Deb Coldwell is a litigation partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP, and represents franchisors, distributors, joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships, and the individuals who run those companies in jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. She has litigated across several industries – from hotels and restaurants to health clubs and tax preparation services to product and service-based franchise and distribution networks. Deb is ranked nationally in Band 1 by  Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, in the franchise law category. 
 
In 2022, Deb successfully led a trial team in the Eastern District of Texas in a case for a national franchisor. She also recently tried a case in bankruptcy court which ultimately permitted the sale of a franchise company.  Previously, she litigated a successful six week jury trial in Texas state court in a joint venture dispute involving restaurants at the DFW Airport.  

Deb loves to organize and motivate teams to accomplish short and long term goals. To that end, she is a past chair of the 2,000-plus member American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. She also served the Forum as the editor-in-chief of the Franchise Law Journal and as its publications officer. She served on the board of Grant Halliburton Foundation and was its chair from 2015 – 2018.  She is currently a Champion at the Center for Women in Law.