General Information
Year founded:
1978
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
Whitaker Chalk attorneys and counselors have been serving clients in domestic and international transactions and civil disputes since 1978. We are recognized statewide and nationally for our accomplishments while staying client-focused and dedicated to their success and endeavors. You will find many of our attorneys have been CEOs, CFOs, Corporate Counsels and business owners. We see the big picture, leverage our collective experience, and collaborate with our clients to meet their business needs.
We serve our clients in a wide variety of areas including Business & Corporate matters, Intellectual Property, Real Estate and Construction, Probate, Securities, Tax and Litigation. We provide our clients with understanding and empathy for the realities of doing business, making payrolls and resolving disputes in complex and competitive environments. Our clients, like our attorneys, tend to be individualistic and entrepreneurial.
We serve our clients in a wide variety of areas including Business & Corporate matters, Intellectual Property, Real Estate and Construction, Probate, Securities, Tax and Litigation. We provide our clients with understanding and empathy for the realities of doing business, making payrolls and resolving disputes in complex and competitive environments. Our clients, like our attorneys, tend to be individualistic and entrepreneurial.
Rankings
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC is metro ranked in 11 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsMetro Rankings
Dallas/Fort Worth
Tier 1 for Arbitration
Tier 1 for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Tier 1 for Litigation - Patent
Tier 1 for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Tier 1 for Mediation
Highlighted Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Arbitration
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz has consistently excellent attorneys, particularly in arbitration and litigation. The breadth of knowledge of arbitration law in this firm, particularly because of John Allen Chalk, Sr.'s vast experience as an arbitrator, is impressive. These attorneys understand the importance of being cost-effective and focusing on the substance of a dispute, not just litigating extraneous issues in hopes of wearing the other side down. Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz are true trial lawyers.
Arbitration
Mr. Chalk at Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz is a stellar arbitrator in cases in many substantive areas, no matter the complexity. Rarely is an arbitrator as consistently responsive and accessible to the parties and fellow arbitrators as is Mr. Chalk, or as consistently well-prepared and carefully analytical as is he. I have served with him in multiple cases of varying complexity, and his insights are consistently beneficial to the panel and to the parties' understanding of the process.
Melinda Jayson
– Individual Attorney
Elder Law
I have dealt with estate planning and probate attorneys over my thirty-six year legal career. I know and practice with the board certified attorneys at Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz. They have been responsive, civil, and good advocates for their clients in estate litigation matters.
Arbitration
I have engaged Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz multiple times since 1995 for a range of commercial and litigation matters. They provide superior counsel; grounded in a solid understanding of the business economics and strategy, and coupled with expert legal knowledge and strategy formulation and execution. The consistency of delivered results is driven by a commitment to operational effectiveness and excellence.
Walter Cabe, Ph.d.
– Episcopal Church Building Fund
Litigation - Patent
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz provides practical, extreme support -- available whenever needed, 24/7.
Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Mike at Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz is a highly experienced and credible trust and estate attorney. He is an unrelenting advocate for his clients, but always professional. He is highly knowledgeable and fair.
Natalie Brackett
– Attorney
Arbitration
John Allen Chalk at Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz is consistently neutral and impartial. He has an exceptional ability to hone in and focus on the issues that are determinative in a dispute. I have observed him serve as a panel member and as counsel to parties; he is always well-prepared, quick to comprehend arguments and contentions, and decisive. Mr. Chalk succinctly addresses issues, is professional, and is open to evaluating all legal arguments before reaching his findings and conclusions in every case.
Melinda Jayson
– Individual Attorney
Arbitration
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz is an excellent firm to work with for Arbitrations. The years of experience and knowledge in this firm is one of the reasons my company continues to have them represent us. Their responses to questions are timely, and they take pride in managing their time and fees. The minute you step foot in their office you feel and see the level of professionalism that makes you comfortable having them represent you.
Rankings
Regional Rankings
Dallas/Fort Worth
Tier 1 for Arbitration
Tier 1 for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Tier 1 for Litigation - Patent
Tier 1 for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Tier 1 for Mediation
Tier 2 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 2 for Elder Law
Tier 2 for Trusts and Estates
Tier 3 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 3 for Litigation - Construction
Tier 3 for Trademark Law
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Appellate Practice
- Arbitration
- Banking and Finance Law
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Commercial Finance Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
- Community Association Law
- Construction Law
- Copyright Law
- Corporate Compliance Law
- Corporate Governance Law
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Derivatives and Futures Law
- Education Law
- Elder Law
- Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Employment Law - Individuals
- Employment Law - Management
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
- Financial Services Regulation Law
- Government Contracts
- Government Relations Practice
- Health Care Law
- Information Technology Law
- Insurance Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Labor Law - Management
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
- Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - Health Care
- Litigation - Insurance
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
- Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
- Litigation - Municipal
- Litigation - Patent
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- Litigation - Securities
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Mediation
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Oil and Gas Law
- Patent Law
- Real Estate Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- Trade Secrets Law
- Trademark Law
- Trusts and Estates
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC has 9 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in
America®.
By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings.
For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards.
Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Demographics
Partners
Male:
28
Female:
2
White / Caucasian:
30
Of Counsel (but not partners)
Male:
3
Persons with Disabilities:
1
Associates
Male:
2
Female:
1
Hispanic / Latinx:
1
Attorney Management / Department Heads
Male:
3
White / Caucasian:
3
Paralegals
Male:
1
Female:
7
Black / African American:
1
White / Caucasian:
8
Non-Legal Employees
Male:
3
Female:
16
Black / African American:
1
Main Location
Fort Worth,
TX
301 Commerce Street, Suite 3500
Fort Worth, TX 76102
United States
817-878-0500
Call our Fort Worth, TX location at 817-878-0500
Get Directions
Get directions to our Fort Worth, TX location
Management and Personnel
Member of Executive Committee
Thomas Brandon
Member of Executive Committee
John Allen Chalk
Member of Executive Committee
Hunter McLean