About
David focuses his practice on defending clients’ reputational and commercial interests when it matters most.
He has represented some of the country’s most prominent companies and individuals in defamation lawsuits and related proceedings, including CEOs, founders, technology companies, private equity and hedge funds, university presidents, and current and former government officials. His work frequently involves sensitive, fast-moving matters requiring strategic judgment, discretion, and intense public pressure.
Prior to joining Hilgers PLLC, David was a partner at Clare Locke LLP, widely regarded as the nation’s leading plaintiff-side defamation firm. There, he litigated defamation claims and maintained an extensive pre-publication practice aimed at preventing false and damaging stories from being published in the first place. He also has expertise unmasking anonymous defamers by using investigative tools and court proceedings to identify and hold accountable those who seek to hide their actions.
Before focusing on reputational matters, David practiced commercial litigation for more than a decade at premier firms, most recently Sidley Austin LLP in Dallas. He has extensive trial, hearing, and deposition experience and has appeared in federal and state courts across Texas and throughout the country.
After law school, David served as a law clerk to the Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 2008 and his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in 2004, each with honors.
David serves on the board of the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI), an organization dedicated to addressing the legal and social needs of individuals seeking protection in the United States. He has also successfully represented asylees fleeing persecution based on their political beliefs—work he considers the most meaningful of his career.
David lives in Dallas with his wife, Kristen, a trusts and estates attorney, and their three children.
