Blending an enviable record of courtroom and boardroom success with a dedication to the needs of corporate and individual clients, it comes as no surprise that partners Dawn Estes, Abby Ewing and Carol Payne have again earned a place on Best Lawyers in Dallas list. 

Dawn and Carol were honored for their excellence in business/commercial litigation, and Abby was selected among North Texas’ top family lawyers by D Magazine, which uses peer nominations to honor lawyers who win praise for “representing the people and institutions of Dallas with mastery and drive.” 

While that’s D Magazine’s description of these attorneys, we prefer the accolades they have received from a far more important constituency – the clients seeking legal guidance to navigate some of the most difficult times of their lives. These clients laud Dawn, Abby and Carol for being “conscientious and compassionate” while winning “my case with their head held high” and “giving me peace of mind.” Truly, these attorneys possess “the right balance of grace, experience, creativity, know-how and determination.”  

As an advocate and arbitrator, Dawn has been recognized among the state’s best by Legal 500, Texas Super Lawyers, Lawdragon and The Best Lawyers in America, which twice ranked her as Dallas-Fort Worth Lawyer of the Year for arbitration work. She practices in state and federal courts and was selected by corporate chief legal officers as a BTI Client Service All-Star for her collaborative skills.  

Abby’s background in commercial litigation stands her in good stead in the complicated field of family law, which can include emotionally charged divorce, property division, child support and custody cases and complex matters involving international child abductions. She also has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers and Lawdragon. 

Carol’s broad range of litigation and arbitration experience – from contract claims to lender/borrower conflicts, and fraud to other business torts – has made her an invaluable legal partner for businesses and individuals. Her work has earned honors from Legal 500, Texas Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon, as well as being recognized as The Best Lawyers in America’s Lawyer of the Year in Dallas-Fort Worth for legal malpractice law and ethics and professional responsibility law.