Sarah is a trial lawyer and handles complex commercial litigation cases, including non-compete, trade secret, and intellectual property litigation, in a variety of industries. Sarah has represented plaintiffs in trials resulting in 7-figure jury verdicts and successfully defended against plaintiffs seeking 9-figures.

Sarah’s business foundation, built at the McCombs School of Business, informs her practice at the firm. She is conscientious of the investment clients make in litigation and pursues efficient and effective strategies to protect her clients’ business interests. Sarah works with her clients to manage hard facts and develop compelling themes throughout all phases of litigation. Sarah represents and assists companies on matters involving departing employees, post-employment obligations, and the misuse of confidential information disclosed in the context of business negotiations or joint ventures. In her practice, she advocates for clients who need urgent assistance to protect their confidential information, trade secrets, or other intellectual property. Sarah also represents clients in matters involving breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, anti-SLAPP challenges, and business torts. Sarah has handled cases in Texas, Delaware, California, and other state and federal courts.

  • Obtained a complete defense judgment in favor of a pharmaceutical company and related entities and individuals in a dispute involving 16 causes of action, including trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and patent and trade-dress infringement, and secured a summary judgment on all claims and damages, knocking out a $200 million damages model and avoiding trial
  • Obtained a walk-away settlement in favor of defendant and its employees accused of trade secret misappropriation, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty, and other similar claims allegedly causing $10 million in lost profits
  • Obtained a complete defense verdict for a technology company in a case involving an asset purchase agreement with allegations of fraud, fraud by nondisclosure, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, and other equitable claims where the plaintiff demanded more than $1.9 million in damages
  • Represented a digital marketing firm as the plaintiff in a breach of contract lawsuit; after a two-week trial the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, and the court awarded over $900,000 in attorneys’ fees
  • Decertified a conditionally certified FLSA collective action and obtained a complete defense judgment for a secured lender in a dispute involving claims for FLSA violations, breach of contract, fraud, and conspiracy and alter ego and agency theories of liability
  • Obtained a judgment notwithstanding the verdict on an $11 million verdict in an antitrust claim brought under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act
  • Successfully argued a motion to strike an expert witness on damages in a UCC, fraud, and breach of contract case involving foreclosure on stock

  • Interviewed on Women in Law series – On the Record (podcast) (2018).

Press Releases

10 Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

Rising Stars is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Published by Thomson Reuters, the Texas Rising Stars listing recognizes the top young lawyers in the state based on a multiphase process that includes nominations, an independent research

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Client Alerts

Federal Circuit Rejects Expert’s Royalty Basis in EcoFactor v. Google

By Sarah Lopano In an 8–2 en banc decision, the court ruled that the district court abused its discretion by admitting expert testimony in EcoFactor Inc. v. Google LLC, 2025 WL 1453149 (Fed. Cir. May 21, 2025). EcoFactor, which holds a patent related to smart‑thermostat operation in computer‑networked heating and cooling systems, sued Google, alleging infringement by Nest thermostats. At

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Events

ASC’s 38th Annual Luncheon

June 13, 2025 – Munck Wilson Mandala is proud to be a gold sponsor of the Attorneys Serving the Community 38th Annual Luncheon, held on Friday, June 13, at the Thompson Dallas. This year’s event benefits POETIC and features keynote speaker Elizabeth Smart, whose advocacy work on child safety, recovery, and legislation has inspired national

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In the News

Munck Wilson Mandala Achieves Substantial Win in a Trade Secret/Patent Infringement Case

In the end, in two orders entered one-year apart, Judge Gregory Williams granted summary judgment in favor of Galderma on all claims: no patent infringement, no theft of trade secrets, no breach of contract, no misappropriation of trade dress, no damages, and no violations of the Delaware DTPA or California unfair competition laws. This outstanding

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Press Releases

18 Munck Wilson Mandala Lawyers Named 2025 Ones to Watch List

Munck Wilson Mandala is pleased to announce that 18 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, a publication that recognizes up-and-coming attorneys for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. The majority of the MWM attorneys featured on this year’s list have been named to the list previously

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Press Releases

10 Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

This week, 10 Munck Wilson Mandala attorneys were recognized as Texas Rising Stars for 2024, by Thomson Reuters.  The attorneys honored were MWM partners Chase Cobern, Aaron Dilbeck, Keith Harden, William Howison, Sarah Lopano, and Jordan Strauss; principal attorney David Arvesen; senior associates Julie Christensen and Tri Truong; and associate Tiffany Kahler.  Truong is newly

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Press Releases

13 Munck Wilson Mandala Lawyers Named 2024 Ones to Watch List

Munck Wilson Mandala is pleased to announce that 13 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, a publication that recognizes up-and-coming attorneys for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. The majority of the MWM attorneys featured on this year’s list have been named to the list annually

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Press Releases

Nine Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

Dilbeck and Howison are newly honored this year as Texas Rising Stars and Lopano and Strauss are recognized among the prestigious Up and Coming 50: 2022 Women in Texas Rising Stars.  Lopano was also listed among the Up and Coming 100: 2022 Texas Rising Stars.  The MWM attorneys were selected in the categories of intellectual

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Press Releases

9 Munck Wilson Mandala Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Munck Wilson Mandala would like to congratulate the following lawyers

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Press Releases

Nine Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

Arvesen, Harden, and Plagens are newly honored this year as Texas Rising Stars and Lopano was recognized among the prestigious Up and Coming 50: 2021 Women in Texas Rising Stars.  The MWM attorneys were selected in the categories of intellectual property, business/corporate law, business litigation, employment litigation, and intellectual property litigation. Published by Thomson Reuters,

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Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala Elects Alison Battiste, Sarah Lopano, and Jordan Strauss 2021 Partners

“This is a defining moment in the legal careers of Alison, Sarah, and Jordan, and we are proud to call them MWM partners,” said Jenny Martinez, co-chair of the complex litigation/dispute resolution section.  “They excel as litigators and have impressed all of us this past year with their ability to adapt and bring value to

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Press Releases

13 Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America©; 8 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

The MWM attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers in America© are managing partner William Munck, who has been recognized annually since 2011, chair of the litigation practice Jamil Alibhai, litigation partner Kelly Chen, IP partner Greg Howison, chair of the corporate law practice Larry Mandala, co-chair of the employment and labor practice Michael McCabe, chair of

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Press Releases

Seven Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

Seven Munck Wilson Mandala attorneys have been recognized as Texas Rising Stars for 2020.  The attorneys were selected in the categories of intellectual property, business/corporate law, business litigation, employment litigation, and intellectual property litigation. Published by Thomson Reuters, the Texas Rising Stars listing recognizes the top young lawyers in the state based on a multiphase

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Press Releases

Seven Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

Published by Thomson Reuters, the Texas Rising Stars listing recognizes the top young lawyers in the state based on a multiphase process that includes nominations, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. Three of the recognized Rising Stars, Sarah Lopano, Lauren Mitchell and Jordan Strauss, will be included in the

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Press Releases

Munck Wilson Mandala’s Litigation Team Successfully Defends Client Valtech in a Fraud Case

Earlier this summer in the first trial, MWM represented Valtech as plaintiff in a dispute against Cornerstone over an earn out payment due under an asset purchase agreement. Cornerstone refused to pay and countersued Valtech for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. MWM’s Michael McCabe gave a great cross-examination of Cornerstone’s corporate

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Press Releases

Seven Munck Wilson Mandala Attorneys Selected as Texas Rising Stars

This year, two additional lists will be published: Top 100 Up-and-Coming Texas Rising Stars and Top 50 Up-and-Coming Women Texas Rising Stars.  Munck Wilson is proud to have three attorneys listed among the Top 100 Up-and-Coming Texas Rising Stars: Kelly Chen, Wallace Dunwoody and Jessica Spaniol.  Chen and Spaniol are also listed among the Top

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Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, JD

cum laude

University of Texas, BBA

Marketing

magna cum laude

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Member of Lead YP, Dallas Regional Chamber
    Class of 2019

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
    2021-2025
  • Texas Rising Star, Thomson Reuters
    2016-2025
  • Up and Coming 50: Women Texas Rising Stars
    Thomson Reuters
    2021-2024
  • Up and Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars
    Thomson Reuters
    2022-2024
  • Member of Lead YP, Dallas Regional Chamber
    Class of 2019

Texas, 2012

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit