Press Release

Munsch Hardt Continues Rapid Growth, Announces Hiring of High-Profile Trial Attorney and Team

Sep 7, 2021

(DALLAS) – September 7, 2021 – As Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) continues in its commitment to recruit top-tier legal talent across Texas, the Firm is pleased to announce distinguished and well-respected trial attorney William Toles will be joining the Firm as a Shareholder on September 13, 2021. Toles, who will bring with him a number of Fortune 100 clients, currently is a Senior Partner at Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, where he has been for the past nine years. Also joining Toles will be two associates, Peter Hogue and Kelly Wise, along with two paralegals.

“William is an accomplished trial attorney who understands not only how to provide the kind of client service on which Munsch Hardt is built, but he also has the ability and relationships to truly make an impact in our Firm,” stated Phil Appenzeller, CEO of Munsch Hardt. “The strength of William’s character was evident from the first time we met him, and we knew he would make a great fit. I am thrilled he chose to join Munsch Hardt,
and I look forward to watching him achieve great things for his practice, the Firm and our community.”

As a seasoned and highly regarded trial attorney, Toles has successfully tried more than 60 civil jury trials to verdict. In addition, his trial experience throughout Texas includes tort litigation, ranging from negligence and transportation matters to complex premises liability, Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), as well as commercial and contractual dispute litigation. He has been selected by D Magazine as one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” since 2016.

On top of his thriving legal practice, Toles is the Secretary/President Elect of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Dallas Chapter, and a member of the ABOTA National Executive Committee. He is also a member of the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). Memberships for ABOTA and ISOB are both by invitation only, and involve a rigorous screening process that takes into consideration each lawyer’s ability, experience, accomplishments and ethical standards as assessed by trial lawyers and judges.

Toles also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and is a member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas Chairman’s Task Force. Actively involved in his church, he has been a member of the Steward Board for more than 15 years.

Having earned both his J.D. and B.A. from Washington & Lee University, Toles remains active within the school. Currently, he serves as a member of the Washington & Lee University Board of Trustees and as a class agent for his law school class. He is a former member of the Washington & Lee Alumni Board, former President of the Law Council and former Chair of the Washington & Lee Law Annual Fund.

“When I stepped back and looked at my legal practice moving forward, I knew I wanted a growing, Texas-based firm with a broad spectrum of litigation and trial opportunities,” said Toles. “When it came to Munsch Hardt, they offered the opportunity to continue to work on transportation and high-profile tort litigation, as well as opportunities in real estate and commercial litigation with attorneys I have known and respected for a number of years. Getting to work alongside these friends, while continuing to shape a more diverse trial practice, was very appealing to me at this time in my career.”

Toles’ move to Munsch Hardt reflects continued momentum for the Firm, which has been growing aggressively through lateral hires as part of a strategic plan launched by Appenzeller. Nearly 55 attorneys have joined the Firm in the last three years, with plans later this month to surpass its 20 attorney hires in 2020. The most recent additions have expanded practices such as the Firm’s Chambers-ranked Construction, Health Care and Real Estate practices, as well as Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation and Labor & Employment, to name a few.