment delivered. Pleadings filed or answered. Litigation hold sent.
  3. Months 2–6Written discovery served and answered. Initial disclosures, document production begin.
  4. Months 6–14Depositions. Discovery motions. Mediation typically scheduled in this window.
  5. Months 12–20Summary-judgment briefing. Many cases resolve here.
  6. Months 18–28Trial setting in Dallas County or N.D. Tex. Texas Business Court trials often faster.

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Business Litigation Defense in Dallas — FAQ

How much does a business litigation lawyer cost in Dallas?
Dallas commercial litigators bill between $400 and $1,500 per hour depending on firm tier. Boutiques like Reese Marketos or Burke Bogdanowicz run $475–$850. BigLaw firms run $900–$1,500. Many will quote a fixed-fee initial assessment of $25,000–$75,000 so you can scope the matter before committing to discovery.
Will my case go to trial?
Most commercial cases in Dallas settle — somewhere between 90% and 95% of filed civil cases resolve before trial, usually at mediation or after summary judgment. Pick a firm that prepares every case as if it will be tried; settlement leverage tracks the credibility of trial preparation.
What is the Texas Business Court and should I file there?
The Texas Business Court launched September 2024 to hear disputes over $5 million involving businesses, governance, and large commercial contracts. It's a docket of specialist judges with written opinions, similar to Delaware Chancery. If your case qualifies, the venue choice matters — talk to your lawyer early.
Hourly, flat, or contingency — which fits a Dallas commercial case?
Defense work is almost always hourly. Plaintiff cases with strong liability and clear damages can sometimes be taken on contingency or hybrid (reduced hourly plus success bonus). Document review and discovery are sometimes flat-bid or outsourced.
Can my Dallas business litigator handle arbitration?
All of the firms above try AAA, JAMS, and FINRA arbitrations. If your contract has an arbitration clause, arbitration is usually compulsory. The pleading and discovery phases are similar; the hearing is shorter.
What if I'm sued in federal court in Texas?
N.D. Tex. and E.D. Tex. enforce scheduling orders strictly. You typically have 21 days to answer a federal complaint, with 14 days for a Rule 12 motion. Don't miss the deadline. All firms above are admitted in N.D. Tex. and most in E.D. Tex.
Can a Texas judgment be enforced outside Texas?
Yes — through the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act, a final Texas judgment can be domesticated in nearly every other state. Most Dallas commercial litigators handle post-judgment collection as part of the engagement.

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