Dallas Trial, Employment & FINRA Arbitration Lawyers

Trusted

IMcP earns the trust of our clients. Those clients include entrepreneurs and executives in partnership or business disputes, financial advisors in a FINRA arbitration or compliance investigation, companies and employees involved in noncompete, trade secrets, and contract matters, and employees negotiating a severance, change in control, or other workplace disputes.

IMcP takes pride in relying principally on referrals for new clients. Because of good results and a good reputation, IMcP is blessed with a “word of mouth” pipeline of new clients from existing and former clients. We are very proud that our former clients refer us to their friends, family, and colleagues.

Those referrals are often due to IMcP’s focus on strategy for each client. Our clients trust us to consider their specific goals from the very beginning – and work with a focused strategy. As a result, IMcP often acts as a trusted counselor to clients on non-litigation issues, including how to avoid litigation, how to favorably negotiate a contract, and preparing “behind the scenes” talking points for informal negotiations in a new or ending business venture.

Indeed, clients entrust IMcP with the most pressing and sensitive legal issues from “bet the company” litigation to highly emotional partnership divorces. IMcP treats this obligation with the seriousness that it deserves and demands.

Tested

Iron sharpens iron. Decades of experience finely sharpened IMcP’s skills. Practice helps, but there is no substitute for “real stakes” battles to test a trial lawyer’s abilities when it counts the most. IMcP’s experience runs the gamut from the pre-suit demands/negotiations to the discovery portion (the “meat”) of a case to the conclusion. That conclusion can mean picking juries in state and federal courts; first-chairing through verdict; trying arbitrations to final award in a multitude of forums (including FINRA, AAA, and JAMS); and presenting oral arguments to appellate panels.

IMcP has extensive experience regarding other litigation issues, such as TROs; injunctions; petitions for pre-suit depositions (i.e., Rule 202); Peace Bonds; and administrative proceedings (such as EEOC, TWC, NLRB).

While very important, IMcP’s lawyers are “real world” tested beyond the courtroom as well, including high-stakes pre-suit mediations and negotiations, which often involve very sensitive facts. Sometimes the best outcome for high profile disputes, which would involve significant media attention and reputational risk if the dispute proceeded to a public lawsuit, is to negotiate a quiet and confidential pre-suit settlement. IMcP is experienced in achieving their client’s goals in sensitive and high profile matters.

For IMcP’s lawyers, the high-stakes pressure in protecting the rights of their clients is a privilege and honor.

Respected

While IMcP is referred new clients by old clients, IMcP is also referred by other lawyers in the same practice areas, many of whom are ex-adversaries and even sometimes current adversaries. Many times, IMcP is brought in by other lawyers to help with the trial phase of litigation after settlement attempts fail.

Peers also routinely recognize IMcP’s lawyers for their skills and reputations in the legal community.

Texas Monthly named Joshua Iacuone a Super Lawyer every year he’s been eligible, and named him a Top 100 Rising Stars in Texas in 2017. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certified Joshua Iacuone in Labor & Employment law in 2013. FINRA, the organization that regulates financial advisors, named Joshua Iacuone an arbitrator in 2017.

Multiple times, D Magazine recognized Greg McAllister among the Best Lawyers in Dallas. Texas Monthly named Greg McAllister as a Super Lawyer in Texas and previously on the Top 100 Rising Stars in Texas. He was also named in the Best Lawyers in America. Greg McAllister is often asked to speak on legal issues, including non-compete, non-solicit, discrimination, change in control, executive compensation, and other matters.

Chase Potter has been named a Texas “Rising Star” by Texas Monthly from 2022 to 2024. Chase was also recognized by D Magazine in its Best Lawyers Under 40 in 2020 and 2021.

About The Firm’s Representation Of Clients

Some common questions from potential clients:

• What type of cases do you handle? IMcP practices in most areas of civil litigation, including, partnership disputes, executive compensation, commercial and contract disputes, FINRA and advisor disputes (including 8210 issues and U4 or U5 reporting), arbitrations, employment disputes (such as discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower actions), non-compete and non-solicitation fights, trade secret claims, defamation and slander, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder derivative claims, and more.
• What type of fee arrangements do you offer? Depending on your specific situation, and if a representation agreement is executed, IMcP offers hourly, contingency, hybrid (a mix of lower hourly rate and lower contingency percentage), and flat fee arrangements.
• When will you take cases on contingency? Under the right facts and circumstances, IMcP will take cases on contingency, or on a hybrid (mix of a lower hourly rate and lower contingency percentage) arrangement. Fill out the intake form by clicking on the Contact Us button.
• How do I know if you can help me or if my case is a good fit? Fill out the intake form by clicking on the Contact Us button.
• OK, I filled-out the intake form, now what? An IMcP lawyer will contact you with an initial answer on whether there is a good fit. If so, then IMcP will set-up a time for a call or meeting. Unfortunately, IMcP cannot accept all clients who seek representation, which should not be taken as a judgment on the merits of your case/issue. An attorney-client relationship will not be created between you and IMcP or any attorney at IMcP unless and until a representation agreement is fully signed.
• I just need an Employment Agreement, Severance Agreement, or Partnership Agreement reviewed, so can I just be charged one fee for that? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends upon the complexity of the agreement and how extensive of a review/editing you want.
• I’ve been offered a settlement or severance that I believe is too low, do I have any options? There are options for any agreement. The primary issue is usually whether you have claims being released that are more valuable than the amount offered. Contact us and fill out the intake form.

Practice Areas

Securities, FINRA, and Brokers

If a Broker/Financial Advisor has a dispute with a client or firm, then that dispute will almost certainly end up being resolved in a FINRA arbitration or mediation. Similarly, most regulatory issues will be resolved by a FINRA investigation through a FINRA 8210 process and subsequent On the Record (OTR). In either instance, whether on the arbitration or regulatory side, a Broker/Financial Advisor must take the process very seriously, and seek expertise in traveling this perilous path.

Employment Disputes and Negotiations

IMcP protects your interest at every cycle of the employment relationship. Executives too often “just want to get started” with their new teams, and thus must be strategic about negotiating the terms of employment. During employment or at the end of the employment relationship, which can often be acrimonious, IMcP can help protect your rights. Having a law firm like IMcP with experience in negotiating and “going to bat” for the executive and employee on the front-end can save a whole lot of heartache, time, and frustration on the backend.

Sexual Harassment

For decades now, both federal and state (and sometimes even local) laws prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace. But the #metoo movement, combined with important newer laws (like the Speak Out Act and the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act), put the issue front and center. Finally, women are being empowered to speak out and push back at overt, and more often subtle, sexual harassment. You likely have protections under the law if a coworker or supervisor makes unwanted and inappropriate sexual advances. IMcP can evaluate and, if appropriate and applicable, take actions to assert your rights under these anti-sexual harassment laws.

Severance

Often with a layoff, RIF, or termination, your employer will offer a severance agreement with a severance payment attached. This is not “free” money. Almost always, the employer is getting a one-sided release of any and all claims you have against the employer, whether known or unknown. You should properly evaluate the true value of any claims you have and any leverage to ensure a fair severance payment and other favorable severance terms before executing the agreement and releasing your valuable rights and claims.

Noncompete and Trade Secrets

For employees and executives, the increase of mandatory noncompete agreements is not a welcome development. Noncompete agreements can not only hamper your ability to join a new employer, but even to “go out on your own” and start a new business. Additionally, a noncompete agreement can depress your ability to negotiate a salary increase as your employer knows you have limited options to leave. IMcP can help you evaluate and negotiate a noncompete agreement on the front-end, as well as strategies to leave while minimizing the risk of litigation. If your employer is threatening or seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) or injunction against you, then you should immediately seek legal help. IMcP has extensive experience in defending against temporary restraining orders (TROs) and injunctions on behalf of employees and executives.

Partnership Disputes

Unlike a big corporation, partnerships are often as familiar and emotional as a marriage. Similar to a marriage, a partnership dispute can be as acrimonious as a divorce. Partnership disputes usually require different skills than a run-of-the-mill business dispute because of the high emotions involved. It’s not always about the dollars and cents, but often non-monetary considerations are the biggest impediments to resolution. IMcP’s lawyers have years of experience in navigating such highly-charged disputes.

Whistleblower Actions

As the saying goes: “If you see something, say something.” But often doing the right thing and “saying something” results in the employer or other aggrieved party retaliating against you. Under numerous federal and state statutes, and under many circumstances, you have the right to “blow the whistle” on illegal, discriminatory, or other unethical behavior. In many instances you can recover monies for uncovering financial wrongdoing (like a SEC, qui tam, or Sarbanes-Oxley action), and these statutes generally will offer some protection from you being retaliated against for doing the right thing. Fill out IMcP’s intake form by clicking the “Contact Us” button and tell us about your case.

Business Disputes

No one signs a contract expecting one side to breach. Unfortunately, sometimes there is no choice but to litigate contract and business disputes. Whether it’s a purchase agreement, shareholder agreement, vendor agreement, or employment agreement, IMcP can help you fight for your contractual rights.

Arbitration

Arbitration is more and more common. Sometimes overlooked, an arbitration provision is often buried in a contract. While ostensibly more efficient than litigating in court, often the fees associated with arbitration can be substantial. It is important to know your rights in arbitration, and who must pay the arbitrator and forum fees. The most important difference between arbitration and court is in the selection of the arbitrator, who will act as not only the judge (in interpreting the law) but also the jury (in finding the facts). Accordingly, carefully selecting the right arbitrator for your case is crucial. IMcP partner Joshua Iacuone is a FINRA licensed arbitrator with a unique perspective of not only trying cases in arbitration but evaluating them through the eyes of an arbitrator. Let IMcP help you by leaning on its lawyers’ years of experience in arbitrating all types of claims.