Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated (“Cox Smith”) today announced the addition of two experienced attorneys in its Dallas office. Eduardo “Eddy” Espinosa and Michael Napoli, who were previously partners in K&L Gates’ Dallas office, have joined Cox Smith’s corporate and litigation practices as shareholders.
“Eddy and Michael are highly experienced attorneys, and there are significant opportunities for synergy between their practices and the practices of our other Dallas lawyers, as well as other lawyers in the firm,” said Jamie Smith, managing director of Cox Smith. “Like other partners who have joined Cox Smith from large, national firms, they are excited about the firm’s robust resources and the value proposition they are able to offer clients as part of a regional firm.”
Espinosa and Napoli are currently involved in a State Securities Board receivership in which Espinosa is the appointed Receiver and Napoli acts as the Receiver’s counsel in connection with related litigation.
Eduardo Espinosa is a corporate lawyer who has worked in the government, public and private sectors. His practice includes corporate, domestic and international business transactions, mergers & acquisitions, securities and securities enforcement. He assists clients with the formation and governance of corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies; mergers and acquisitions; and the financing of business entities, including private and public offering of securities, project financing, loan transactions, and letters of credit. He also advises foreign and domestic entities on international commercial transactions and foreign investments, including U.S.-Mexico cross-border transactions.
Espinosa began his legal career as an Enforcement Attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission where he investigated and prosecuted violations of the federal securities laws. He has served as General Counsel to a multi-million dollar distribution company and Senior Transactional Counsel to a multi-national telecommunications company. Licensed to practice in Louisiana and Texas, Espinosa received his juris doctor degree from Tulane Law School, his MBA from Tulane University and his bachelor’s in business administration degree from the University of Texas.
Michael Napoli is an experienced litigator with a focus on commercial and securities litigation. He has defended individuals and entities in civil proceedings brought by the SEC and the State Securities Board; prosecuted claims for securities fraud on behalf of individuals who have invested in Ponzi schemes; defended broker/dealers against Ponzi scheme allegations; defended a mutual fund advisor against a class action suit asserting violations of state and federal law; and defended hedge funds in litigation arising from their purchase of convertible securities in small public companies.
Napoli also has a broad commercial practice including contract, corporate governance and intellectual property disputes. In recent years, he has prosecuted litigation on behalf of an automotive finance company against the servicer of its loan portfolio; defended directors of public companies accused of breaching fiduciary duties; prosecuted and defended claims for misappropriation of trade secrets; prosecuted patent infringement and antitrust litigation on behalf of a vending machine company; and defended patent infringement and Lanham Act claims relating to oil field tools. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and Baylor University.
