ABOUT US

Our founding members worked together for years at one of the largest law firms in Dallas, representing Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile clients in virtually every legal matter under the sun. Together, we felt that we had something new to offer – a different way of doing things. We wanted to find a way to take our big-firm experience and combine it with a personal approach that our clients simply wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. Once we realized that, the next step was to open our own firm together. 

How is our approach different?

First, we’re a part of your team. Even within a single practice, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the law. So, before doing anything else, we work with you to create a set of goals that will form the foundation of our legal strategy. From there, we’re with you through every step of the process. We understand any legal dispute can be stressful and know that effective communication can go a long way toward allaying that. You’ll have questions, and we’ll be there to answer them. Simply put, you’ll be at the center of everything we do.

Second, our team of experienced attorneys prides itself on being more collaborative than most. When we take on a client, you’re not just getting a single lawyer’s experience and insight but the entire firm’s when it’s needed. Not a pile-on, with layers of lawyers, but a smart, efficient approach that means better solutions for you. You’re a part of the family now, so get used to the attention.

We believe that people like working with people they like, and that’s why we put personal service at the forefront of every client relationship. We get to know our clients, talk about family and vacations, and share an occasional bottle of wine. Connections are important to us.

We’re glad you found us, and we know that once you learn a little more about our attorneys and what we can do for you, you’re going to like working with us.

Estes Thorne Ewing & Payne traces its roots all the way back to 2008. Dawn Estes, Jessica Thorne, and Lori Carr worked together at Gardere Wynne Sewell before striking out on their own and creating what would become one of the largest women-owned law firms in the Southwest. It’s no surprise that the decision to leave the comfort and security of one of the largest and most well-respected law firms in Dallas was a tough one to make. But the women had a strong desire to create a boutique firm that would let them find more creative solutions for their clients. And they never looked back. 

The firm has undergone some changes in the intervening years, particularly with the addition of talented lawyers like noted business litigator Carol Payne and experienced family lawyer Abby Ewing. Yet even with growth, the firm remains true to the core principles it was founded on: providing first-rate legal service with a focus on the specific needs of the client. And of course, having fun while doing it. 

The firm’s diversity and inclusion success stories are rooted in our lawyers’ commitment and involvement in our local community and in the national legal marketplace. Many of our lawyers and partners are heavily involved in and maintain leadership roles in these organizations, underscoring our commitment to a wide range of legal, nonprofit and community organizations, where our lawyers advocate for change and inclusion:

  • American Bar Foundation, Fellows
  • Association of Rice Alumni
  • Attorneys Serving the Community
  • American Spaniel Club
  • Austin Street Center
  • Collaborative Law Institute of Texas
  • Collin County Bar Association
  • Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
  • Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
  • Dallas Animal Services Fostering Program
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • Dallas Bar Foundation
  • Denton County Bar Association
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association Foundation
  • Genesis Young Leaders in Dallas
  • Greater Youth Orchestra
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court
  • National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • Rainbow Days
  • Resource Center of Dallas
  • Texas Appleseed
  • Texas Bar Foundation
  • Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation
  • Texas Pride Impact Funds
  • Texas Women’s Foundation
  • Trinity University
  • Women’s Global Network (Dallas Branch)