DT counsels founders, owners, and investors through the full corporate lifecycle. They help clients plan and execute acquisitions, capital raises, partnerships, and other strategic moves; negotiate the contracts that run the business; and keep governance, compliance, and investor relations in good order. Working alongside their trial lawyers, they surface issues early, build practical risk controls, and preserve leverage if a dispute develops. The practice areas below reflect that integrated approach.

Mergers & Acquisitions

DT steers buyers, sellers, and private-equity sponsors through each stage of a transaction—from letter of intent and diligence through closing and post-close integration. They focus diligence on value drivers, structure tax-efficient terms, and negotiate purchase agreements and transition arrangements that hold up under scrutiny. When needed, DT coordinates financing, third-party and regulatory approvals, representations-and-warranties insurance, and closing mechanics to reduce post-closing friction.

Capital Raises & Securities Compliance

DT advises issuers and investors on private offerings from seed through growth, including SAFEs, convertible notes, and preferred equity. They structure terms, prepare offering and subscription materials and investor-rights documents, and manage federal and state securities compliance and filings. DT also helps keep the cap table and equity plans clean and advise on ongoing compliance between rounds and through an eventual exit.

Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances

DT structures equity and contractual partnerships to balance control, economics, intellectual property, and exit rights. That starts with clear definitions of contributions and a workable governance framework, then extends to capital commitments and calls, dilution and preemptive rights, distributions, and performance milestones. They address transfer restrictions (including rights of first refusal or first offer and change-of-control protections), protect technology and brands through ownership and licensing terms, and build practical deadlock and dispute mechanisms while accounting for regulatory and antitrust considerations.

Commercial Contracts

DT drafts and negotiates the agreements that run the business- master services agreements and statements of work, supply and distribution arrangements, software licensing and cloud services, and manufacturing, services, and procurement contracts. They develop practical templates and playbooks, standardize fallback positions, and streamline internal review. DT aligns risk allocation with operations, including indemnities, limits of liability, warranties, remedies, and service-level commitments, and they keep positions consistent across customers, vendors, and partners.

Fund Formation & Investor Relations

DT advises sponsors on formation of venture, private-equity, and specialty funds, including side letters and ongoing compliance. They design fund structures and governance, prepare governing and offering documents, and address Investment Advisers Act and Employee Retirement Income Security Act considerations.DT also structures sponsor economics and distribution mechanics, document co-investment and parallel vehicles, and manage investor onboarding and closings.

Corporate Governance

DT advises boards, managers, and owners on fiduciary duties, conflicts, committees, and information rights. They align governing documents with how decisions are actually made, establish delegation frameworks, and implement practical policies and procedures for conflict management and oversight. They also keep the record clean, including minutes, written consents, resolutions, and related documentation, so governance supports the business rather than slowing it down.

Estate & Succession Planning

DT helps closely held businesses plan ownership and management transitions with minimal disruption. They align governance and economics with the client’s objectives, prepare buy-sell and shareholder or operating agreements, and coordinate trust and tax planning with outside advisors. DT also implements transfer restrictions, valuation methods, liquidity planning, and leadership transition mechanics so control and cash flow pass smoothly.

Pre-litigation Risk Management

DT helps clients assess issues early and build leverage before disputes harden into litigation. That includes reviewing key contracts and communications, preserving evidence, evaluating coverage and tender strategy, and planning demand and response positions with an eye toward efficient resolution. When a dispute can’t be resolved, the Business Section aims to enter formal proceedings prepared and ahead.

Outside General Counsel

DT serves as day-to-day counsel for growth and middle-market companies, providing practical support across contracts, governance, compliance, and operational issues. They help standardize templates and review processes, coordinate specialists when needed, and keep board and shareholder actions on track. The goal is consistent legal coverage that matches the pace of the business.

Unclaimed Property

DT assists with reclaiming unclaimed property by navigating the complex process of recovering clients’ unclaimed assets and funds held by the state’s unclaimed property division. Unclaimed property refers to assets or funds that have been abandoned or forgotten by their rightful owners and are then turned over to the custody of a government authority or other holding entity. In Texas, this government authority is the Comptroller.

DT’s services in this area include:

Identification & Research: DT researches and investigates any unclaimed property that clients’ may be entitled to. Unclaimed property can take the form of forgotten or lost bank accounts, mineral royalties, life insurance payouts, retirement accounts, tax refunds, corporate assets, and real estate properties.

Documentation & Verification: Once potential unclaimed property is identified, DT assists with gathering the necessary documentation and evidence to prove ownership or entitlement to the assets.

Claim Filing & Representation: DT guides clients through the process of filing a claim while communicating with the unclaimed property examiners on the documentation required.

Troubleshooting: Due to DT’s long track record in assisting with claims, DT is well-positioned to troubleshoot any delays or obstacles that may prevent a successful claim.

Litigation & Appeals: If a claim is wrongfully denied, DT is prepared to represent clients in litigation proceedings. DT’s litigators will diligently advocate and pursue the appropriate legal remedies to seek a favorable outcome.

DT counsels founders, owners, and investors through the full corporate lifecycle. They help clients plan and execute acquisitions, capital raises, partnerships, and other strategic moves; negotiate the contracts that run the business; and keep governance, compliance, and investor relations in good order. Working alongside their trial lawyers, they surface issues early, build practical risk controls, and preserve leverage if a dispute develops. The practice areas below reflect that integrated approach.

Mergers & Acquisitions

DT steers buyers, sellers, and private-equity sponsors through each stage of a transaction—from letter of intent and diligence through closing and post-close integration. They focus diligence on value drivers, structure tax-efficient terms, and negotiate purchase agreements and transition arrangements that hold up under scrutiny. When needed, DT coordinates financing, third-party and regulatory approvals, representations-and-warranties insurance, and closing mechanics to reduce post-closing friction.

Capital Raises & Securities Compliance

DT advises issuers and investors on private offerings from seed through growth, including SAFEs, convertible notes, and preferred equity. They structure terms, prepare offering and subscription materials and investor-rights documents, and manage federal and state securities compliance and filings. DT also helps keep the cap table and equity plans clean and advise on ongoing compliance between rounds and through an eventual exit.

Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances

DT structures equity and contractual partnerships to balance control, economics, intellectual property, and exit rights. That starts with clear definitions of contributions and a workable governance framework, then extends to capital commitments and calls, dilution and preemptive rights, distributions, and performance milestones. They address transfer restrictions (including rights of first refusal or first offer and change-of-control protections), protect technology and brands through ownership and licensing terms, and build practical deadlock and dispute mechanisms while accounting for regulatory and antitrust considerations.

Commercial Contracts

DT drafts and negotiates the agreements that run the business- master services agreements and statements of work, supply and distribution arrangements, software licensing and cloud services, and manufacturing, services, and procurement contracts. They develop practical templates and playbooks, standardize fallback positions, and streamline internal review. DT aligns risk allocation with operations, including indemnities, limits of liability, warranties, remedies, and service-level commitments, and they keep positions consistent across customers, vendors, and partners.

Fund Formation & Investor Relations

DT advises sponsors on formation of venture, private-equity, and specialty funds, including side letters and ongoing compliance. They design fund structures and governance, prepare governing and offering documents, and address Investment Advisers Act and Employee Retirement Income Security Act considerations.DT also structures sponsor economics and distribution mechanics, document co-investment and parallel vehicles, and manage investor onboarding and closings.

Corporate Governance

DT advises boards, managers, and owners on fiduciary duties, conflicts, committees, and information rights. They align governing documents with how decisions are actually made, establish delegation frameworks, and implement practical policies and procedures for conflict management and oversight. They also keep the record clean, including minutes, written consents, resolutions, and related documentation, so governance supports the business rather than slowing it down.

Estate & Succession Planning

DT helps closely held businesses plan ownership and management transitions with minimal disruption. They align governance and economics with the client’s objectives, prepare buy-sell and shareholder or operating agreements, and coordinate trust and tax planning with outside advisors. DT also implements transfer restrictions, valuation methods, liquidity planning, and leadership transition mechanics so control and cash flow pass smoothly.

Pre-litigation Risk Management

DT helps clients assess issues early and build leverage before disputes harden into litigation. That includes reviewing key contracts and communications, preserving evidence, evaluating coverage and tender strategy, and planning demand and response positions with an eye toward efficient resolution. When a dispute can’t be resolved, the Business Section aims to enter formal proceedings prepared and ahead.

Outside General Counsel

DT serves as day-to-day counsel for growth and middle-market companies, providing practical support across contracts, governance, compliance, and operational issues. They help standardize templates and review processes, coordinate specialists when needed, and keep board and shareholder actions on track. The goal is consistent legal coverage that matches the pace of the business.

Unclaimed Property

DT assists with reclaiming unclaimed property by navigating the complex process of recovering clients’ unclaimed assets and funds held by the state’s unclaimed property division. Unclaimed property refers to assets or funds that have been abandoned or forgotten by their rightful owners and are then turned over to the custody of a government authority or other holding entity. In Texas, this government authority is the Comptroller. DT’s services in this area include: Identification & Research: DT researches and investigates any unclaimed property that clients’ may be entitled to. Unclaimed property can take the form of forgotten or lost bank accounts, mineral royalties, life insurance payouts, retirement accounts, tax refunds, corporate assets, and real estate properties. Documentation & Verification: Once potential unclaimed property is identified, DT assists with gathering the necessary documentation and evidence to prove ownership or entitlement to the assets. Claim Filing & Representation: DT guides clients through the process of filing a claim while communicating with the unclaimed property examiners on the documentation required. Troubleshooting: Due to DT’s long track record in assisting with claims, DT is well-positioned to troubleshoot any delays or obstacles that may prevent a successful claim. Litigation & Appeals: If a claim is wrongfully denied, DT is prepared to represent clients in litigation proceedings. DT’s litigators will diligently advocate and pursue the appropriate legal remedies to seek a favorable outcome.

Attorneys

Douglas Daniels
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