Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C., a Texas-based law firm with offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, celebrates its 20th anniversary on April 15, 2005. The firm will recognize this milestone throughout the week of April 11, Founders Week, with a variety of events and special ceremonies at its offices, culminating with an All-Firm Brunch where founders will be honored on Friday, April 15.
Over the past 20 years, the firm has served a wide variety of clients, including JPI, ACS, Craftmade International, Inc., ORIX Capital Markets LLC, Samsung, ClubCorp, Darling Homes and Texas Instruments. Munsch Hardt operates as a full-service partner and offers a broad spectrum of expertise, providing the kind of service that sets it apart from other law firms and living up to the vision of its founding partners.
In 1985, six young attorneys formed Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. Their idea was to create a new type of law firm, a firm that was energetic, agile and responsive and that focused on the practice areas critical to a new generation of business leaders. Building on the philosophy of its founders, Munsch Hardt has thrived and established itself as one of the foremost commercial law firms in Texas. With over 100 attorneys, Munsch Hardt is agile and flexible, able to act quickly to respond to client needs, as well as having the breadth and depth of knowledge that makes it the right choice for complete legal representation.
Russell Munsch, one of the founding Shareholders of Munsch Hardt, is a member of the firm’s Reorganization/Corporate Finance practice group. In 2003 and 2004, Russ was selected by Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly magazine as one of the "Super Lawyers" within the State of Texas. In 2002, he was selected by the Texas Lawyer publication as one of "Texas’ Top Notch Lawyers," listing Texas’ top attorneys in 25 different practice areas, including Reorganization and Bankruptcy. The K&A Register has also selected Russ as one of the top 100 nationally recognized attorneys and financial advisors specializing in reorganization, restructuring, insolvency, and bankruptcy matters. His experience relates to all phases of creditor rights, insolvency, bankruptcy and commercial law. Primary emphasis during the last several years has been in the representation of major creditors, bank groups and financial institutions in large loan workouts and bankruptcies throughout the country. Through the history of the firm, Russ has served as the Chief Executive Officer, Reorganization and Corporate Finance Section Head, a member of the Compensation Committee and currently serves as the Managing Shareholder in the firm's Austin office.
Rick Kopf, a founding shareholder, represents real estate clients in matters related to acquisition, development, construction, financing, leasing and sale transactions of all types of income and nonincome producing real property. That representation has included a strong focus on the lodging and resort industries, including the acquisition and development of hotels and golf course properties. He has had extensive experience in the structuring of transactions and the preparation, review and negotiation of contracts, leases, conveyancing and financing documentation, as well as resolution of a wide variety of authorization, closing and title disputes. The diversity of Rick’s practice gives him the ability to see all sides of a transaction and to anticipate and deal with potential issues and problems that may be raised by opposing counsel.
Rick has broad experience in the representation of financial institutions, including banks, savings and loan associations, and credit, mortgage and insurance companies, encompassing a wide variety of positive lending, workout and secondary market transactions and issues, including construction lending, subordinate debt (and wraparound) financing, industrial development and housing finance bond issuances and restructures, usury and foreclosure matters. Within the Firm, Rick has served in virtually every position of responsibility, including managing partner, chief operating officer and chief financial officer (for 12 years), board member and over 15 years as a member of the Compensation Committee. Rick was also named a "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics and Texas Monthly in 2003 and 2004.
Steve Harr, a founding shareholder, has represented individuals, companies, partnerships and other business interests in a wide range of litigation disputes. Aside from the preparation and presentation of jury and non-jury trials, Steve’s work includes arbitration, mediation and receiverships. Steve completed the mediator training sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association and has mediated over 90 cases. He is on the approved list of arbitrators maintained by the American Arbitration Association. He has worked extensively in Federal and State receiverships and has served several Federal District Courts as a court appointed Examiner in large securities fraud cases. While maintaining a full time litigation practice, Steve served as the Chief Executive Officer of the firm from August 1991 until December 1995. Steve was honored by the Dallas Business Journal both as a member of "Who’s Who" in litigation in Dallas and 1994 class of Dallas’ Top "40 under 40." In 2003 and 2004, Law & Politics and Texas Monthly selected him as a "Super Lawyer" in the state of Texas.
Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. is a commercial law firm dedicated to providing businesses with sophisticated legal services and practical business solutions. With offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin, Munsch Hardt serves clients in many legal areas including Reorganization and Corporate Finance, Corporate & Securities, Litigation, Real Estate, Appellate Law, White Collar Crime, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Litigation and Tax. For more information, visit munsch.com.