My name is Danielle Cortez-Harper, I was born in Dallas, Texas and I grew up in Rowlett, Texas. Growing up I played a multitude of sports including soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, cheer, tap, ballet and jazz. I graduated from Garland High School in 1993 and received an academic scholarship to The University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, I was a member of Mu Epsilon Theta sorority, Hispanic Business Students Associated, and played intramural soccer. I graduated with a Bachelor of Business Degree in Finance in 1997. I then attended the Dedmon School of Law at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and graduated in 2000. I got married to my husband the same year. We have been married for going on 24 years. We have two sons, ages 21 and 15. I have enjoyed watching my kids participate in all of their extracurricular activities such as football, baseball and basketball. We have two cats and a dog. I enjoy reading in my spare time and traveling. I have been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas for 23 years. When first graduating from law school, I wasn’t sure what type of law I wanted to pursue. I was lucky enough to get my first job with a solo practitioner named David Lopez. I gained valuable experience in the field of family law while working with him. He eventually became a Dallas County Family District Court Judge and continued to be a mentor. I enjoy working in the Family Law community. I have met so many amazing attorneys and colleagues throughout the years. I love engaging with my clients and helping people find reasonable solutions to their legal matter, no matter how big or small.

Anna Nika was admitted to the Texas Bar in May, 2005, after graduating from the Baylor University School of Law. She attended Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in history. For more than 18 years, Anna Nika has protected the rights of women and men in family law and divorce matters. She also handles tax disputes. Before entering private practice, she served as an assistant district attorney in Cameron County, Texas, where she honed her trial skills handling criminal matters. Originally from Springfield, Illinois, she moved permanently to Texas in 2002. She has practiced extensively in North-Central Texas, representing clients in Harris County, Bexar County, Travis County and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Anna is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and is currently working toward her board certification in family law. She has considerable trial experience, handling a wide range of divorce and family law disputes. She also advocates for clients in matters involving Child Protective Services. Anna is proud to be a part of the Bailey & Galyen team, thriving on helping families with all types of legal issues.

Dan Christensen has been practicing law since 1994. He started his career working in military courts, notorious for their strict adherence to rules and procedures. For the last several years, Dan has focused his practice exclusively on representing injury victims. He has been involved in almost 200 trials during his career in numerous federal and state courts against the largest defendants, including the U.S. Government. Dan will utilize his experience and proven results while fighting for you. Regardless of the size of the opponent, Dan has the experience and legal knowledge to aggressively advocate for his clients. And, just as important, he will give you and your case the personal attention it deserves from the initial free consultation through trial. Dan received a bachelor’s degree with Honors in 1991 and his J.D. with distinction from the University of Iowa in 1994. After graduating from law school, he served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) in Fort Hood, Texas. He served as a prosecutor and defense counsel in numerous administrative hearings and courts-martial ranging from minor offenses to kidnapping, rape, and capital murder. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Dan joined a Texas personal injury law firm. Dan worked as the Chief of its Litigation Department and was the firm’s principle trial lawyer for years, trying numerous cases each year. Also, as the head of the firm’s personal injury division, Dan supervised and mentored between 15 and 20 trial lawyers at a time as they prosecuted thousands of cases.

Katherine (“Katie”) Hawkins is a dedicated immigration attorney based in North Texas, with a strong commitment to serving diverse communities. She graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2018. Before pursuing a legal career, Ms. Hawkins worked as an elementary school teacher in South Louisiana, where she taught third and fourth graders. Ms. Hawkins holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, which she utilizes to provide trauma-informed legal care. Her journey into law was inspired by witnessing a grandmother’s determined fight to protect her grandchildren and access the justice system. This experience fueled her passion to bridge the gap between the broader community and the legal world.

Michael Galyen is the firm’s Executive Vice President and a trial attorney practicing out of Bailey & Galyen’s Fort Worth office. Michael specializes in personal injury litigation, representing those who have been hurt in Work Injuries, Truck Wrecks, Car Wrecks, and Premises Liability matters. Michael prides himself on client satisfaction and zealous representation for his clients throughout his time practicing at Bailey & Galyen.

Attorney Lori Shannon focuses her practice on family law, representing clients out of the Bailey & Galyen offices in Bedford, Texas. Originally from Sweetwater, Texas, Lori graduated for Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, earning her bachelors degree in advertising. She then worked in television and radio before returning to school, completing her juris doctor at the Texas Tech School of Law. Upon graduation and admission to the Texas State Bar, Lori honed her trial skills as a city prosecutor. An Assistant Attorney General in Texas for 23 years, she has extensive experience in matters related to both paternity establishment and exclusion, as well as establishment, modification and enforcement of child support and medical support. Her practice experience also includes employment law, criminal law and general civil law. She has also served as a managing attorney for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas.

Scott Robelen is a Board-Certified personal injury trial attorney. Scott is a veteran litigator who has tried more than 300 cases to jury verdict over his legal career. Opposing counsel knows and respects that he will take meritorious cases to trial with extreme preparation and skill. Scott has extensive experience handling complex commercial litigation, industrial accident litigation, and catastrophic injury litigation. His verdicts have impacted the policies of police departments, correctional facilities, human resource departments, emergency rooms, universities, insurance, and corporations. Scott Robelen was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1989 and is licensed to practice in the United States Federal District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas. In 1986, he received his BBA with emphasis in Finance and Economics from the University of Oklahoma. In 1989, Mr. Robelen earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence with Distinction from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he was a member of the honorary legal fraternity, Phi Delta Phi.