Dwayne is an experienced trial attorney who has conducted over 25 jury trials to verdict. Dwayne has a proven ability to translate complicated situations into clear, concise and persuasive arguments that advance client positions. Drawing on his experience as an assistant general counsel, Dwayne understands how to harmonize business objectives with litigation strategy.
Dwayne helps clients minimize the risk of litigation. He has conducted internal investigations and advised healthcare professionals on critical compliance matters. Dwayne previously served as the Chief Privacy Officer for a nationwide health care organization, and the HIPAA Privacy Officer for a county-wide healthcare organization.
Education
- College of William and Mary School of Law, JD
- Furman University, BA
Admissions
- Florida
- Indiana
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Appellate Practice & Legal Strategies
- Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
Industries
- Healthcare
- Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- Consumer Products & Retail
- Manufacturing
Carra Rentie is an associate in McKool Smith's Dallas office. Carra is a versatile litigator with a range of experience in patent and complex commercial cases. Much of her recent work has been concentrated in the technology and telecommunications spheres.
Carra has previously served as a judicial intern for Chief Judge Leroy M. Not Afraid of the Crow Tribal Courts in Big Horn County, Montana, Judge Martin Hoffman of the 68th District Court in Dallas, and Magistrate Judge Renee H. Toliver of the Northern District of Texas. In 2021, Carra also took a year away from private practice to clerk for the Honorable Barbara Lynn of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
While in law school, Carra was active in the Native American Law Student Association and participated in the Supreme Court litigation for McGirt v. Oklahoma. She was the recipient of the Leon M. Cain Community Leadership Award, graduated with Highest Pro Bono Distinction, and served as an editor of the Stanford Law and Policy Review. She also served as an extern for the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrant Rights Project, and the Stanford Community Law Clinic.
Carra is fluent in Spanish and conversational in American Sign Language.
Education
- J.D., Stanford Law School, 2020
- B.A., Linguistics, Stanford University, 2017
Clerkships
- Hon. Barbara Lynn, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
Court Admissions
- State of Texas
- The U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, and Northern Districts of Texas
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Alia L. Adkins-Derrick serves as the managing partner of Adkins Lawyers, PLLC. Ms. Adkins-Derrick’s primary focus is helping clients avoid legal ruin by providing them with the legal foresight and representation they need to minimize their legal risks.
Ms. Adkins-Derrick regularly counsels business clients across various professions and industries on the practical implications and impact of employment, business, and contract laws on their respective business practices, policies, and procedures. She has first-hand experience preparing clients for changes in the law and guiding their efforts to bring their company and/or workplace into compliance. Her clients describe her as “on your team . . . looking out for your best interest” and a “great partner for the long-term: trustworthy, knowledgeable, and caring.”
Ms. Adkins-Derrick is no stranger to the courtroom. She helps clients protect their interest by representing them in administrative and court proceedings, if and when, the need arises. As a mediator with advanced training and first-hand experience, Ms. Adkins-Derrick empowers litigants with the tools needed to negotiate and resolve the complex disputes between them. As a legal advocate, Ms. Adkins-Derrick uses this specialized knowledge to give her clients a competitive advantage in alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
When she is not engaged in fierce client advocacy, Ms. Adkins-Derrick educates others on the law. She serves as an Adjunct Law Professor at a local law school and is frequently called upon to speak at various business seminars and conferences. Ms. Adkins-Derrick takes great pride in: (1) equipping the next generation of Texas attorneys with the critical reasoning and practical legal research and writing skills they need to be effective client advocates; and (2) educating business owners and clients on practical steps they can take to avoid legal landmines.
Prior to forming Adkins Lawyers, PLLC, Ms. Adkins-Derrick had the distinct honor of serving as a briefing attorney for former Texas Supreme Court Justice Scott A. Brister where she gained in depth knowledge of court procedure as well as unique and invaluable insight and understanding of court decisions that translates into a competitive advantage for her clients.
Ms. Adkins-Derrick later joined a large law firm where she gained experience as legal advocate for clients.
Ms. Adkins-Derrick obtained her B.A. degree in History and Spanish from Rice University and her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Ms. Adkins-Derrick also holds an advanced mediation certification and serves as a neutral third-party mediator trained to help parties resolve complex disputes.
Victoria Miller is a Litigation Associate who represents clients in a variety of complex commercial matters, including class actions, shareholder and securities litigation, regulatory investigations, and contract disputes across a range of industries. She has experience managing e-discovery in large-scale matters, drafting and responding to discovery requests, briefing dispositive motions, and conducting in-depth legal research to develop strategic case approaches.
During law school, Victoria interned for the Honorable Mark X. Mullin of the Northern District of Texas and served as the Associate Executive Editor of the Texas A&M Law Review. She also worked in the Texas A&M Low-Income Tax Dispute Resolution Clinic, and served as a teaching assistant for the legal research and writing program. She graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Barristers.
Admissions & Affiliations
Malik Allen is a Litigation Associate who represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial disputes across industries. His practice includes contract disputes, organizational and governance conflicts, shareholder and securities litigation, and trade secret disputes. Malik also has experience advising on litigation risk in connection with mergers and acquisitions and responding to regulatory inquiries, including SEC investigations.
During law school, Malik participated in the Exoneration Project, a legal clinic dedicated to investigating and overturning wrongful convictions.
Admissions & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas
Education
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 2024
- B.A., History, Texas A&M University, 2018