DALLAS - Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) welcomes nine attorneys to its Dallas and Houston offices as part of its 2026 first-year associate class, one of the largest associate classes in the firm’s 41-year history. The new associates will bolster several key practice areas as Munsch Hardt continues to grow across Texas.
The 2026 class brings a wide range of professional and academic experiences, including federal judicial clerkships, public service, and careers outside the traditional legal path.
“The size of this year’s class speaks to where Munsch Hardt is headed,” said E. David Coligado, CEO of Munsch Hardt. “As our firm grows, we are continuing to invest in the people who will help us serve an expanding client base and strengthen our practices for the future. We are thrilled to welcome these nine attorneys and give them the opportunity to learn, contribute, and build their careers here.”
Meet Munsch Hardt's 2026 first-year associate class:
Sydney Curtis: Litigation – Dallas
Following two federal judicial clerkships, Curtis joins Munsch Hardt’s Litigation practice. Most recently, she served as a term clerk to former Munsch Hardt Shareholder and COO, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge E. Lee Morris of the Northern District of Texas, where she drafted judicial opinions and orders involving bankruptcy and adversary proceedings. She previously served as a term clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Kayla Dye McClusky of the Western District of Louisiana. Curtis earned her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law, magna cum laude, from Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, graduating in the top 4% of her class and earning election to the Order of the Coif. She served as Articles Editor of the Louisiana Law Review and received the W. Lee Hargrave Award for outstanding service to the publication. Ms. Curtis earned her bachelor’s degree in English, magna cum laude, from the University of Louisiana Monroe, with minors in History and English Education.
Talia Elliott: Litigation – Dallas
Elliott joins Munsch Hardt’s Litigation practice after previously working as a Summer Associate in the Firm’s Dallas office. She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where she served as Lead Online Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review and was a finalist in the John W. Davis Appellate Advocacy Competition. She honed her advocacy skills working in the Immigrant Rights Clinic at Washington and Lee University, where she represented noncitizens at risk of deportation and furthered the rights of immigrants in South and Central Virginia. She also interned with the Denton County District Attorney’s Office. Elliott earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, magna cum laude, from Bradley University, with minors in chemistry, business law, legal studies, and ethics.
Hannah Goff: Litigation – Dallas
Goff brings several years of professional experience in sales and training to Munsch Hardt’s Litigation practice. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where she was named to the Dean’s List and was the Judiciary Chair for the Oklahoma Law Review. During law school, Goff founded and served as president of Parents at Law School and was the President of the American Constitution Society and Federal Bar Association. She served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Robert E. Bacharach of the tenth circuit. A former Munsch Hardt Summer Associate, she also worked as a legal intern for the ACLU of Oklahoma. Goff earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Louisiana State University – Alexandria.
Taylor Knight: Litigation – Houston
Returning to Munsch Hardt after serving as a Summer Associate, Knight joins the firm’s Litigation practice with experience in both private practice and public service. She previously worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. Knight earned her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law, where she served as note and comment editor of the Journal of Property Law, was named to the Dean’s List, and worked as an academic support teaching assistant. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, where she participated in the honors program and conducted behavioral neuroscience research.
Rachel Robinson: Real Estate – Dallas
Robinson returns to Munsch Hardt as an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate practice after previously participating in its Summer Associate program. She earned her Juris Doctor from SMU Dedman School of Law, with experience spanning both the public and private sectors, including roles with American Airlines and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Before law school, Robinson spent several years working in public policy in Washington, D.C. She earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and international affairs, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia.
Olivia Simpson: Real Estate – Dallas
Simpson returns to Munsch Hardt as an Associate in the Firm’s Real Estate practice after previously participating in the Summer Associate program. She earned her Juris Doctor from SMU Dedman School of Law, cum laude, where she participated in the Corporate Counsel Externship Program. As a former elite trampoline gymnast, she stays involved with USA Gymnastics and was chosen to serve as an Athlete Representative on both local and national committees. She earned her bachelor’s degree in human sciences, summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University.
Matt Wilhite: Bankruptcy – Dallas
Following a federal judicial clerkship, Wilhite joins Munsch Hardt’s Bankruptcy practice with experience in bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and labor and employment matters. He most recently served as a term law clerk to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle V. Larson of the Northern District of Texas, where he worked on commercial and consumer bankruptcy matters, including dispositive motions, trials, and post-judgment proceedings. Wilhite previously worked with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he received multiple American Jurisprudence Awards and was named to the Order of the Barristers. His scholarship includes an article examining Subchapter V dischargeability published in the 2025 edition of the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law. Wilhite earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Oklahoma State University.
Maria Chammas: Corporate – Houston
Chammas joins Munsch Hardt’s Corporate practice, bringing a background that spans law, journalism, and fashion media. She earned her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law Houston, graduating magna cum laude, serving on the South Texas Law Review, and receiving three CALI Excellence for the Future Awards. A former Munsch Hardt Summer Associate, Chammas also worked with a Houston-based law firm during law school. She earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and fashion media from Southern Methodist University, where she served as editor-in-chief of SMU Look.
Shaina Escobedo: Corporate – Houston
Escobedo brings several years of professional experience to Munsch Hardt’s Corporate practice, most recently serving as Assistant Director of University Marketing at the University of Houston and previously working for a Texas-based law firm. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center, where she was named to the Dean’s List and was a semifinalist in the Hippard Open Mock Trial Competition. A former Munsch Hardt Summer Associate, Escobedo earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in marketing, magna cum laude, from Lamar University.