Deborah S. Coldwell

Deborah S. Coldwell is a Dallas trial lawyer and co-chair of Haynes Boone’s Franchise and Distribution Practice Group. She represents franchisors, distributors, joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships, and company principals in jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations. She has litigated across several industries – from hotels and restaurants to health clubs and tax preparation services to product and service-based franchise and distribution networks.

Deb works to pursue business solutions to disputes when possible and represents clients in mediations and other settlement proceedings. But when litigation is inevitable, she is fully prepared to go to trial or arbitration and to fight for a company and its officers.

To that end, over the past several years, Deb has successfully led a trial team in a franchise case in the Eastern District of Texas, tried a case involving the sale of a franchise company in bankruptcy court, and litigated a successful six-week jury trial in Texas state court in a joint venture dispute.

Ranked nationally in Band 1 by Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, 2009-2026 in the franchise law category, clients have described her as an "outstanding trial lawyer,” “very poised, thoughtful, and smart,” and as “an especially good advocate.” One client remarked “Deborah Coldwell is one of the best in this space. She is super responsive and knows what we need.” Another client commented “She is commercially savvy and a great business partner.”

Deb has held significant leadership roles in the franchise bar and in organizations focused on women in law. She is a past chair of the 2,000-plus member American Bar Association Forum on Franchising. She also served the Forum as the editor-in-chief of the Franchise Law Journal and as its publications officer. Deb is currently a Champion at the Center for Women in Law housed at the University of Texas School of Law. She was nominated and is serving a three-year term on the Executive Committee of the Center.

Prior to attending law school, Deb worked in restaurants and taught junior high and college. That background informs her practical approach to franchise and distribution disputes and her focus on workable strategies tailored to each matter.