Whether negotiating a merger, advising on a corporate restructure or working with entrepreneurs to launch a new venture, Tony takes a strategic and relationship-centered approach to achieve success and accomplish the goals of Kessler Collin’s clients. Tony’s extensive experience combined with his innate intuition enables him to guide clients through the unique and often complex intersection of law and business. Tony partners with his clients to provide more than legal counsel—he helps his clients identify and accomplish their ultimate business objectives by working collaboratively with them to craft efficient and effective strategies and solutions. Tony’s wealth of experience and strong relationship-building skills have led to him filling the role of “outside general counsel” to a wide range of mid-market, high-performance companies across various industries.

As president of Kessler Collins, Tony has garnered invaluable experience across industries, such as healthcare, biotech, manufacturing, hospitality and restaurants, and retail and service. His practice is largely centered around mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, debt and equity financing, and he has led the merger, acquisition, and sale of many businesses in a variety of industries. In addition to mergers and acquisitions, Tony routinely handles private placements, private equity, and venture capital investments, C-level employment agreements and employee equity plans, and general corporate counseling. His practice also involves advising clients regarding all of their business and legal needs, which include complex real estate transactions, employment matters, and intellectual property rights. Tony also has a background in IT and Computer Science, which enables him to provide a unique perspective for clients related to matters that arise in the computer software and technology sphere. Tony also represents clients in state and federal courts across the country in various business disputes and other litigation matters.

Professional Recognition

• Texas Monthly Magazine – Texas Rising Star, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Admissions

• Texas Bar, 2000
• United States District Courts (Northern, Eastern & Southern Districts of Texas)

Publications

• Author, “Service Animals And Emotional Support Animals.” The Network (March 2020)
• Author, “Landlord’s Liens” The Network (2019)
• Author, “Seizing Assets,” The Network (December 2018)
• Author, “Mechanic’s Lien” The Network (September 2018)
• Author, “Co-Employment” The Network (March 2017)
• Author, “How to Avoid Probate,” March 2017
• Author, “Transgender Rights Movement,”  December 2016
• Author, “At Will vs. Contract Employment.” September 2015
• Author, “Finder Keepers, Losers Weepers.” December 2015
• Author, “Operating Expense Issues for The Modern Texas Landlord,” Crest Publications Group, The Network (Jun 2015)
• Author, “Guns & Real Estate:  Are Your Buildings on Target?“, Crest Publications Group, The Network (Feb 2015)
• Author, “Lease Legalese Made Easy,” Crest Publications Group,THE NETWORK (Nov 2014)
• Author, “The Power of Eminent Domain,” Crest Publications Group, The Network (Jun 2014)
• Author, “Squatter’s Paradise?” Crest Publications Group, The Network (Mar 2014)
• Co-Author, “The NCAA, Northwestern University and the First Student-Athlete Union,” Dallas Bar Association Headnotes (Sept 2014, Vol 39, No 9)
• Author, “What You Need to Know About Insurance in the World of Commercial Real Estate,” Crest Publications Group, The Network (Sept 2014)
• Author, “2014 IRS Tipping Rules: Restaurant And Hospitality.” January 2014

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Barrister, Order of Centurions
• Advocate, Order of Certus
• American Bar Association (Intellectual Property and Business Law Sections)
• State Bar of Texas (Intellectual Property Section)
• Dallas Bar Association
• Member, The Trial Law Institute
• Sports Lawyers Association (SLA Outreach Committee Regional Captain – Texas)
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• Urban Land Institute (ULI)
• Building Owners Management Association (BOMA)
• Association for Corporate Growth