Munck Wilson Mandala and women-owned litigation boutique Okon Hannagan have joined forces, adding four new attorneys to MWM’s complex commercial litigation team.  Notable trial lawyers Melanie Okon and Susan Hannagan have joined MWM as partners along with associate Sarika Patel, corporate counsel Stephanie Elovitz, and one staff member.  The OH team has operated as a women-owned boutique, providing legal services in complex commercial litigation, IP litigation, employment law, construction law, real estate litigation, and energy litigation.

“Melanie and Susan have impressive litigation experience and they embody our goal of attracting the best legal talent to represent our clients,” said managing partner William Munck.  “We are excited to have the entire OH team join us and know they will bring fresh perspectives and energy that will enhance our complex litigation and employment law teams.”

“We have worked with and respect Munck Wilson attorneys and we have been impressed with how the firm approaches business development and diversity,” said Okon.  “They are expanding in new markets like Austin, LA, and Florida, and they support programs like S.H.E. Summit, which we attended last year with our clients.”

“In addition to working with a great firm and talented attorneys, working at Munck Wilson Mandala gives us the ability to offer expanded legal services to our clients,” added Hannagan.  “We are excited for this transition and our clients are very supportive.”

Okon has an impressive 20-year legal career that started at the Supreme Court of Texas, where she worked for Justice Greg Abbott.  She has worked for national and regional firms and she was in-house counsel at Energy Future Holdings Corp. A few years after she returned to private practice, she became a name partner at Estes Okon Thorne and Carr before opening OH in 2016.  Among her honors, Okon is recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters and listed in The Best Lawyers in America®.

Okon has successfully served as lead trial counsel in several jury trials across Texas.  She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Attorneys Serving the Community, and Women’s Energy Network.  She graduated from Baylor Law School as the highest-ranking student in her law class, earning her J.D. magna cum laude.

Hannagan previously worked at Estes Okon Thorne and Carr before opening OH as a founding partner.  She represents clients in employment disputes and complex business matters, and she is honored as a Texas Rising Star and was named among the Texas Rising Star Up-and-Coming 50 Women in 2017-2018.  She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, DAYL Leadership Class, the William ‘Mac’ Taylor American Inn of Court, and the Dallas Women Lawyers Association.  Hannagan earned her J.D. cum laude from the Texas Tech University School of Law.

Patel will work as an associate in MWM’s complex commercial litigation practice and plans to take the patent bar soon which will add to the firm’s impressive roster of 40 registered patent attorneys.  She received her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law.  Elovitz, brings unique experience working both as a lawyer, legal recruiter, and serving as executive director at OH.  In addition to supporting the firm as corporate counsel, she will serve as MWM’s director of recruiting.  She received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

Munck Wilson Mandala is a technology-focused law firm with a powerful litigation team that represents clients in patent, trade secret, trademark and other intellectual property disputes as well as high stakes and complex commercial litigation.  In 2018, Texas Lawyer named Munck Wilson Mandala a Litigation Department of the Year.  The firm has offices in Dallas, Austin and Marshall, Texas, and Los Angeles, California and offers full-service counsel in the areas of intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property portfolio development, corporate transactions and securities, and employment law. Munck Wilson Mandala represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Learn more about the firm at http://www.munckwilson.com.