Dave Wishnew

Dave Wishnew is a trial lawyer and trusted business counselor who protects and advances his clients’ interests. His litigation practice spans complex commercial, employment and intellectual property matters in state and federal courts, as well as administrative forums in Texas and across the country.  

His clients include individuals and businesses of all types and sizes, mostly based in Texas or with Texas operations, though his casework spans the country. Dave’s practice covers a wide range of issues, including:

• Complex commercial litigation
• Employment litigation and disputes, including departing employee and restrictive covenant matters
• Intellectual property litigation
• Defamation and business disparagement
• Contract negotiation, including distribution agreements and executive employment and severance agreements
• Regulatory compliance investigations

Several of Dave’s cases have drawn national media attention, including a 2017 jury trial win for wedding photographer Andrea Polito in a high-profile defamation case, picked up by outlets from CNN to The New York Times to People Magazine. Dave was featured as a legal expert in the Hulu documentary, “The Age of Influence,” and is a regular presence on local news and podcasts, in addition to guest lecturing at North Texas law schools and speaking at Continuing Legal Education seminars.

Beyond his trial practice, Dave serves as outside general counsel to several businesses, negotiating contracts and distribution agreements, structuring executive employment and severance agreements, and conducting regulatory compliance investigations. That deep experience with employment contracts disputes has led him to become a contributing author to the Texas Lawbook publication, “Texas Litigators’ Guide to Departing Employee Cases.”  

​Dave has earned a reputation for avoiding disputes when possible and resolving them efficiently and aggressively when necessary; a litigator equally at home in the boardroom as in the courtroom.