Biographical Information:
Craig Albert Phone: 214.265.7007
Practice Areas Board Certified – Consumer and Commercial Law Experience Craig A. Albert leads the Firm’s litigation practice. He earned a B.A. with honors in Plan II from the University of Texas in 1986 and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1990. Craig is a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of North Carolina, and Dallas Bar Association. He enjoys an AV rating, which is the top rating from Martindale Hubbell. He is Board Certified - Consumer and Commercial Law - TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION. In serving the needs of his clients in complex commercial litigation, real estate litigation and financial services litigation, Mr. Albert tries lawsuits to juries and judges with an eye toward best overall outcomes for each client. He works to identify lightening rods in transactions that might lead to litigation down the road. Understanding triggers, he helps clients prevent litigation where possible and enhance a client’s position of strength. Craig has also acted as an arbitrator related to commercial lease issues and has been called at trial as an expert witness on attorney fee issues. During his 20-plus year career as a trial lawyer, Mr. Albert has geared his practice to meet thefollowing objectives: every client phone call or email message is returned promptly; the firm’s billings are consistently accurate and communicate the value delivered and the progress achieved on the client’s case; and his team consistently plans out the “next step” as it wisely conducts litigation on behalf of the client.
Education
Court Admissions
Commercial Litigation Commercial Lease and Other Real Estate Litigation Condemnation Real Estate Brokerage Disputes Residential Construction Liability Litigation Insurance Policy Litigation
2011 Summary judgment against insurance company on coverage claim under policy related to construction-based constructive eviction of tenant. Employment Related Claims
2010 Dismissal of non-compete covenant and compensation claims from federal case asserting supplemental jurisdiction. Attorney Fee Expert and General Counsel 
Kevin Cherry Phone: 214.265.7007
Areas of expertise Experience and Education 
Trey Dyer Phone: 214.265.7007
Practice Areas Experience Mr. Dyer is a member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Dallas Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Business Litigation Section, Texas Young Lawyers Association, and American Trial Lawyers Association Community. He graduated from University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1999 and from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2002. Trey is also a member of the St. Mark’s School of Texas Alumni.
Commercial Litigation 2008 Successful defense of fraud and security claims brought by note holders of Defendant’s subsidiary company. 2006 Successful prosecution of security claims of shareholders of Defendant Corporation for appropriate distribution of sales proceeds.
Real Estate Brokerage Disputes 2009 Defeat of fraud and fiduciary claims asserted against real estate broker related to listing of medical office building for sale lease-back. 2007 Preparation and successful prosecution of broker’s lien for full payment of commission for sale of substantially same property to identified purchaser.
Employment Related Claims 
Jennifer Knott Phone: 214.265.7007
Practice Areas Experience
Commercial Litigation 2009 Unanimous jury verdict awarding remainder damages in condemnation case involving gas pipeline easement 2007 Assist in recovery of $1.8 million award related to city’s taking of retail store site for construction of park 2006 Prosecution of commercial lessee’s claim against landlord related to cap on controllable operating expenses 2005 Assisted builder in case against surveyor and title company involving negligent survey of property 2005 Represented homeowner in case involving construction company’s failure to design and build improvements in compliance with zoning ordinances and building codes 2005 Represented developer and owner of condominium project in a dispute with homeowner’s association regarding numerous alleged construction defects on the premises Defense of commercial lessee which abandoned office premises with multi-year term balance and multi-million dollar accelerated rent delinquency 2004 Provided counsel for insurance company in subrogation dispute involving construction defects associated with installation of EIFS on the exterior of an insured’s residence 2003 Litigated case for bank involving allegations of wrongful payment on letter of credit and foreclosure on real property 2003 Represented bank in case involving default on residential mortgage 2003 Assisted business in case involving architect’s failure to properly supervise construction of medical facility 2003 Litigated case for hospital involving general contractor and subcontractor’s failure to properly install medical equipment in operating rooms
Education
Memberships 
Terry Landry Phone: 214.265.7007
Terry Landry joined the firm in September, 2001. A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Landry is a 1988 graduate of Texas Tech University, where he received his B.B.A. in accounting, and a 1993 graduate of the Texas Tech School of Law. Since 1993, Mr. Landry has represented real estate investors, lenders, developers, managers and financial institutions in connection with all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Landry was a member of the board of editors of the Texas Tech Law Review and the Order of the Coif. Prior to his arrival with the firm, Mr. Landry was associated with the Dallas office of Patton Boggs LLP, a Washington, D.C. based law firm, where he practiced in the Real Estate section from 1999-2001. Mr. Landry began his legal career in the real estate section of the Dallas office of Locke, Liddell & Sapp, LLP (formerly Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon, LLP). Prior to his entering the legal profession, Mr. Landry was employed in the audit department of the Dallas office of the accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Landry is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section. |
Rachel Oliver Phone: 214.265.7007
We welcomed Rachel Oliver to the firm in 2008. Prior to joining us, Rachel worked with Haynes and Boone, LLP, Dallas, Texas from 2001 to 2008. A Texas Monthly Rising Star in 2005 and 2008, Rachel was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2001 and is a member of the Dallas Bar Association. Ms. Rainwater’s expertise lies in real estate law. Rachel attended Texas Tech University where she graduated summa cum laude in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. She was on the President's Honor Roll and Dean’s List and in Phi Sigma Tau National Honor Society. A 2001 magna cum laude graduate of Texas Tech University School of Law, Rachel was a member of the board of editors of the Texas Tech Law Review and the Order of the Coif. 
Jon Petersen Phone: 214.265.7007
Admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1981, Jon Petersen is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section and Business Law Section. He a member of the Dallas Bar Association, Real Property Section and Construction Law Section. He is also a member of the Texas Association of Bank Counsel. Jon earned his Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law, Dallas, Texas, in 1981. Previously, he had earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Baylor University, Waco, Texas, in 1978. Before joining the firm early in its history, Jon worked with the accounting firm of KMPG Peat Marwick. Mr. Petersen’s experience covers real estate law, commercial lending, business law, corporate law, and construction law. 
Sarah Shadonix Phone: 214.265.7007
Practice Areas Experience Unanimous jury verdict on claim against transportation logistics company for wrongful taking of sales accounts Provided counsel to technology company in case involving misappropriation of trade secrets Handle cases for landlord involving tenant’s failure to pay rent Represented former restaurant franchisee in dispute involving purported violations of a non-compete Represented professional association of anesthesiologists in case involving breach of contract and fraudulent inducement Represented contractor in breach of contract cases
Education
Memberships 
Stephanie Urano Phone: 214.265.7007
Stephanie Urano is a member of the firm’s Transactions Practice section. She represents purchasers, sellers, developers, landlords and tenants in a wide variety of commercial real estate transactions. Her background includes acquisition, development and disposition of commercial real estate (including raw land, industrial and office properties), commercial leasing, and commercial lending. Ms. Urano is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, CREW Network, and CREW Dallas. She was the recipient of CREW Dallas Outstanding New Member of the Year Award in 2008. Stephanie received her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1999, where she was a Board of Barristers competitor and had an appointment to the Legal Research and Writing Board. She graduated summa cum laude from Lubbock Christian University in 1996 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts, where she was also on the Varsity women’s basketball team. 
Dan Walls Phone: 214.265.7007
Dan joined the firm’s Real Estate Section in 2010. Prior to that, Dan served as in-house counsel for a prominent commercial real estate development and investments company in Dallas, Texas, specializing in big-box retail development. In that role, he handled nearly every aspect of commercial real estate development—assembling, entitling and acquiring land; closing and re-working development loans; negotiating and closing sales transactions and operating agreements with various major national anchors; negotiating retail leases, including leases with various major national anchors; negotiating ground leases and build-to-suits; closing sales of developed properties to major national REITs and investors; and performing day-to-day asset management and investor relations functions. In 2008, Dan opened his own law practice to counsel and assist additional clients in various commercial real estate and general commercial transactions. Dan earned a B.A. at the University of Texas, Austin in 2000 and a J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2004, and is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Corporate Counsel and Real Estate, Probate and Trust Sections, and the Dallas Bar Association. |
