Balch Springs Lawyers

Joanna Whittaker, fondly called “Jo” by her close friends, is a dedicated attorney who has been an Arkansan through and through. Born and raised in Maumelle, Joanna attended North Little Rock High School (NLRHS) and later pursued higher education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), earning dual bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Human Services. Joanna completed her formal education at the Bowen School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate (JD). Before her legal career, Joanna worked closely with children, gaining valuable experience as a church nursery worker, camp counselor, and...

Affectionately known as Lulu to her family and friends, Lucy Fitzhugh brings a unique blend of Southern charm, tenacity, and legal prowess to Punchwork Law. Born and raised in the historic city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Lucy’s journey to becoming a trusted member of the legal community has been marked by a passion for justice and a commitment to excellence. After completing her undergraduate studies in psychology at Louisiana State University, Lucy embarked on a transformative journey that took her from the bayous of Louisiana to the bustling streets of California. While in California, she immersed herself in the world of equestrian...

Mr. Clint Broden is board certified in the area of criminal law and criminal appellate. His practice is limited to criminal defense work. He has received an "AV" rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating available. He was voted by his peers as a "Super Lawyer" in criminal defense from 2004 - Current. From 2011 - 2013, D Best named him a "best attorney" in Dallas in the field of criminal defense. Although he handles all types of criminal cases, Mr. Broden specializes in complex, criminal cases in federal court at both the trial and appellate level. He...

Tiara A. Thomas is an attorney, speaker, and philanthropist. Throughout her career, she has helped her clients get the justice they deserve for being injured in both commercial and non-commercial vehicle crashes. In addition to personal injury, Tiara has represented clients in complex civil litigation claims, including breach of contract claims, civil fraud claims, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims, & more! In 2022, she was selected as a “Top 40 Under 40 Attorney,” an honor given to only the top 40 under 40 African American lawyers in each state or region with reputations for providing excellent legal representation in their...

Chad West has dedicated his career to protecting the rights of individuals who are facing difficult legal circumstances. Throughout his career, he has worked on a vast variety of cases ranging from complex litigation suits to car wreck cases to workplace injury cases generating over $200 million in verdicts, judgments, and settlements. Chad's practice focuses on civil litigation, personal injury, and car accidents. After growing up on a farm in Southern Illinois, Chad attended and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in...

Mark R. Basile started his career at Shea & Gould in New York City and throughout the course of his career has, and continues to represent small publicly traded companies in securities and corporate finance litigation in both state and federal courts around the country. Mr. Basile won a landmark decision (2021) for small public companies in the New York Court of Appeals that agreed that certain corporate funding instruments are subject to NY's criminal usury laws. Mr. Basile is also a Professor of Law & Entrepreneurship at The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in New York teaching a course that he...

Gerald W. Livingston, native Dallasite. Served in the United States Army, Graduated Southern Methodist University - Dallas, TX with a LL.B. in Law.
Member of the Texas State Bar, the Dallas Bar Association, Tarrant County Bar Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association and past member of the State Bar of Texas District 6A, Grievance Committee in Dallas.
AREAS OF PRACTICE: Personal injury claims in all fields (30 + years experience); Employment Law; Business Law. Member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers Top 25 Specialty Associations and AV Preeminent...

Carl L. Evans, Jr. is an Equity Partner at McCathern in the law firm's Dallas, Texas office and he practices in the areas of non-subscriber employer defense, trucking, liquor liability, employment, commercial, construction, subrogation, tort and insurance litigation. Mr. Evans has an extensive litigation and trial background, having tried numerous cases in state and federal courts. He has also obtained defense verdicts in arbitrations involving claims of fraud, negligence, breach of contract and breach of warranty. In addition, Mr. Evans has successfully represented numerous clients in summary judgment motions that have included claims for bad faith, fraud, negligence, premises liability,...

I am Ryan Anderson, a determined litigator with a wealth of experience in various aspects of the legal process, including depositions, dispositive motion practice and hearings, case strategy, arbitrations, and trials. I am committed to delivering effective, client-centered representation across a range of issues such as contract disputes, business torts, and employment matters. Previously, I served as an associate at a national law firm where my primary focus was on first-party and third-party insurance defense litigation. In this role, I represented insurance carriers, companies, and individuals. This experience has provided me with a unique perspective that is invaluable in my current...

I enjoy helping clients prevent foreclosure and receive maximum protection under the law. Naturally, it's a tough road that leads to a foreclosure situation, so our job is to help them out of the situation in the most painless, but also the most effective and beneficial way possible.

Marty Jo Taylor advocates against family violence so children can grow up free from pain and insecurity. A mother of one son, she is a strong advocate for children and works diligently to keep them safe and secure.

She assists families with navigating the legal system during this sensitive and often traumatic time. She never rushes through the process and uses her mediation training skills to develop workable solutions instead of adding fuel to the fire.
Clients with questions about their case know they can count on Marty Jo to take the time to examine the facts and the...

Summary Statement Matthew E. Yarbrough is a renowned expert in digital discovery. He has 20 years legal and investigative experience working both as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and in private legal practice. He is a trial lawyer with extensive jury trial experience in both civil and criminal matters. The Yarbrough Law Group focuses on complex business litigation, including intellectual property, cybercrimes, government investigations, internal investigations, financial fraud, and technology-related litigation. Mr. Yarbrough served as head of the Cybercrimes and Criminal Intellectual Property Task Force for the Department of Justice and was tapped by former Texas Attorney General John Cornyn to be...

Described by colleagues as a “gym rat” in the courtroom, Bill Forteith still loves going into court and fighting for his clients in trial after almost forty years of exclusively practicing civil trial law. Trying hundreds of jury trials, his legal experience has literally gone from the cradle to the grave having represented clients involved in prenatal and neonatal care, daycare centers, nursing homes and even funeral homes. Yet trial work, such as automobile accidents and premises liability cases, excite him just as much as the more unusual cases. He believes that every client deserves the same passionate representation regardless...

Personal Injury Litigation

For over 50 years Lou Fouts has represented thousands of clients who have sustained serious bodily injuries, or the loss of a loved one by wrongful death. He works zealously to achieve fairness and justice in securing recoveries for his clients. His career and reputation are distinguished by excellence and compassion for his clients. Both clients and other attorneys have recognized his tenacity and determination for his clients. Lou Fouts earned his B.B.A from S.M.U. and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas at Austin Law School in 1970. While repersenting individuals who...

Fatima Hassan Salam is a Texas attorney with over 23 years of experience in personal injury cases. Ms. Salam graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with degrees in Sociology, Journalism, and Criminal Justice. Her interest in the law combined with her determination to increase access to legal assistance for underrepresented communities motivated her to become an attorney. Ms. Salam obtained her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in 1991 and after two years as a criminal defense attorney in Michigan, she moved permanently back to Texas in order to practice personal injury law. Ms. Salam...

Mike Killough was certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Residential and Commercial Real Estate Law from 1983, the first year the certification was available in Texas, until 2023 . He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and was selected a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Texas Supreme Court. A Distinguished Military Graduate in 1964, Mike served on active duty from 1967 to 1969. He attained...

A founding partner of Steckler Wayne Cochran PLLC (“SWC”), Stuart Cochran is a civil trial lawyer with almost twenty years of experience litigating, trying, arbitrating, and mediating complex commercial, class action, and personal injury cases in state and federal courts across the nation. Stuart has a nationally-recognized consumer class action practice, and he is frequently brought in to cases outside of Texas due to his experience. More locally, Stuart handles complex commercial cases and catastrophic personal injury cases. Stuart’s practice is unique in that he handles cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. Stuart has helped recover...

Diana Weitzel is a dedicated attorney at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, bringing a deep commitment to family law and a strong passion for advocating for families and children. A proud graduate of Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Diana holds a Juris Doctor degree, as well as an Executive MBA from Texas Christian University and a Bachelor of Science from Indiana State University. Licensed to practice in Texas, and admitted to the Northern and Eastern District Bankruptcy Courts, Diana also holds certifications as a Mediator, Family Law Mediator, Guardian Ad Litem, and in Collaborative Law. She has been honored with...

My primary focus is on full service commercial and residential real estate transactions with particular emphasis on document preparation and escrow services, commercial due diligence, foreclosures and foreclosure workouts, landlord/tenant relations and construction lien rights.

Grady K. Bergen is a partner at Griggs Bergen LLP, a law firm specializing in intellectual property with offices in Dallas, Texas. He is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is licensed to practice in Texas and Missouri. Mr. Bergen earned his Juris Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law in 1992, and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, completed in 1988. His legal practice focuses on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related intellectual property matters. With a background in engineering, Mr. Bergen is experienced in handling cases across various technology...

Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney 1989-1991 Kaufman City Council Member 2005-2011

We provide business advice concerning business formation and governance, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and other business law matters. We prepare, review, and negotiate all types of commercial contracts. We also help business owners and executives plan for growth and expansion.

We also provide legal services in virtually all aspects of commercial real estate. Our firm has extensive experience in real estate development activities, particularly in the development of office, shopping centers, and retail facilities. Additionally, we provide advice and services regarding commercial leases to property owners and tenants, including the preparation of legal opinions for commercial closings.

Jeremy C. Anderson is a skilled trial attorney who provides clients in Dallas with outstanding defense against DWI charges. As one of the founding partners of Anderson Beakley, PLLC, Attorney Anderson tirelessly protects his clients’ rights and interests while pursuing the best outcomes possible in their DUI cases. Attorney Anderson graduated with a degree in biomechanics from the University of Texas in Austin before earning his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. He is licensed to practice law by the Texas State Bar and is a member of the Dallas County Bar Association, the Texas...

From the courtroom to the boardroom, Braden M. Wayne provides corporate litigation and business counsel services to an array of clients, from financial institutions and healthcare providers to third-party insurers and retailers. A native Dallasite, Braden has a passion for helping local businesses navigate the corporate and legal terrain of North Texas. Prior to rejoining SettlePou, Braden served as General Counsel for one of the largest diamond wholesalers and jewelry retailers in the country, where he was responsible for all legal matters, human resources, real estate acquisitions, and enterprise growth. Braden is a member of SettlePou’s...

Zac Duffy is a technology and intellectual property attorney. Texas Monthly Magazine has consistently named Zac a “Texas Rising Star” since 2011. Zac has experience in software, electronics, trademarks, and trade secret litigation.