Darren Nicholson

Burns Charest - Texas

Partner

900 Jackson Street, Suite 500
Dallas, TX, 75202, United States

+1 469 998 4303

Litigation Star

English



Darren Nicholson is a seasoned trial lawyer with more than two decades of experience representing clients in high-stakes disputes across the country. Known for his courtroom skill and ability to translate complex issues into compelling narratives, Darren has built a reputation as an advocate who delivers results in some of the most challenging areas of litigation.

Darren began his career at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., before returning to Texas in 2008 as a partner with the nationally recognized boutique Sayles Werbner PC. He joined Burns Charest in 2019, where he continues to focus on complex commercial litigation, intellectual property disputes, False Claims Act matters, aviation and wrongful death claims, and other major litigation such as the ongoing opioid crisis. He currently serves as lead counsel for Parkland and other hospitals pursuing claims against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers whose conduct contributed to the opioid epidemic.

His career highlights include securing a multimillion-dollar jury verdict against Forgent Network for breach of a patent license agreement, prevailing for plaintiffs in a major business fraud and breach of fiduciary duty case, and achieving favorable judgment in litigation tied to the Texas Rangers Baseball Partners bankruptcy. Darren also represents victims in high-profile aviation cases, including wrongful death claims under the Montreal Convention and litigation connected to the Boeing 737 MAX.

In addition to his courtroom achievements, Darren is regularly invited to speak on topics such as litigation strategy, ethical considerations in witness preparation, settlement dynamics, and effective use of experts. His insights and advocacy have been recognized by leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Dallas Morning News.

Darren’s work has earned repeated recognition from industry guides, including listings in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Lawdragon’s Leading Plaintiff Financial and Consumer Lawyers. He is also a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a Barrister in the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court.

At every stage of the legal process, Darren brings a client-centered approach that blends preparation with courtroom skill, earning him a place among the leading litigators in Texas and beyond.

Updated Oct 2025

  • Dallas County Hospital District, d/b/a Parkland Health & Hospital System, et al. v. Amneal Pharmaceuticals, et al. – currently representing 26 Texas hospitals against the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers that caused the opioid epidemic.

  • United States of America v. The Boeing Company. – counsel for crime-victims' families in criminal case against Boeing for fraud that resulted in multiple crashes of the 737 MAX airplane.

  • AerReach, et al., v. Stanford, et al. – represented plaintiffs in a multi-million dollar business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and commercial bribery case against multiple defendants.

  • United States of America, ex rel. Haight v. RRSA (Commercial Division) LLC, et al. – represented relator in multi-million-dollar settlement False Claims Act case involving fraudulent small business subcontracting on military bases.

  • Commil USA, LLC v. Cisco Systems, Inc.,135 S.Ct. 1920 (2015) – favorable U.S. Supreme Court ruling eliminating the defense of good-faith belief in invalidity to induced infringement claims.

  • Arbitration
  • Class action
  • Energy and construction
  • Environmental
  • Intellectual property
  • Antitrust, Asbestos, Business Disputes, Consumer Protection, Toxic and Mass Tort Litigation

  • Aviation
  • Energy
  • Pharmaceutical and life sciences

  • J.D. - Georgetown University Law Center - 2001
  • B.S. - The University of Texas - 1997
  • B.A. - The University of Texas - 1997

  • State Bar of Texas    
  • Virginia State Bar    
  • District of Columbia Bar