My role as a counselor for clients is just as important as being a strong advocate in the courtroom. I’m always straightforward about the pros and cons of litigation and the likelihood of success if we take a case all the way to trial. I am a much more effective advocate in the courtroom when my client is well-advised and on board with a shared vision on the best way to resolve the case.
David Leonard leverages his real-world trial experience to help clients achieve successful outcomes in a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters before courts all over Texas and in arbitration. He takes the lead through every phase of the dispute resolution process, from internal investigations and pre-suit negotiations, to fact and expert discovery, trial, and appeal.
David brings first-chair experience handling a variety of evidentiary and non-evidentiary hearings in hearings and arbitrations, including temporary restraining order hearings and injunction hearings. He is an aggressive advocate for his clients in the courtroom and a practical negotiator when their interests are better served with a favorable compromise.
His clients range from high-net-worth individuals to multi-national corporations across many industries, with an emphasis on disputes in the oil and gas and commercial real estate industries. David also has substantial experience handling partnership disputes and disputes under non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements.
David’s oil and gas practice focuses on representation of E&P companies in disputes under contracts such as joint operating agreements, oil and gas leases, gas gathering and processing agreements, and vendor agreements.
His real estate practice focuses on representation of developers (retail, medical, industrial, and office) in disputes under contracts such as leases, easement agreements, restrictive covenants, access agreements, option agreements, and broker agreements.
In 2023, David was recognized as a “Top 100” Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company). He has maintained the Rising Star designation for nine years.
He is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Texas and New Mexico.