Gardere Welcomes Renowned Litigator David Cabrales

DALLAS – Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP is pleased to welcome David Cabrales as a Litigation partner in the Firm’s Dallas office. Mr. Cabrales also will work with members of the Firm’s Government Affairs team in Austin.

Mr. Cabrales, who joins Gardere from Locke Lord LLP, has broad experience representing clients in government and commercial litigation matters. He frequently represents financial institutions, securities broker-dealers, retailers, and life and health insurance companies in traditional, class-action and multidistrict lawsuits, and arbitrations. Mr. Cabrales also counsels clients in matters before state government, and represents businesses in litigation matters initiated by state attorneys general.

From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Cabrales served as general counsel to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, leading a legal team that advised the governor and his staff on a variety of topics at the intersection of law and public policy. He served as principal economic development advisor for the governor and helped administer the Texas Enterprise Fund, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, Texas One and other programs in the governor's economic development portfolio. In addition, Gov. Perry appointed Mr. Cabrales to the Texas Economic Development Corporation in 2010 and again in 2014, where he served as chairman from 2010 to 2012. He is a member of the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee, which is composed of leading Texas attorneys who screen and recommend nominees for vacancies on the federal bench and in U.S. attorney offices across Texas.

“As a former general counsel to the Texas governor, David has a broad understanding of the important issues facing our clients today,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “His commercial litigation and state government expertise will be welcomed by our clients, and will further enhance our Litigation and Government Affairs practices. He is an excellent addition to the Gardere team.”

A graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Mr. Cabrales began his legal career as a briefing attorney to former Texas Supreme Court Justice Raul Gonzalez. He is a member of the United Way of Texas Board of Directors and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation, as well as a past member of the Texas Racing Commission.

“Gardere is the premier Texas-based law firm, and has the top government affairs group in Austin,” says Mr. Cabrales. “The Firm’s attorneys are among the most respected in their field. I am excited to be joining this exceptional group of professionals.”

Mr. Cabrales is the latest high-level addition to Gardere. Texas State Representative Jason Villalba joined the Firm’s Dallas office in July, and Litigation Partner Craig Dillard joined the Houston office in January.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an Am Law 200 firm founded in 1909 and one of the Southwest's largest full-service law firms, has offices  in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Mexico City. Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in the areas of corporate, energy, environmental, financial restructuring and reorganization, financial services, government affairs, hospitality, insurance, intellectual property, international, labor and employment, litigation, private equity, real estate and tax.