One-on-One With Hicks Johnson is a series featuring conversations with our attorneys about their legal practice and career path. Next, we talk with Hicks Johnson Associate Dave Finkel. 

Q&A with Hicks Johnson Associate Dave Finkel

Dave Finkel is an associate at Hicks Johnson and focuses his practice on complex civil litigation at the trial level. Below he discusses what it’s like to be part of a growing boutique, the work he contributed on a recent matter, and how young associates can add value to a trial team.

Q: What made you choose a boutique over the Big Law path, and what made you choose Hicks Johnson in particular?

A: As a 2L, I split my summer between Hicks Johnson and a traditional Big Law firm that takes on both litigation and transactional work. I enjoyed working with the people at both firms, but I really enjoyed the experience of the boutique environment, where litigation was the complete focus of the firm. Within that focus, because everyone here is a generalist in litigation, we see a great variety of cases, which makes the work engaging and challenging. I was also drawn to the opportunity to get in on a relatively young firm that is full of energy and ambition. I had the sense that I would be able to be part of the story as it’s being written, which has turned out to be true since I joined as an associate in January 2024. As the firm has grown — hiring more attorneys, opening the Chicago office, and expanding into the new office being built here in Houston — I have enjoyed watching that take shape and continuing to build my litigation skills in such a hands-on environment.

Q: Could you talk a bit about your experience playing an active role on a recent matter?

A: On a recent matter, which was a theft of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract action involving 12 defendants, I had the chance to make substantive contributions despite being a young associate. I was able to be the first pen on several discovery requests and responses to the opposing counsel’s interrogatories and requests for production. I also conducted document searches and took on other important hands-on tasks. I got to work very closely with partner Lori Arakaki, who is brilliant, and I learned so much from observing her thought process about how to approach big questions in the case, how the court might look at our position versus the opposing counsel’s position. I flew to Lubbock and defended a deposition for our client. I felt well prepared because I’d had the chance to observe the partners taking and defending depositions up close. Fortunately, we secured a favorable settlement in this case for our clients. It did not go to trial, but, if it had, we were well prepared.

Q: What have you learned so far about business development?

A: Becky Garverick’s arrival as Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer has energized our BD efforts overall, and she has done a great job of helping us understand the process and focus our efforts. For a young associate like me, I am still in the phase of building my network and putting down seeds that will eventually lead to business. It’s more of a marathon than a sprint. I have focused on getting involved with the Houston Bar Association (HBA) events and applying for seats on the HBA committees, with a particular focus on the HBA Veterans Council, because veterans’ issues are an important focus for me. I was recently nominated to the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation’s 2025 Class of Fellows, which has been an exciting development, and creates opportunities for me to expand my network while serving the community. And, finally, I make it a priority to continue to educate myself on important issues in the industries we serve, particularly the energy industry, and last year had the opportunity to take the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s 41st Annual Oil and Gas Law Short Course. I try to think about building my network from multiple angles.

Q: What do you think sets Hicks Johnson apart from its peers?

A: Hicks Johnson has a very strong bench of skilled trial attorneys operating at the top of their game. In addition, one of the things that stuck out to me when I first interviewed with the firm was the relatively young age of the partnership. The firm’s leaders are very much involved in the day-to-day, on both client work and on recruiting and building the firm for the long term. That, coupled with our nimble size, means the firm is in a very strong position regardless of market headwinds. We have pursued measured growth in Chicago based on our clients’ needs and the opportunities we see in that market. We have a flexibility that larger firms don’t have, and that really sets us apart.

Q: What qualities and skills are partners looking for in junior attorneys?

A: Because of our lean staffing model, where our teams do not have several layers of associates like they might at a large firm, young associates need to be prepared to provide a higher caliber of work. The senior attorneys are under intense time constraints, and they rely on the associates to provide client-ready documents that are substantively correct and polished. This is not the time for hand-holding. You will learn on the job, and of course there will be things you don’t know in the beginning, but to the best of your ability you have to deliver strong work product. Associates also need to understand that if they bring a problem to a partner, they also need to come prepared to suggest a solution to that problem. That is how you add value. Make sure you understand what your boss is looking for or what she or he intends to accomplish. Understand the left and right limits, even if you don’t fully know what the outcome will be. If you are researching a discrete issue, understand the context that issue is in. Go that extra mile. Provide multiple possible courses of action to give the senior attorneys everything they need to make the decisions they have to make. Taking this kind of ownership helps you build credibility and makes you valuable to the team.

Click here to download the PDF of the One-on-One with Dave Finkel.

Hicks Johnson PLLC is a premier boutique law firm with offices in Houston and Chicago, specializing in complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and appeals. Known for delivering results, our trial and appellate lawyers are well-versed in handling high-stakes cases.

DISCLAIMER:
This is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The content provided does not constitute the formation of an attorney-client relationship. For advice specific to your situation, we recommend consulting with licensed legal counsel.