Munsch Hardt Plants Flag in Fort Worth with Locally-Rooted Power Team

FORT WORTH, TX – April 01, 2026 – In a decisive move that signals strong confidence in Fort Worth’s burgeoning economy, Texas-based law firm Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. has officially opened its fourth office in the heart of downtown. The launch formalizes years of the firm’s work in the region and represents a significant strategic investment in the city’s future, moving beyond a satellite presence to establish a full-service legal hub staffed by a team of deeply entrenched local talent.

The new office, occupying nearly 6,000 square feet at 777 Main Street with built-in options for future expansion, is a direct response to Fort Worth's remarkable economic ascent. The city, recently ranked as the fastest-growing among the 20 largest in the United States, is no longer just a component of the DFW metroplex but a powerful economic engine in its own right.

“Fort Worth has been part of our strategic plan for a long time,” said E. David Coligado, CEO of Munsch Hardt. “We waited to launch until we had the right leadership and practice depth in place. This office is built to provide Fort Worth businesses with a new option for sophisticated legal expertise and to grow and attract exceptional attorneys who want to do meaningful work in a collaborative, high-performance environment.”

A Strategic Bet on a Maturing Market

Munsch Hardt’s expansion is anchored in the compelling economic data emerging from Fort Worth. The Dallas-Fort Worth region has led the nation in commercial property transactions for three consecutive years, with Fort Worth playing an increasingly pivotal role. The city's industrial market is a national powerhouse, with North Fort Worth leading the country in the industrial real estate construction pipeline. This building boom, coupled with DFW being named the top U.S. location for construction job growth in early 2024, creates immense demand for expert legal counsel in real estate and construction—two of Munsch Hardt’s core strengths.

Beyond construction, Fort Worth is rapidly diversifying into a major hub for finance, aerospace, and manufacturing. The DFW area is emerging as a U.S. financial center second only to New York, with Tarrant County bank deposits growing at a faster rate than Dallas County's since 2020. This financial maturation creates a fertile ground for the firm’s established practices in financial services, corporate law, and complex litigation.

The firm's entry into Fort Worth places it within a competitive legal landscape that includes long-established local firms and other national players that have also recognized the city's potential. However, Munsch Hardt's strategy is not simply to follow the trend, but to differentiate itself through a meticulously curated, talent-first approach.

The Talent-First Playbook: Building a Local Powerhouse

Rather than transferring attorneys from other offices, Munsch Hardt has anchored its Fort Worth presence with a team of highly respected professionals who possess deep local roots and specialized expertise. This approach provides the firm with immediate credibility and an intrinsic understanding of the market's unique dynamics.

Leading the charge is Adrienne Wall, appointed Managing Shareholder of the Fort Worth office. A seasoned real estate finance attorney, Wall previously served as Associate General Counsel for a regional commercial bank, giving her invaluable insight into the operational needs of financial institutions. Her practice, focused on complex finance transactions secured by real estate and business assets, directly aligns with the city's development boom.

“Our goal is straightforward,” said Wall. “We are building a premier Fort Worth office, one that delivers sophisticated legal work, supports our clients’ growth, and brings together attorneys who are widely respected in this market.”

Wall is joined by a formidable founding team:

• Austin Franklin, a trial attorney and Texas Christian University alumnus, brings extensive litigation experience from his time in private practice, as a federal law clerk in the Northern District of Texas, and as an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. His practice in Fort Worth since leaving military service has established him as a prominent figure in the local legal community.

• Deana Tillotson, another key addition, recently served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of a regional bank with a major Fort Worth presence. Her deep in-house experience in acquisitions, corporate governance, and risk management provides clients with a strategic, business-minded legal perspective.

• Grant Jordan, a lifelong Fort Worth resident and construction law specialist, offers a rare blend of legal and practical expertise, having personally managed commercial construction projects. His prior role as an Assistant City Attorney for Fort Worth, advising on development and construction, gives the firm an unparalleled understanding of municipal processes.

• The team is further strengthened by real estate shareholders Theo Bruton, who previously served as in-house counsel for a local developer, and Melissa Tucker, a lifelong resident who has practiced her entire career in Fort Worth, along with litigation associate Erin Rutherford, an alumna of the Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth.

This deliberate recruitment of attorneys with established local careers and networks ensures that Munsch Hardt is not just entering Fort Worth, but is woven into its professional fabric from day one.

Beyond Billable Hours: Weaving into the Civic Fabric

Munsch Hardt has made it clear that its investment in Fort Worth extends beyond its legal practice. The firm has a long-standing culture of corporate social responsibility, and its claim to invest in the city's civic and philanthropic life is substantiated by the existing community involvement of its new team.

The founding attorneys are already active participants in the organizations that shape Fort Worth's business and legal landscape. Grant Jordan holds leadership roles with the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Construction Law Section and is active in the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth. Austin Franklin is deeply engaged across multiple fronts, including the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court. This existing engagement provides a powerful foundation for the firm’s broader community integration.

This model of expansion—entering a market with a team that is already a part of the community—reflects a successful playbook the firm has honed over decades. Founded in Dallas in 1985, Munsch Hardt expanded to Austin in 1996 and Houston in 2004. In both cities, the firm has demonstrated a pattern of sustained growth, marked by multiple office expansions to accommodate increasing client demand and a growing roster of attorneys. Its consistent recognition as a “Best Place to Work” in all of its markets underscores a culture that successfully attracts and retains top talent, a key factor it aims to replicate in Fort Worth.

By combining its proven growth strategy with a team that embodies the city's character, Munsch Hardt is positioning its new office not as an outpost, but as a dedicated, long-term partner in Fort Worth's continued success.