David Drez is a trial lawyer who represents clients in high-stakes commercial disputes, with a particular focus on complex oil and gas litigation. He has secured significant results in royalty, contract, and fraud cases, including multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and precedent-setting appellate wins.

David is known for taking cases through trial and appeal, and he has argued before the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His practice spans the full lifecycle of litigation, from pre-suit strategy through trial and post-judgment appeals. He represents energy companies, developers, contractors, and other businesses in disputes involving royalties, breach of contract, non-compete agreements, fraud, and bankruptcy-related matters.

Clients rely on David for clear, practical guidance grounded in their business objectives. He focuses on identifying the most effective path forward—whether that means early resolution or aggressive litigation—and executing that strategy with precision. His experience across industries, including energy, real estate, transportation, and construction, allows him to quickly understand complex business issues and advocate effectively in high-pressure situations.

Before joining Wick Phillips, David was a partner at a large Texas-based international law firm, where he practiced for more than a decade. He began his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable James T. Trimble, Jr., United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

  • The Best Lawyers in America© - Commercial Litigation, Litigation–Construction,
    Oil and Gas Law (2020-2026)
  • Texas Super Lawyers® - Business Litigation (2013-2025); Top 100 DFW (2019)
  • Top Attorney - Commercial Litigation, Fort Worth Magazine (2019-2025)
  • Top Attorney - Commercial Litigation, 360 West Magazine (2017, 2024-2026)
  • Texas' Best Lawyers® (2020)
  • The 400 Fort Worth's Most Influential People, Fort Worth INC. (2018)
  • Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine (2018)
  • Power Attorney, Fort Worth Business Press (2015)
  • Argued multiple cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, including a significant royalty owner class action involving Devon Energy, where the court affirmed key oil and gas rulings and the case proceeded following remand.
  • Achieved a landmark victory for royalty owners in Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C. v. Hyder, arguing before the Texas Supreme Court and securing a decision with broad impact on royalty calculations in Texas.
  • Secured a federal jury verdict exceeding $33 million in a breach of contract and tortious interference case, later resolved following appeal.
  • Obtained a jury verdict of approximately $12.5 million in a federal fraud case involving the sale of fiber optic products.
  • Successfully represented a large international construction company in a week-long arbitration arising out of a cement plant project.
  • Defeated an $8 million claim against a debtor’s estate as lead trial counsel in a bankruptcy trial in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Represented royalty owners in litigation against a major energy company, obtaining more than $1 million in damages and attorneys’ fees.
  • Served as lead counsel in complex, multi-party litigation arising from Texas wildfire claims involving more than 100 plaintiffs across multiple jurisdictions.