Background

Wayne Whitaker entered private practice in Fort Worth in 1978, after six years with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and began representing public companies in SEC compliance, public offerings, exchange listings, general corporate needs as well as acquisitions and mergers (involving both public and private companies), including reverse mergers into SEC reporting companies.

Wayne’s clients include seasoned as well as start-up companies, entrepreneurs and developers. He assists in financial matters ranging from public offerings, mezzanine and senior lender financings to private offerings, venture capital and seed capital. He also handles routine contract matters such as formation of corporations and limited liability companies, employment and consulting agreements, licensing agreements and joint venture agreements. He has a unique appreciation for issues confronting the Board of Directors, as he served on the board of an AMEX-traded company.

Early in his practice, Wayne gained significant transactional experience in the oil and gas industry. During the past 25 years, he has also been active in the health care and real estate industry. He routinely advises his healthcare clients regarding compliance with the Stark and Anti-Kickback statutes and regulations.

In health care, he has represented investor owned hospitals, other medical facilities, and physicians in all aspects of their activities, including acquiring, selling and developing general acute care hospitals and clinics, licensure and compliance issues, joint ventures, and negotiating and documenting agreements between various health care providers, physicians and suppliers. In the real estate area, he has represented real estate developers as well as buyers and sellers of commercial and retail property.

He speaks at various continuing education conferences and seminars on business, securities and health care issues.

Awards & Recognitions

Top Attorney – Fort Worth Magazine (2002 – 2022)

Recognized as a Top Attorney by 360 West Magazine 2018 to present

Texas Super Lawyer® – Thomson Reuters Publisher of Texas Super Lawyer® and listed in Texas Monthly (2009 – 2023)

Power Attorney – Fort Worth Business Press (2012)

AV-Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell®™ Peer Review Ratings™

Areas of Practice

Business & Corporate Law

Health Care

Mergers & Acquisitions

Securities

Associations and Memberships

Northeast Texas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Former President

Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth, Former Chairman and President

American Health Lawyers Association

American Bar Association Business Law and Health Law Sections

State Bar of Texas Business Law and Health Law Sections

American Bar Association

Tarrant County Bar Association

 

 

Education

  • JD, Baylor University School of Law (1971)
  • BBA, Baylor University (1971)
  • Masters of Laws (Taxation), Southern Methodist University , School of Law (1972)

Bar/Court Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas (1971)
  • US Supreme Court (1978)
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1983)
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Texas (1976)
9/25/23

Wayne Whitaker selected to Super Lawyers list for 2023

Wayne Whitaker selected to Super Lawyers list for 2023. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more...
9/18/23

11 Attorneys selected to Super Lawyers list for 2023

Whitaker Chalk has 11 Attorneys selected to Super Lawyers list for 2023. Decker Cammack - Intellectual Property Litigation John Allen...
11/4/20

Wayne Whitaker selected to Super Lawyers list for 2020

Wayne Whitaker selected to Super Lawyers list for 2020. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more...
9/3/19

Wayne Whitaker named to the 2019 Super Lawyers

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC proudly announces Wayne M. Whitaker selected as a 2019 Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters...
11/29/17

Whitaker Chalk Attorneys Selected as 2017 Super Lawyers

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC proudly announces 13 of our attorneys have been selected as 2017 Super Lawyers by Thomson...
9/26/16

13 of 34 Whitaker Chalk Attorneys Selected as 2016 Super Lawyers

Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC proudly announces 13 of our 34 attorneys have been selected as 2016 Super Lawyers...
9/21/15

11 Attorneys Named to 2015 Super Lawyers

Whitaker Chalk has 11 named to 2015 Super Lawyers List. Congratulations to John Allen Chalk, David Flowers, Charles Gunter, Tim...
10/1/14

Whitaker Chalk has Seven Attorneys Recognized by Thomson-Reuters as Super Lawyers for 2014

Whitaker Chalk has seven attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers for 2014: John Allen Chalk - Alternative Dispute Resolution Charles Gunter...
10/1/14

Wayne Whitaker has been Recognized as a Super Lawyer for 2014 by Thomson-Reuters

Wayne Whitaker has been named a Super Lawyer in  Healthcare by Thomson-Reuters Super Lawyers is a Thomson-Reuters service printed in...
1/7/14

John Fahy and Wayne Whitaker Submitted a Comment Letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

John Fahy and Wayne Whitaker submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the SEC’s Crowdfunding...
9/30/13

John Fahy and Wayne Whitaker Submitted an Extensive Comment Letter to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission

John Fahy and Wayne Whitaker submitted an extensive comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the...
9/25/12

Wayne Whitaker is Honored as a Power Attorney by the Fort Worth Business Press

Wayne Whitaker is one of the twelve 2012 Power Attorneys to be honored by the Fort Worth Business Press.  Power...
2/14/12

Wayne Whitaker Spoke at the 36th Annual Conference on Securities Regulation

Wayne Whitaker spoke at the 36th Annual Conference on Securities Regulation and Business Law regarding  “Series LLC Securities Issues,” at...
4/1/11

15th Essentials of Business Law, “Obtaining Financing for Your Business,” Texas Bar CLE, Speaker, April, 2011.

Wayne Whitaker spoke at the 15th Essentials of Business Law regarding “Obtaining Financing for Your Business,” Texas Bar CLE.