Don R. Richards and Dulan D. Elder were in the same law class at Texas Tech University School of Law. They began their legal careers at the same law firm, a firm which initially formed and represented some of the cooperative clients they still represent. Don and Dulan created their own law firm in 2004 and have now practiced law in the same firms continuously for going on 40 years.
In _____, E. Scott Frost joined the firm. Scott brings his judicial experience in heading up the civil mediation services for a wide variety of civil disputes.
Specialization
In 1989, Don became Board Certified in Administrative Law and Dulan became Board Certified in Commercial, Residential, and Farm & Ranch Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and both continue to hold those certifications.
Diverse Clientele
The Firm’s core clientele are rural serving electric and telephone cooperatives for whom the Firm provides guidance in legislative, regulatory, business, property tax protests and governance issues on a statewide and national basis. Don & Dulan have been heavily involved in the representation of utility and agricultural cooperatives their entire legal careers. The firm also represents real estate developers, building contractors, lenders, and diverse businesses as well as individuals in wills, estate planning, probates and civil litigation.
Working for Our Clients Beyond the Courtroom
The Firm’s attorneys have been instrumental in crafting legislation for the governing of cooperatives in the State of Texas, in creating new cooperatives, and assisting cooperatives’ boards of directors and management in day-to-day governance and operational issues; representing various telecom and electric clients before the Texas Public Utility Commission, and obtaining in excess of $1 billion in loans from the Rural Utilities Services and other utility national lenders.
In-Depth Knowledge
Complex business ventures and transactions are at the heart of the Firm’s expertise. From detailed sale and acquisition documents, to generation wholesale power agreements, interconnection agreements, policy and employment manuals, and comprehensive rate and tariff regulatory filings, the Firm’s attorneys understand the technical and legal necessities of its sophisticated clients involved in public-utility transactions.
Full-Service Agency
Firm Attorneys include a wide array of experience in every area of civil legal representation — from the drafting of legislation and difficult regulatory filings, advising utility boards of directors through legal and regulatory minefields, to the details of major real estate and business closing transactions; and including addressing clients legal and litigation needs in the courtroom.
