Our Team

Founder

David Middlebrook

David Middlebrook is one of the country’s leading practitioners in the area of religious nonprofit organizations. His clients include high-profile charitable and religious organizations, both domestic and international. Mr. Middlebrook has an in-depth knowledge of risk management for charities, religious organizations, private schools, and universities.

Mr. Middlebrook advises his clients on a wide range of legal issues including corporate structure and governance, employment and volunteer practices, intellectual property, and compensation practices. Mr. Middlebrook serves as outside general counsel to a number of nonprofit organizations, while many others use his services as special nonprofit corporate counsel. Mr. Middlebrook also serves his clients in the role of literary and music agent and is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars on legal subjects affecting religious nonprofit organizations. He is an award-winning author and has published numerous articles on nonprofit topics. Mr. Middlebrook is a founding shareholder of Middlebrook | Group, PLLC.

Representative Engagements

Assisted a media-based church ministry in responding to an inquiry by Senator Charles Grassley and the Senate Finance Committee into the church’s activities and operations that raised novel and complex issues, including the permissible scope of congressional inquiries, the protections afforded churches and their members by the First Amendment, and the interplay between congressional inquiries and the protections afforded to churches by section 7611 of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides special rules for IRS inquiries and examinations of churches. Managed a team of outside experts to prepare a coordinated response including lobbying counsel, tax counsel, and religious and constitutional scholars.

Successfully resolved a three-year long IRS church tax inquiry and examination of an international church-based ministry on a “no change” basis that preserved the tax-exempt status of the organization and confirmed its status as a church for federal tax purposes.

Counseled churches and religious organizations on the availability and requirements for providing parsonages and housing allowances to church leaders.

Education

J.D., Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, 1989
B.S. (Business Management), cum laude, Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1985

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1989
District of Columbia, 1991
Colorado, 1996

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Tax Court
All Texas State Courts
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
All Colorado State Courts

Publications

Nonprofit Law for Religious Organizations: Essential Questions and Answers, providing guidance, direction, and clarification of legal and tax laws affecting churches and other religious organizations (John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2008)
The Guardian System, a comprehensive system for the prevention of child abuse within nonprofit organizations (Strang Communications Company, 2000)

Distinctions

Awarded the Gold Medallion Book Award in recognition of excellence in evangelical Christian literature by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, 2001
Certified in Nonprofit Management by the University of Texas at Austin, 2013
Certified in Risk Management for Religious Nonprofit Organizations by the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, U.K., 1996

SENIOR ATTORNEY

WENDI HODGES

Wendi Hodges practices in a wide variety of areas, but focuses primarily on those of corporate, transactional, and nonprofit law. Wendi works with many organizations across the country and internationally, assisting with the incorporation process in multiple jurisdictions.  She regularly assists clients in various commercial real estate matters, such as drafting conveyance deeds, loan documents, and negotiating commercial lease agreements.  Wendi also has experience in employment law, drafting employee handbooks, at-will employment, and separation agreements.  She has counseled a wide variety of for-profit and nonprofit entities and tax-exempt organizations, including public charities, private schools, churches, and religious organizations.

Wendi initially joined Mr. Middlebrook’s firm as a law clerk in 2005, before becoming an associate of the firm in 2007.  She stepped away from the firm in 2012 when she relocated with her family to East Texas where she spent the next several years representing financial institutions, for-profit entities, and entrepreneurs with their business endeavors, while also providing counsel in the fields of oil and gas and individual probate matters.  In early 2023 she happily accepted an offer to rejoin Mr. Middlebrook’s team as a Senior Associate Attorney.

Representative Engagements

Represented domestic and international nonprofit organizations, assisting them with complying with federal, state, and local rules and regulations

Regularly assist new and existing organizations in multiple jurisdictions with corporate matters, including drafting documents such as certificates of formation and articles of incorporation, bylaws, company agreements, corporate resolutions, minutes of board meetings, and a wide variety of corporate policies and operational procedures

Regularly assist clients in commercial real estate matters of various sizes, including drafting and negotiating construction contracts, conveyance deeds, loan documents, and commercial lease agreements, as well as seeking and obtaining exemption from property taxes in numerous counties

Drafted employee handbooks, employment agreements, and separation agreements, as well as represented organizations in state unemployment disputes

Performed a wide range of contract drafting, reviews, and negotiations, and assisted clients with vendor disputes

Regularly counsel members of senior management regarding risk management and best practices

Counseled clients in matters of estate planning, including drafting and implementing wills, trusts, and general and medical powers of attorney

Education

J.D., Texas Wesleyan University, 2007
B.A. magna cum laude (English and History), Stephen F. Austin State University, 2004

Bar Admissions

Texas, 2007

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, N.D. Texas
All Texas State Courts

SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

ALLY HAEFNER

Ally Haefner is an senior associate attorney at Middlebrook | Group, PLLC.  Before joining our firm, Ally’s main practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, including negotiating, drafting, and reviewing transaction contracts.  In addition, Ally assisted clients with forming new businesses, advised employment-related matters, and drafted contracts for employment, statements of work, and service agreements.  Ally also assisted clients with civil litigation matters, including drafting court pleadings and drafting and responding to discovery.

Before becoming an attorney, Ally worked in student ministries for a church in Arkansas overseeing adult volunteers, coordinating small groups, and planning retreat weekends.  With this experience layered under her legal experience, Ally brings a unique understanding to assist our clients’ needs and challenges.

Ally lives with her husband and three daughters in her hometown of Plano, Texas.  Outside of work, she loves family time outside, cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks, and trying out new-to-her local restaurants.

Education

J.D., Regent University School of Law, 2017
B.S. (Dietetics), cum laude, University of Arkansas, 2011

Bar Admissions

Texas, 2018

Court Admissions

All Texas State Courts

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

BRIANNA A. NEVELS

Brianna Nevels is a graduate of Spelman College. Following her time at Spelman, she attended Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate Degree and honed her interest in Intellectual Property law by receiving a certificate in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. She is currently an Associate Attorney here at Middlebrook Group and loves advising clients regarding the best ways to protect their Trademarks and other Intellectual Property interest. Brianna is a New Orleans native and has now planted roots in Texas.

Education

Spelman College, B.A., 2017
Loyola University College of Law, J.D., 2020

Bar Admissions

Minnesota 2022
Alabama 2022

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

NICHOLAS WILBUR

A member of the Middlebrook Group’s pre-litigation and internal governance teams, Nick joined the firm in August of 2022. Prior to his current practice, Nick fought for religious freedom at the First Liberty Institute and externed in Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Nick received his Juris Doctorate with honors from Southern Methodist University and spent a year clerking for a corporate lawyer in Florence, Italy. He also graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Economics and Italian from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, and grew up in rural Maine.

Education

Southern Methodist University (Juris Doctorate), Wheaton College (Bachelor of Arts)

Bar Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, N.D. Texas
All Texas State Courts

Special Counsel

Curtis G. Coetzee

Curtis G. Coetzee is a distinguished associate attorney at Weavil Law PC, serving clients in California with a focus on corporate law. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Curtis moved to the United States at the age of 14, embarking on a journey that shaped his global perspective and commitment to legal excellence.

Curtis graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Economics from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Trinity Law School, where he stood out for his academic excellence. As a testament to his dedication to legal scholarship, Curtis was selected as a student tutor and received multiple Am Jur awards. His keen intellect and hard work propelled him to graduate at the top of his class.

In his practice, Curtis primarily concentrates on corporate, commercial, and business representation. He serves as outside general counsel for a diverse range of closely-held businesses, specializing in the following areas:

Mergers and acquisitions, representing both buyers and sellers
New entity start-up formations and financing
Commercial loan transactions, acting on behalf of both lenders and borrowers
Internal ownership transitions, including crafting operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and buy-sell agreements
Advising on business litigation and disputes matters
Ongoing corporate governance and legal counsel

His in-depth understanding of the legal landscape and meticulous attention to detail make him a sought-after legal advisor for businesses at various stages of growth.

Outside the courtroom and office, Curtis is passionate about golf and nature. He enjoys spending quality time on the golf course and experiencing the beauty of the great outdoors. Committed to social responsibility, he volunteers with nonprofit organizations focused on supporting underprivileged children.

Bar Admissions

California

Special Counsel

ROBERTO R. MANCHA

Roberto Mancha serves as “of counsel” to the firm. Roberto has in-depth experience in the area of federal and state tax law. He has assisted clients in tax planning and with defending against IRS and state tax audits, including federal employment audits (independent contractor/employee issues and withholding requirements), at both the examination and IRS Appeals stages. Roberto also works closely with client personnel, including upper management, to develop effective internal systems and processes to comply with applicable federal and state tax laws. Roberto has represented both the IRS and private taxpayers in complicated foreign and domestic transactions involving mergers and acquisitions and transfer pricing. He also assists clients with addressing employee plan issues. Prior to entering private practice, Roberto held several positions at the IRS, worked in industry for a Fortune 50 company, and worked for a “Big Four” CPA firm.

Education

L.L.M. (Taxation) Georgetown University, 1986
J.D. South Texas College of Law, 1979
B.B. A. (Accounting), University of Texas at Austin, 1972

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1979

Court Admissions

AU.S. Tax Court
Texas State Courts

Government Experience

Internal Revenue Service, Estate and Gift Tax Attorney, Houston, Texas
Internal Revenue Service, Corporate Reorganizations Division, IRS National Office,
Washington, D.C.
Internal Revenue Service, Chief Counsel International, IRS National Office,
Washington, D.C.
United States Marine Corps

Special Counsel

MAX BISHOP

Max Bishop serves as “of counsel” to the firm. Max’s practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, and real estate transactions. He counsels both individuals and entities such as charitable trusts.

Max assists individual clients with charitable giving goals in developing estate plans that meeting their particular eleemosynary objectives, utilizing a variety of planning tools including lifetime gifts (charitable contributions), charitable trusts, private foundations, and other charitable giving arrangements. He reviews current estate plans with an eye to the future, but also with an appreciation of the client’s need to make future changes as client’s circumstances mandate. Max’s approach to estate planning is to ensure that lifetime needs are taken into account in an estate plan as much as are prudent distributions at passing.

If a client’s estate planning needs involve the establishment of a charitable trust, private foundation, or other charitable entity, Max collaborates with other members of the Firm to establish or incorporate the right entity to meet the client’s needs.

Education

M.B.A., Southern Methodist University, 1991
J.D., University of Miami, 1990
B.A. (History and Political Science), Southern Methodist University, 1987

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1992

Court Admissions

All Texas State Courts

Special Counsel

JOHN HODGES

John W. Hodges, Jr., is a Texas native, and a trial lawyer.

After graduation from the University of Texas at San Antonio he began his active duty as U.S. Marine Corps officer. Shortly after a deployment to Iraq, he was selected by the Marine Corps to attend law school at the University of Nebraska. He completed the Litigation Skills Program of Concentrated Study and received his Juris Doctorate in 2011.

After spending more than 10 years as an active duty Marine and Judge Advocate (JAG), he returned home to Texas to represent individuals needing a bold, passionate trial attorney.

Special Counsel

RORY S. COETZEE

Special Counsel

JACQUES GAUTHIER

Dr. Jacques Gauthier is a Canadian international lawyer and scholar. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Geneva. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. He is founder of the Toronto-based international law firm Gauthier & Associates established in 1984, with extensive ongoing involvements in commercial transactions. The firm handles all types of corporate and business legal matters as well as employment, immigration and estate matters.

 

Over many years, Jacques has also provided legal assistance to real estate developers and international architectural firms. He has also acted as the official legal counsel of several states including the Republic of France, Mexico, Spain and the Government of Canada. In 2000, he was knighted by the President of France as<em> Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite</em>. As well, in 2015, he was knighted by the President of the Republic of France as he was appointed <em>Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur</em>.

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Jacques has provided legal services to numerous charities, including international and Canadian Christian charitable organizations. For the last 18 years, he was actively involved on the committee organizing the participation of business entities in the yearly US National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. Jacques is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Fellowship Group which organizes the Canadian Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa each year. He served on the President’s Advisory Council of Trinity Western University in British Columbia for several years.

SENIOR PARALEGAL TO THE FOUNDER

BRENDA NOEL

Brenda Noel is the Senior Paralegal to the Founder at Middlebrook | Group, PLLC where she is responsible for new client onboarding, managing the team of paralegals, and coordinating the commitments and schedule for the Founder. She is a great relationship builder. In the pursuit of excellence, she is focused on efficiency in workflow and helping to create a synergized team that delivers beyond expectation.

Prior to taking on her role at Middlebrook | Group PLLC, Brenda gained experience as a bank manager and officer, mortgage loan broker, and financial planner. However, she considers her time working at the U.S. SBA Office of Disaster Assistance as some of the most meaningful and fulfilling of her career. Over the years, she helped hundreds of individuals, families, and businesses reestablish their lives and livelihood after a natural disaster.

Brenda has also been a part of the leadership team at her church and has served as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee.

LEGAL SPECIALIST

GABBY HUGHES

Gabby is one of the paralegals at Middlebrook | Group where she is responsible for supporting our clients, our attorneys, and our overall mission. She is focused on fostering client relations and creating an environment of successful interactions.

Gabby earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Wesleyan University and her Paralegal Studies credentials from Texas Christian University.

Prior to taking on her role at Middlebrook | Group, Gabby gained experience in her time as a Litigation and Corporate Paralegal, as well as almost a decade spent as a Financial Controller.

ADMINISTRATIVE PARALEGAL

DENEEN WADE

Deneen Wade is an Administrative Paralegal at the firm.  What is an administrative paralegal?  She assists wherever needed to help the firm.  Deneen also works with attorneys in the application and maintenance of trademarks.  She manages the compensation report process from initial contact to report delivery.  She assists clients with filing their annual reports.

Just prior to joining Middlebrook Group, Deneen worked as a legal assistant with the US Small Business Administration assisting with disaster relief.  She also has experience in education, insurance, and social services.

Education

Project Management Certificate, Coursera/UC Irvine extension online
Paralegal Certificate, Duquesne University
M.A., University of Central Oklahoma
B.A., Augusta State University

Deneen is married with two sons.  She is a member of First Saint John Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas where Bishop Kenneth B. Spears is the pastor.  Deneen is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

PARALEGAL

STACY BLANCHARD

Stacy is a paralegal at Middlebrook Group, PLLC where she is responsible for managing calendars, legal document filings with the states, and assisting the attorneys with document preparation.

On a mission to always serve and do the will of God, she holds dear the verses in the Bible of John 3:16 and Proverbs 3:5-6. She is a dedicated worker and strives to be an encourager by creating a positive family work environment.

Prior to taking her role at Middlebrook Group, PLLC, Stacy worked for 27 years as a legal assistant at another Texas law firm assisting with nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, wills, and litigation.  Contemporaneously, she worked as an escrow officer for a title company working on commercial real estate transactions.

She is married to a wonderful husband and is an aunt to many nieces and nephews which she adores.

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

CHRISTINA MIDDLEBROOK

Christina Middlebrook is the Operations Director at Middlebrook | Group, The Church Lawyers, where she is responsible for overall operations, human relations, and the firm’s strategic growth.  She is motivated by making good things happen for others outside and inside the firm and works hard to maintain that culture of Christian contribution.

Before taking on her role at The Church Lawyers, Christina led several regional and national education nonprofits, built science-based education programs, and coached high school educators.

Christina was recognized as a Teacher of the Year and Teacher in Space candidate and has served on several nonprofit boards, including Propel Women and the nationally recognized LiiNK Project.

MARKETING ASSISTANT

ANGELLINA FIORETTO

Angellina is the Marketing Assistant at Middlebrook | Group, The Church Lawyers, where she is responsible for all social media pages and client outreach projects. She is currently a college student earning her undergraduate in Film and Television production.

MASCOT

ATTICUS

Atticus has proven himself equal to the task of becoming our newly appointed Firm Mascot. His qualifications include being an excellent greeter and willingness to help visitors explore the office.