The Colony Business Lawyers

Entering her fourth decade as a practicing attorney, Gretchen Benolken has chosen to divide her professional time into a small handful of areas. First, she spends some time in the service of long time, loyal, existing clients with various needs. Second, the majority of her time is spent with new clients, providing legal services in two specific areas: a) the drafting of wills and trusts for the purpose of protection of assets, and b) representing clients in the probating of the estates of their deceased loved ones and guiding them step-by-step through this judicial process during what is a most...

Laura Starr joined the firm in 2014. Laura received her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, graduating with a B.S. in political science. Laura attended law school in Chicago, Illinois at DePaul University College of Law where she received a certificate in business law. During law school, Laura externed for the Honorable Michael F. Otto at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois and was a member of the International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team. She was also a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. As a member of Starr Law Firm, P.C. Laura focuses in the areas of...

Since 1994, Internet Lawyer Mike Young has been helping entrepreneurs protect, grow, buy, and sell ecommerce companies. Attorney Young focuses on business transactional law (no litigation).

Michael Presbitero joined Starr Law Firm, P.C in November 2017. His practice focuses primarily on business/commercial and real estate transactional matters for small to mid-size private businesses. Prior to joining Starr Law Firm, P.C., Michael was an attorney with two Dallas law firms and represented clients in a variety of litigation (in state and federal courts) and non-litigation matters across the state of Texas, with a focus in business, creditor rights and commercial matters. He has experience representing clients in matters involving a variety of legal areas: mergers and acquisitions, real estate, contracts, insurance, bankruptcy, nonprofit, business/commercial (such as choice...

Cohen Law Firm, PLLC is a specialty law firm excelling in all matters regarding dental law. Cohen Law offers a full spectrum of legal counsel in dental, dental transition services, dental practice sales, dental partnerships, dental business formation and structuring, and dental associateships.

• Dallas Office Chair. Professional liability litigation group, including the defense of architects, engineers, design professionals, lawyers, insurance brokers/agents, medical, and other miscellaneous professionals. • Counsel and represent attorneys on ethics and grievance ir. matters. • Represent defendants and corporate plaintiffs in complex construction and business litigation. • Defend product liability, premises liability, trucking, and auto insurance defense claims. • Outside legal consultant for OmniSure Consulting Group, LLP, a national risk management and loss control consulting group assisting national insurance carriers in the A&E and allied health professionals space. • Represent and consult with college-level coaches in contract negotiation, hiring & firing matters, internal compliance, corporate...

With almost twenty-five (25) years of experience as a dual-licensed Attorney and Certified Public Accountant, Darryl V. Pratt has practiced law in all areas of corporate and business law, non profit law, estate planning, probate, guardianship, asset protection planning, bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 13 and 11), real estate, and taxation. Mr. Pratt focuses his practice on business representation and estate planning-probate and is a regular speaker on a variety of business law, non profit law, estate planning, asset protection, tax, bankruptcy, real estate and taxation topics. Mr. Pratt is a member of the Collin County, Denton County and Dallas...

Austin assists Plaintiffs, Defendants, and transactional clients in a variety of matters and disputes. He is uniquely situated to handle opposing counsel no matter the sophistication or size of his adversary. Austin has significant trial experience and has been successful in obtaining favorable verdicts on behalf of his clients in a variety of matters. He utilizes his large law firm experience while drawing on his client-centered results-driven experiences gained at smaller law firms.

Austin prides himself on being accessible to his clients and is committed to pursuing results that exceed expectations. His intent with every person whom he represents is to...

CREDITORS’ RIGHTS/RESTRUCTURING: protected the interests of secured and unsecured creditors and maximized their recovery from the debtor's estate during the development of reorganization plans; structured and obtained creditor and court approval of plans of reorganization for businesses involved in the ownership and operation of real property, industrial, and service companies. BUSINESS LITIGATION: prosecuted and defended loans; secured transactions; contracts involving real estate, equipment, and commissions; placement and removal of materialman’s and mechanic's liens upon real property; government seizure of property; and commercial leases. BUSINESS: guided businesses and individuals regarding matters arising out of operations, review, negotiation, and drafting of leases,...

At Colbert Law Group PLLC, we understand that taking on legal challenges can be daunting, and we are here to help. Our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your rights and options. We promise to provide consistent commitment and dedicated assistance so that you can rest assured knowing that you are in good hands. At Colbert Law Group PLLC, we have been representing clients in Texas and Oklahoma since 1992. Our experienced team will work with you one-on-one to ensure that your rights are protected and that you...

Levi G. McCathern, II is widely recognized as one of the premier litigation lawyers in Texas. He is Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a double certification held by only 26 of the 87,000 attorneys in Texas.

Mr. McCathern specializes in catastrophic damage litigation and is frequently summoned to defend specialized, high-damage claims, including all types of commercial litigation. In addition, he has served as lead counsel for numerous jury trials and is regularly called upon to provide legal consultation to companies throughout the country.

Mr. McCathern serves as...

The Law Office of Jenna Zebrowski, PLLC, helps real estate professionals and smart business owners protect their interest and prevent problems in their leases, purchases and sales, and contracts and legal documents.

Welcome to Atrium Legal Group – Gateway to Comprehensive Estate Planning Focusing on specific types of law allows our attorneys to understand the finite details of both simple and complex situations, quickly and efficiently. They work constantly to keep up on the latest tax, estate, and business laws to ensure the plan you put together will continue to work for you, as things change. When you sit down with one of them, they will always: factor in the probate process, possible tax ramifications, and the validity of the pieces you’ve put in place. Then they help you understand how to minimize the...

Jack Ternan's practice includes extensive experience in commercial litigation, business litigation, arbitration, appeals and appellate, corporate litigation, real estate litigation, breach of contract, open government litigation, partnership / business divorce disputes, and other civil litigation. Mr. Ternan also has experience in advising businesses and individuals on how to resolve or settle disputes without litigation. Jack Ternan grew up in Plano, Texas, where he currently resides with his wife and sons. Prior to starting the Ternan Law Firm, Mr. Ternan was a partner at Bickel & Brewer, now known as Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. He has been...

Mr. Handy has handled thousands of cases in many areas of personal injury law, including automobile liability, product liability, construction negligence, railroad liability, medical malpractice, and other professional liability cases. MR. HANDY’S PRACTICE FOCUSES ON: Personal Injury Product Liability Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice Business and Commercial Litigation LAW BOARD CERTIFICATIONS Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization BORN Lincoln, Nebraska, December 29, 1950 ADMITTED TO BAR 1979, Texas and U.S. District Court – Northern and Western Districts of Texas. Selected to...

Albin Yates Balius Roach believes in aggressively preserving the truth for our clients while advancing the integrity of the profession. We also recognize that we cannot successfully cast a positive vision for our clients’ futures without possessing one for ourselves. The attorneys, paralegals and support staff of Albin Yates Balius Roach have chosen to commit their time and talent to the firm because we believe in the firm’s priorities and its future.

ABOUT BEN
Dallas-based attorney Benjamin Palatiere is a courtroom veteran with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses in civil disputes.


Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Texas State University, magna cum laude, 2005


Licensed/Admitted

Benjamin is admitted to the Texas Bar and licensed to practice in all district and county courts at law throughout the state.


Groups / Clubs

Dallas Young Lawyers Association
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Brandon leads the firm's Bankruptcy/Corporate Reorganization Practice, with a focus on corporate reorganization, restructuring, acquisitions and litigation. He has a wealth of experience representing entities in their Chapter 7 and 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings and creditors' committees. His practice also includes extensive general bankruptcy litigation. He has extensive experience managing complex bankruptcy restructuring cases, both on a national and international scale. He provides seamless service to his restructuring clients facing complicated insolvency issues and has experience across multiple industries, including automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, retail, and real estate. As Glast, Phillips & Murray, P.C.'s Bankruptcy/Corporate...

Although Ms. Davis specializes in construction litigation, she has a general practice which includes handling all problems from corporate inception to dissolution, partnership formation and disputes, real estate law, consumer litigation, contract disputes, and appeals.

Ty M. Sheaks is a partner with McCathern and is the go to “fixer” for McCathern’s most difficult and high-exposure litigation matters. He has a unique and diverse background counseling business partners in a variety of civil and commercial litigation matters on a national level. Prior to joining McCathern in 2013, Mr. Sheaks served as national trial counsel for a multi-national corporation handling all aspects of defending toxic tort and product liability claims in state and federal courts nationwide.

Mr. Sheaks heads up McCathern’s Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality Section, but has extensive experience and a successful track record in...

In over 20 years of experience securing, prosecuting and asserting his clients’ intellectual property rights, Ken’s career has included work with a wide variety of intellectual property assets, including utility patents, copyrights, design patents, trade and service marks and trade secrets across a broad range of technologies.

John has been representing businesses and business people in the North Texas area for more than thirty years. He has tried numerous cases at various levels of the judicial system, including federal district court and state district court. He has presented appeals to the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and ten of the fourteen intermediate courts of appeal in Texas. He has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association and JAMS, Inc. In addition to his trial practice, John is a trained mediator and summary jury trial...

Jennette E. DePonte is a Partner at the McCathern office in Frisco, Texas. Mrs. DePonte has an extensive litigation and trial background, having tried numerous cases in state and federal courts in Texas. Her practice focuses on litigation involving employer-employee relations. Specifically, she has litigated tort and non-subscriber claims, employment-related torts, ERISA claims, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour claims and collective actions, and civil rights claims under state and federal law.

Mrs. DePonte has defended national and regional employers in a wide range of employment-related issues, represented employers before numerous federal and state agencies, and handled trials and...

In 2009, Drew Christman founded a law firm where he practiced law with his partners for nine years. In 2018, he parted ways with his then partners and formed Christman Attorneys, PLLC, where he continued to provide clients with outstanding legal representation in a variety of practice areas. He was voted “Best Business Attorney” in Denton County in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Most recently, Christman Attorneys merged with another firm and is now Christman, Ramsey & Foster PC. The firm offers legal services in the practice areas of Business/Corporate, Family Law, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate, and Title...