If you ask Attorney Larry Fowler what type of cases he handles, he’ll describe his work representing individuals, businesses, developers, and government entities in a wide variety of land use and commercial real estate issues. He tackles water and land easement disputes, title issues, as well as eminent domain and condemnation, where land valuation issues often arise, in Tarrant County and well beyond.
“With commercial real estate projects, developers often encounter zoning and platting issues, and we’re one of the few area law firms that handle these,” says Larry. With years of experience not only in business litigation, but also as a Planning & Zone Board Commissioner, attending City Council meetings, and Arlington Chamber of Commerce service, he is ready to take on your commercial real estate issues.
We are pleased to announce that attorneys Paul Johnson and Larry Fowler have joined our team, along with their long-time paralegals, Timi Hazle and Sharon Brown. Having worked together in the legal field for over 30 years, this dynamic group brings a depth of experience to our firm, thereby enabling us to expand our legal services.
Paul Johnson is a seasoned business and transactional lawyer, Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Commercial Real Estate Law and Residential Real Estate Law. With a focus on real estate development, mergers and acquisitions, startups, and general company representation, he also counsels emerging companies experiencing the challenges of a growing business.
Larry Fowler has extensive knowledge in the areas of commercial and real estate litigation. His cases typically involve helping clients resolve issues related to governmental regulations, contract lease interpretation, lender/borrower disputes, zoning and land use matters, landlord/tenant issues, condemnation, and enforcement of agreements. He has represented clients in numerous state and federal courts and is licensed to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. Paul, Larry, Timi, and Sharon work in our 311 W. Abram Street location in downtown Arlington, one block west of our main office.
Kelly’s presentation, “10 Ways to Avoid a Lawsuit (or Win it Before it Happens) – A Business Trial Lawyer’s Perspective” offers information and insights into preventing legal issues before they can even arise. He draws on his experience in business formation and disputes, oil & gas, serious personal injury, family law, and appeals. These tips can apply not only to individuals, but small and large business owners, and public and private entities.
When it comes to contracts, a handshake is nice, but probably not enough. It’s always a good idea to memorialize the terms of your agreement to writing, whether it’s a formal contract or even a written email. Memories fade, the entities involved may change ownership, and the person you know and trust that you worked with on the deal may retire, move or even pass away. In some cases, such as a real estate transaction, a written contract is required to be enforceable. Although it’s possible to find a form contract online, it may not include all the nuances that you really should cover to protect your interests. Having an attorney review or even draft your agreement could prevent misunderstandings or even a lawsuit.
Collecting fees and invoices for services rendered is not always as simple as we’d like. The more time that passes from the time the service is provided, the harder it can be to collect. To avoid misunderstanding and delay, have a written, clear collections policy in place and follow it consistently to avoid having to hire an attorney to collect a stale debt.
In the area of employment, it’s prudent to determine the nature of the employment right from the start. An independent contractor is not an employee, and more likely is hired for a project with a finite time frame and scope. However, if someone is working part-time, but on a regular schedule and you control the details of how they do their duties, chances are they should be categorized as a part-time employee. This is important for a number of reasons, including whether you should be paying payroll taxes on them, or whether they are handling their own tax filing as an independent contractor.
Although Texas is an “at will” state, meaning an employee can be terminated or resign “at will”, there are still things to consider. You aren’t permitted to fire someone for an illegal reason, such as based on their race, gender, or age, as examples. It’s always wise, if an employee isn’t performing up to expectations, to provide feedback and counseling, and write out a performance improvement place so that everyone is clear on expectations. That way, if you do need to part ways, it doesn’t come as a total surprise. With some issues, if you’d just not sure how to proceed or you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, it’s never a bad idea to consult with an attorney to make sure you’re on track. One hour of counseling or planning with a lawyer you trust may ultimately help you prevent a long and expensive lawsuit down the road.
For more information feel free to contact Kelly at 817-548-1000.
Doug Hafer, with Curnutt & Hafer, LLP, and Vicki Hafer, with Vicki Hafer Family Law, have been elected to the Texas Bar Foundation. Foundation nominees are selected based on their outstanding professional achievements and their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system throughout the state of Texas. Election is a mark of distinction and recognition of their contributions to the legal profession.
Selection as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation is restricted to members of the State bar of Texas. Each year one-third of one percent of State Bar members are invited to become Fellows. Once nominees are selected, they must be elected by the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. Membership has grown from an initial 255 Charter Members in 1965 to more than 9,500 Fellows throughout Texas today.
The Texas Bar Foundation is the largest charitably funded bar foundation in the country. Founded in 1965 by lawyers determined to assist the public and improve the profession of law, the Texas Bar Foundation has maintained its mission of using the financial contributions of its membership to build a strong justice system for all Texans. To date, the Texas Bar Foundation has distributed more than $18 million throughout Texas to assist nonprofit organizations with a wide range of justice-related programs and services. For more information, contact the Texas Bar Foundation at www.txbf.org
Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P. is pleased to welcome back Logan W. Simmons as our associate. Simmons was previously a member of our team from 2007-2015. His areas of focus include business litigation, oil and gas disputes, franchise disputes and personal injury cases.
From 2015-2017, Simmons served as staff attorney to Justice Sue Walker in the Second District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, Texas. His efforts in representative matters have resulted in favorable judgments for his clients, including a mid-six figure judgment for an estate in a breach of fiduciary duty action and assisting franchisors in litigation against current and former franchisees.
Two-time winner of the Texas Bar Journal annual short story contest, Simmons’ articles include Good News, Sunshine (2016, first place) and Johnny Flash (2017, second place).
Simmons received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. He served as the Associate Editor for the Texas Review of Law and Politics and was one of only seven recipients of the Townes-Rice Scholarship. Named the Robert Miller Scholar, Simmons also holds a B.S. in Political Science from Baylor University.
About Curnutt & Hafer, L.L.P.
The team at Curnutt & Hafer provides high-quality representation focused on bottom line results. A recognized business trial practice and listed as a “Go To” litigation firm in the Fortune 500 list of attorneys, they have the know-how and experience to solve every legal problem, whether in the boardroom, the field or the courtroom. Areas of practice include commercial litigation, will disputes and probate litigation, oil and gas litigation, franchising, insurance coverage and bad faith, and injury and death cases. Visit CurnuttHafer.com to learn more.
