Seven Brown Fox Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers

August 15, 2024 by

Brown Fox, a Chambers-ranked, Tier 1 Best Law Firm two years in a row, is proud to announce that Best Lawyers of America has named Russ Brown, Jenny DePonte, Brian Robison, Cort Thomas, Stephen Key, Samuel Fubara, and Paulette Miniter as 2025 Best Lawyers in ten different categories. Robison was honored as Lawyer of the Year for an incredible fourth time for his antitrust litigation work. Best Lawyers selections are based entirely upon peer reviews, with “Lawyers of the Year” selected based upon the highest overall feedback for a specific practice area on a geographic region. Brown, who also serves as the firm’s Managing Partner, shared, “My colleagues’ honors are well-deserved, but honestly the best honor we can get is a client who continues to seek our team’s expertise. We work hard to gain trust, over-communicate, and exceed expectations in every representation and these attorneys, along with the rest of our team, exemplify that approach.”

Russ Brown: Employment Law – Management. Brown represents business and executive clients, often bringing together teams of Brown Fox attorneys to serve a wide range of client needs, including his practice focus, labor & employment. He co-founded Brown Fox fourteen years ago and serves as Brown Fox’s Managing Partner. Super Lawyers, D Magazine, and Dallas Business Journal have also recognized Brown’s legal skills.

Jenny DePonte: Employment Law – Management. This award constitutes DePonte’s second Best Lawyers honor for Employment Law – Management. Board certified in both labor and employment and civil trial, DePonte focuses her practice on OHSA compliance, investigations, handling of alleged violations, labor and employment counseling and litigation, and defending companies against employment-related torts. Super Lawyers and D Magazine have also recognized DePonte’s courtroom talents.

Cort Thomas: Commercial Litigation. This recognition is Thomas’s fourth Best Lawyers honor in a row, again for Commercial Litigation. He focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation, and regularly serves as a court-appointed receiver. Super Lawyers has also recognized Thomas as a Rising Star.

Brian Robison: Commercial Litigation, Antitrust Law, and Litigation – Antitrust. Robison has also been honored as a Best Lawyer an incredible thirteen years in a row, this year in three categories. Robison focuses his practice on commercial litigation, particularly antitrust disputes, and continues to grow his successful mediation and arbitration practice. Robison has been honored by Lawdragon, Super Lawyer, and D Magazine, among other publications. He has been an AAA Panel Member since 2023.

Stephen Key: Labor Law – Management. Key has garnered thirteen Best Lawyers honors. In 2022, he picked up the prestigious award of Lawyer of the Year, Labor Law – Management. Key focuses his practice on management-side labor & employment counseling and litigation. Super Lawyers and D Magazine have also recognized Key’s legal skills.

Samuel Fubara: “One to Watch” – Corporate Law. Best Lawyers named Fubara a 2025 “One to Watch” for the second time in a row for corporate law. Fubara focuses his practice on corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity work.

Paulette Miniter: “One to Watch” – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation. Miniter has also been named a 2025 “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers. This is Miniter’s fifth honor for commercial litigation and fourth honor for appellate work. Miniter focuses her practice on lawsuits and appeals that present difficult issues or high stakes.

Visit Brown Fox’s Best Lawyers page by clicking here.


Founded in 2010, Brown Fox is a business boutique law firm focused on serving businesses, executives and entrepreneurs in practice areas most commonly needed to advance business growth, manage risk, and defend from attack. The firm’s representative clientele includes companies ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies. The firm has offices in Dallas and Frisco.

Best Lawyers recently named Brown Fox a Tier 1 Best Law Firm for a third year in a row, Chambers & Partners has recognized the firm as a top small to midsize firm in both of its Regional Spotlights, and Inc. 5000 has twice recognized the firm as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. The firm’s attorneys have garnered over seventy Super Lawyers & Rising Stars honors, several Best Lawyers honors from both D Magazine and Best Lawyers in America, among other honors.

Character Matters® is the firm’s foundational maxim; its core values of integrity, servant leadership, excellence, and impact are its roots. Brown Fox is committed to aggressively and creatively representing our clients, while staying true to the firm’s guiding principles. Learn more about Brown Fox by clicking here.


Integrity-Driven Advocates, Problem Solvers, and Counselors Ready to Serve.
Meet Brown Fox