Our Professionals

PHILLIP R. DOEPFNER

Practice Areas and Experience Detail

Beginning as a sole associate with William F. Billings, Phil handled a wide array of legal matters over nine years literally ranging from Adoption to Zoning, inclusive of bankruptcy (one debtor filing; multiple creditor filings and suit objecting to discharge of debtor and dischargeability of debt), criminal defense at state and federal level, family law, personal injury litigation, estate planning: wills and trusts, probate and estate administration, trademark applications (USPTO and State of Texas), copyright filings, consumer protection actions, and commercial disputes and debt actions.

Business Law and Contracts Active in the formation of an estimated number of more than 300 new business entities (including Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Limited Partnerships).
Attorney in charge of an estimated number of more than 250 transfers of ownership (representing Sellers, Purchasers and Licensees).
Regularly draft, negotiate and litigate contracts in all areas of trade, including international, representing manufacturers, distributors, sourcing agents and sales representatives.

Employment Law
Draft, negotiate and litigate employment agreements. Regularly provide counsel to employers and employees upon termination of employment. Negotiate severance packages and releases of claims. Experience defending and prosecuting charges of employment discrimination, example: prosecuted unanimous jury verdict in pregnancy discrimination act case in the U.S District Court, Northern District of Texas, with full award, statutory doubling and attorney’s fees.

Real Property
Comprehensive real estate transaction experience. Commercial and residential sales, home equity lending, 1031 exchanges, foreclosures, construction, leases, tax court and tax-exempt status work.
Title Insurance Agency Fee Attorney at Texas Title, 1998—2000, and Stewart Title, 2000—2001. Document Production Attorney, 2001—2002.

Civil Litigation
Lead attorney of record in approximately 250 litigation matters and approximately 10 arbitration matters. Actively involved as lead attorney in more than 100 mediations.
Appears before County and District Courts in multiple counties throughout Texas, and U.S District Courts.

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214-692-1716
phil@w-dlaw.com
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PHILLIP R. DOEPFNER

Phil is one of the founding partners of Walker & Doepfner, PLLC. He began his legal career in 1988, handling a wide array of legal matters under the mentorship of a long-time general practitioner. Following several years of practice in all areas of civil litigation and transactional work, Phil formed his own private practice. He and Scott Walker formed the firm together in 1997. Phil’s practice focuses on corporate counsel and litigation in civil and business matters, including contract, employment and real property issues. Phil has written articles on business organizations, fiduciary duties, and employment matters, and has presented to local bar associations on Texas business law. He has received the Martindale AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 peer review rating.

Practice Areas

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Corporate Counsel
Business Organizations
Employment and General Business Matters
Succession Planning
Real Property
Commercial Litigation

Education

Texas Tech School of Law, J.D., 1988
Georgetown University, Institute of Comparative and Political Economic Systems, Graduate 1983
Southern Methodist University, Dual Degrees: B.S. Economics, 1985, and B.A. Political Science, 1985

Admissions & Affiliations

Texas, 1988
U.S. District Courts,

Northern District of Texas 1989

Eastern District of Texas 1991

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit 1992
State Bar of Texas

Business Law

Dallas Bar Association

Business Litigation Section

Corporate Counsel Section

St. Thomas More Society

Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Life Fellow, Dallas Bar Association

Community Involvement

Phil regularly gives back to the community serving on various nonprofit boards as well as parish and school councils. He has been recognized for his commitment to pro bono legal work by the State Bar of Texas’ “Care Campaign,” an initiative to increase Texas attorneys’ pro bono contributions to their local communities.

214-692-1716
phil@w-dlaw.com
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DEBRA S. CRAFTON

Debra “Debbie” Crafton is a seasoned civil litigator known for her hands-on, personal approach and unwavering commitment to her clients. With a reputation for integrity and professionalism, Debbie represents individuals and businesses across Texas in high-stakes litigation, helping them navigate complex legal challenges with confidence and care.
As an experienced trial attorney and negotiator, Debbie has successfully resolved a wide range of disputes—whether at trial, through summary judgment, or via arbitration and mediation. She also has appellate experience, having authored persuasive briefs and crafted winning legal arguments across diverse issues.
Debbie’s unique perspective as a former corporate executive enhances her ability to understand the practical realities her business clients face. Whether advocating in court or advising behind the scenes, she brings strategic insight, legal skill, and personal dedication to every matter she handles. Debbie is also a trained mediator, bringing valuable insight to alternative dispute resolution processes and helping clients find efficient, cost-effective solutions.

Practice Areas

Estate and Trust Litigation
Business and Commercial Litigation
Landlord/Tenant Litigation
Real Estate and Construction Litigation
Probate

Education

Texas A&M University School of Law, J.D., 2005
Texas A&M University, B.A. Journalism, 1984

Admissions & Memberships

State Bar of Texas
Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
Fellow of the Texas Bar College
Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
National Order of the Barristers
Texas A&M Association of Former Students.
Coppell Bible Member

Representative Experience

Secured $6.3 million unanimous jury verdict in breach of fiduciary duty suit against trustees of a family trust.
Recovered six-figure settlement in commercial lease dispute.
Achieved trustee removal in contested trust administration matter.
Won $500,000.00 settlement in breach of oral agreement case.
Obtained summary judgment on breach of settlement agreement claim and award of attorneys’ fees.
Successfully dismissed lawsuit via special appearance for out-of-state client.
Resolved complex intestate estate dispute among multiple heirs.
Defeated all claims via summary judgment for trustee in trust litigation.
Achieved favorable jury verdict for fraud and fraudulent transfer in business litigation.
Won dismissal of claims and award of attorneys’ fees in defense of business owner.
Represented prevailing party at trial and appeal in anti-SLAPP litigation under TCPA.
Successfully defended elderly client in contested guardianship proceeding.

(214) 884-1317
debbie@w-dlaw.com
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Attorney Profiles

Learn more about the professionals at Walker & Doepfner. Click the “Read More” links under each team member to review the experience our business and estate planning attorneys have to offer.

R. Scott Walker

Attorney, Counselor & Co-founder
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