Munck Wilson Mandala has added 66 years of legal experience with the addition of two veteran real estate attorneys, Mabel Simpson and Shelley Hickey from SimpsonLaw Group in Richardson, Texas. Simpson is a partner and Hickey a principal attorney. They will work in MWM’s real estate practice which is part of the firm’s corporate section. Simpson and Hickey have practiced law for 33 years each and their combined experience adds legal power to MWM’s corporate, real estate, commercial litigation, oil and gas, and construction law practices.
Simpson has owned and operated her own law firm since the mid-90s after working a few years in private practice. Prior to and during law school, she worked as a landman for four years, learning the nuances of oil and gas exploration, mastering the negotiation of mineral rights, and experiencing the business side of the oil and gas industry in Texas. This unique background helped to shape Simpson’s legal practice where she created run sheets and researched chains of title, conducted due diligence for banking and energy clients, and provided vital legal services for clients involved in real estate development, construction, and oil and gas.
Simpson also has vast knowledge of regulatory and environmental law related to land acquisition and development, water rights, and mineral rights. Her commitment to providing one-stop service for real estate and oil and gas clients led to an expanded practice where she and Hickey now provide legal services in commercial litigation, trade secret and non-compete matters, investments, finance and banking, estate planning, and even title underwriting expertise through Simpson’s fee-attorney title shop, underwritten by a national title underwriter.
Hickey’s legal background begins in the Pacific Northwest where she worked as an associate in private practice after law school before taking a position as assistant city attorney, assigned to the Seattle Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and the Seattle Office of Civil Rights. Hickey spent 10 years working as a Seattle ACA in various roles before moving to Texas where she joined Simpson’s firm and transitioned her law practice to focus on business law, both transactional and litigation, representing clients in real estate, corporate law, and commercial litigation.
“Mabel is an iconic businesswoman who has blazed her own path in North Texas for years,” said managing partner William A. Munck. “We are very impressed with her career and successful track record and we know that she and Shelley will be outstanding additions to our team.”
The addition of Simpson and Hickey strengthens MWM’s female partner headcount and brings the firm’s total female attorney headcount to 40 percent. Simpson’s legal assistant and executive assistant have also joined MWM. This will be the second time that MWM has joined forces with a women-owned law boutique. The firm hired the attorneys and staff from Okon Hannagan in June 2019.
“We are excited to be a part of Munck Wilson and look forward to many future successes with our new firm,” said Simpson. “MWM has an outstanding reputation with established offices in Dallas, Austin, and LA. Adding our real estate and oil and gas legal services strengthens MWM’s client services in key industries that are growing regionally and nationally.”
Simpson is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, the Collin County Bar Association, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the Texas Bar College. A longtime businesswoman in Richardson, Simpson was elected to the Richardson City Council and served a term from 2015-2019. She is a graduate of Leadership Richardson and throughout her career she has been involved as a board member or leader in various civic and community organizations, including Neighborhood Youth and Family Counseling of Richardson, the Richardson Hospital Board, and the St. Paul School Board. She is currently a member of the Legislative Committee – Texas Land Title Association. Simpson received her J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law.
Hickey is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Washington State Bar, Dallas Bar Association, Collin County Bar Association, and the Texas Bar Foundation. She is a member of the Richardson Rotary Club and served as past president from 2011-2012. Hickey is also a graduate of Leadership Richardson. She is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Texas and the Southern District of Texas and she earned her J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law, where she and Simpson were roommates and have remained life-long friends.
Munck Wilson Mandala is a technology-focused law firm with offices in Dallas, Austin and Marshall, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The firm offers full-service counsel in the areas of intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property portfolio development, corporate transactions and securities, real estate, and employment law. Munck Wilson Mandala represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Learn more about the firm at http://www.munckwilson.com.
