Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Partner, Gibbs & Bruns LLP

“Denise is a terrific brief writer and an even better appellate lawyer. She is near the top in the nation in her field.”

  - Chambers 2025

Chambers-ranked Denise Drake – “Up and Coming” for Litigation: Appellate - is a key member of two complex and high-profile antitrust case trial teams – both cases were featured in Law 360’s “Trials To Watch in 2025.”  Denise was heavily involved in the substantive summary judgment phase of the firm’s $15 billion representation of The Target Plaintiffs.  She also serves as appellate counsel for Google in the firm’s ongoing role as lead counsel for the tech giant in a massive advertising technology antitrust and deceptive trade practices suit.

She is lead appellate counsel for Phillips 66 in a $350 million patent defense matter involving refining technology for marine fuel oil. After two weeks of trial and deliberations, the jury returned a defense verdict of no infringement as to all claims. Denise currently represents Phillips for all aspects of the appellate proceedings, including briefing and oral argument in the Federal Circuit as well as the remand proceedings in trial court.

“A consummate professional who provides sharp and timely pragmatic advice that you can take to the bank.  Possesses a highly impressive combination of intellect, EQ, and depth of experience that make her the perfect choice for virtually any sophisticated appellate or trial matter.  A strategic and creative thinker who seamlessly harmonizes both client objectives and assertive legal positions.”

- Sonya Hill Bishop, Deputy GC Litigation& Employment, Phillips 66

Denise is also working on a complex Plaintiff’s Trade Secrets and Breach of Contract Suit for Ryan LLC - Ryan is a leading provider of oil and gas tax consulting services.

Denise also represents Cockrell Investment Partners, L.P. as lead appellate counsel in a pair of consolidated matters in the Texas Supreme Court, which granted the petitions for review and is set to schedule oral argument. Cockrell sought to intervene in Fort Stockton Holding’s attempt to export substantial amounts of groundwater from the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District. The cases raise multiple issues of first impression.

“Denise is our go to lawyer for any complex commercial case that requires smart strategic thinking. She has a brilliant legal mind but at the same time is very practical in finding solutions to real business problems.  She is one of the best writers I have worked with. She successfully briefed and argued a multimillion-dollar commercial appeal in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for my company.  She is a very effective advocate in all phases of a case: pretrial, trial, and appeal.”

- Richard Sanders, Assistant GC, Kinder Morgan

Bio Link

Denise was a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.  See related article in The Texas Lawbook here.

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A consummate professional who provides sharp and timely pragmatic advice that you can take to the bank.  Possesses a highly impressive combination of intellect, EQ, and depth of experience that make her the perfect choice for virtually any sophisticated appellate or trial matter.  A strategic and creative thinker who seamlessly harmonizes both client objectives and assertive legal positions.

- Sonya Hill Bishop, Deputy General Counsel Litigation & Employment, Phillips 66 - Jeffrey S. Miller, Managing Counsel – Litigation, Phillips 66

Denise is our go to lawyer for any complex commercial case that requires smart strategic thinking. She has a brilliant legal mind but at the same time is very practical in finding solutions to real business problems.  She is one of the best writers I have worked with. She successfully briefed and argued a multimillion-dollar commercial appeal in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for my company.  She is a very effective advocate in all phases of a case: pretrial, trial, and appeal. We will continue to hire her for any type or size case.

- Richard Sanders, Assistant General Counsel, Kinder Morgan