Bret A. Madole
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Bret A. Madole

An effective lawyer understands the business terms of the deal just as well as the legal aspects. My clients find that I’m an invaluable resource and can add real value to their bottom lines for years. I truly enjoy discovering what makes them tick and what they’re trying to accomplish — and helping them get there.

Representing private companies and entrepreneurs, primarily in the middle-market space, Bret Madole focuses his practice on corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, banking, and intellectual property. He advises individuals and companies from startup, implementing successful strategies for resolving problems with trademark, copyright, employment, licensing, governance, contracts, leases, mergers and acquisitions, and related issues.

Bret’s clients span a vast array of industries, including advertising, marketing, construction, technology, sports, and product development. Most are based in Texas and the greater South, although he handles work for them all over the United States, particularly when it comes to transactions and finance matters. Many clients rely on Bret to help them reach their commercial potential at all stages, from getting their businesses off the ground to connecting them with the right people to handling all of their legal needs over the years and prepping them for an exit.

When clients are ready to sell their companies, Bret helps with the valuation process, identifies and mitigates any potential issues and problems, and positions them advantageously to get the optimal financial reward through the sale. He also provides sage counseling in the non-legal and non-business-related aspects of the process and offers a sympathetic ear to people who are passing along their “babies” — organizations they’d created and nurtured for many years. Bret finds it gratifying to assist owners in successfully completing sales and moving on to the next phase of their lives.

Bret excels equally at helping out buyers on the private equity side of the equation. With an in-depth understanding of the needs of portfolio companies, he provides outstanding legal representation for reasonable fees. He also handles many pre-bankruptcy workouts and spots creative solutions during restructuring processes.

Bret serves on the Board of Multilaw, the Global Network of Law Firms (100 Law Firms in 90 countries), which Carrington Coleman belongs to.

In addition to his activities with the Dallas Bar Association (including service as chair of the Sports Law Committee) and other professional groups, Bret is the first lawyer to be elected to the board of the Dallas Ad League. He also serves as a board member of The Dream Fund.

Areas of Focus

Education

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1986)
  • Birmingham-Southern College (B.S., cum laude, 1983)

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • Texas, 1987

Leadership

  • Multilaw, Board of Directors
  • Alcuin School, Board of Trustees, 2023-2024
  • Dallas Advertising League, Board of Directors
  • Dallas All Sports Association, Board of Directors
  • Dallas Bar Association (Corporate and Intellectual Property Section)
  • Dallas Bar Association (Chairman, Sports and Entertainment Sections, 1996-97)
  • Dream Fund, Board of Directors
  • State Bar of Texas (Corporate, Intellectual Property, and Sports and Entertainment Sections)
  • Texas Association of Bank Counsel

Recognition

  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, 2020-2025
  • D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas, Corporate Law: Mergers & Acquisitions, 2024
  • D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas, Corporate Law: General, 2015-2017
  • Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation

AV-Preeminent-2020

Speeches/Publications

  • Author: Actual, Written Contracts More Precise Than Handwriting on the Wall.
  • Speaker: Practical and Legal Aspects of Doing Business on the Internet, Institute of Real Estate Managers, 1997.
  • Author: Drafting Letters of Credit, Real Estate Documents, Workouts and Closings, University of Houston Law Center, March, 1991.
  • Co-Author: Protecting and Realizing Upon The Issuer’s Right to Reimbursement, Letter of Credit, A Practitioners Workshop, New York, 1990.
  • Author: Instruments and Transfers-Proposed Amendments to Articles 3 & 4 and the New Article 4A, Texas Association of Bank Counsel, 1989.

Outside of Work

A dedicated sports fan, Bret particularly enjoys following college football and college basketball (which he played at a high level during his university days). In addition to golfing, Bret indulges in two other interests — modern art and wine.