ATTORNEYS

Michelle Daniel

Michelle Daniel

Senior Associate

EMAIL

mdaniel@cobbmartinez.com

TEL

214-220-5238

FAX

214-220-5299

BIOGRAPHY

Michelle Daniel maintains a practice primarily devoted to appellate law and trial support, with a focus on the successful management of complex motions and briefings. Her varied background as an appellate lawyer, litigator, and former in-house counsel for a Dallas-based Fortune 500 company provides a wealth of experience with which to support her clients. 

Known for outstanding research, writing and advocacy skills, Michelle’s abilities to analyze complex legal issues and present them in a cogent and persuasive fashion have led to securing appellate rulings and dispositive motions on a number of complex legal questions. In addition, Michelle’s training in mediation and collaborative law allows her to assist clients in obtaining settlements when appropriate.  

Biography

Michelle Daniel maintains a practice primarily devoted to appellate law and trial support, with a focus on the successful management of complex motions and briefings. Her varied background as an appellate lawyer, litigator, and former in-house counsel for a Dallas-based Fortune 500 company provides a wealth of experience with which to support her clients. 

Known for outstanding research, writing and advocacy skills, Michelle’s abilities to analyze complex legal issues and present them in a cogent and persuasive fashion have led to securing appellate rulings and dispositive motions on a number of complex legal questions. In addition, Michelle’s training in mediation and collaborative law allows her to assist clients in obtaining settlements when appropriate.  

Practice Areas

Appellate

Education

  • Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, J.D. 1986
    • Hatton W. Sumners Scholar
    • Assistant Managing Editor, Journal of Air Law & Commerce
  • Texas Christian University, BA in Political Science and English, 1983
    • summa cum laude
    • Chancellor’s Scholar
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Phi Beta Kappa Award for Outstanding Senior in the Liberal Arts

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas, 1986
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • Northern District of Texas

Experience

Michelle’s work has resulted in the successful resolution of cases involving cutting-edge legal issues before the Courts of Appeals for the State of Texas, as well as state and federal district courts in Texas. 

A few of Michelle’s past accomplishments include: 

 

Business & Commercial 

  • Drafted successful brief securing a $5.5M judgment on behalf of an investment banking firm in Commerce Street Capital, LLC v. Durant Bancorp, No. 05-19-00343-CV, 2020 WL 7585837 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Dec. 22, 2020, pet. denied). 
  • Successfully briefed and argued a motion to dismiss a $12M indemnification claim  in Magnuson v. Armanino, LLP , No. DC-19-02495, in the 162nd Civil District Court in Dallas. 

 

Patent Law 

  • Served as second chair in 3rd Eye Surveillance, LLC v. United States, No. 15-501C,  a major patent infringement case in the Court of Federal Claims. Drafted and argued motions for summary judgment and numerous other discovery motions. 

 

Employment Law 

  • Drafted briefing successfully defending on appeal the trial court’s denial of a plea to the jurisdiction in a nationally-recognized whistleblower case, City of Fort Worth v. Fitzgerald, No. 05-20-00112-CV, 2021 WL 486396 (Tex. App. –Dallas Feb. 10, 2021, pet. denied).  
  • Drafted brief successfully defeating a motion for summary judgment before federal Judge Mark Pittman in the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth, in a companion whistleblower case, Ronald Burke v. City of Fort Worth, No. 4:19-cv-00744-P, 2021 WL 347473 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 2, 2021)(slip. op.) 

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas 
  • Dallas Bar Association, Appellate and Collaborative Law Sections 
  • The Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit 
  • The 1878 Savoy Sanctuary Preservation Society, Board of Directors   
  • St. Rita Catholic School, Fr. Barras Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, 2008 
  • St. Rita Catholic Community, Lux Mundi Choir,   
  • St. Rita Catholic Community, Founder, Fourth Friday Gospel Jam  
  • The Southwest Bluegrass Club