US
ABOUT
Chris Peele
Co-Founder & Partner
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Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin and is licensed to practice law in all federal and state courts in Texas, as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for the United States. He is also admitted as a member of the Federal Bar of the District of Columbia.
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Chris began his professional career in 1999 at Vinson & Elkins, LLP in Austin, Texas where he participated in complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts for nine years.
He then served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. From 2008 to 2013, he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases on behalf of the United States. His primary focus was on white collar crimes such as healthcare fraud, investment-based Ponzi schemes, money laundering, embezzlement, and identity theft. He routinely handled other crimes as well, including drug, gun, and immigration crimes. In 2010 and 2011, he served as a Special Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as an Assistant General Counsel to the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction in Washington, D.C. He worked to reduce fraud and abuse in the United States’ Iraq reconstruction effort by focusing prosecutorial efforts on financial crimes arising out of Iraq. He investigated and prosecuted individuals and corporations in federal districts across the United States for federal crimes such as bribes and kickbacks, production of defective war materials, theft of government property, and conflicts of interest. In the course of his investigations and prosecutions, Chris worked with law enforcement agencies from other countries such as Iraq and Great Britain and coordinated with prosecutors from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Civil Division, and FCPA Unit.
Before founding Peele | Nimocks | Toth, Chris practiced over nine years as a partner in a nationally recognized boutique law firm founded by a former United States Attorney General and several U.S. Attorneys. He represented individuals and companies facing government investigations and high stakes litigation.
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State:
• Texas
Federal:
• Western District of Texas
• Eastern District of Texas
• Northern District of Texas
• Southern District of Texas
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois
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Chris Peele is a co-founder of Peele | Nimocks |Toth. He focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, government investigations, regulatory matters, and civil litigation.
When he is not representing clients, you will find him moving. He likes to exercise, play soccer, and snowboard. When he can’t do those things, he tackles a home improvement project that is way too big for him. His few sedentary moments come when he watches the Longhorns or Austin FC. He has a very patient wife and three high school / college-aged children that find him mildly embarrassing but useful when things break.
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Mr. Chris Peele
Chris@pntlawfirm.com
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Austin R. Nimocks
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
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J.D., Baylor University School of Law
B.B.A., Baylor University Hankamer School of Business
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Austin has litigated in state and federal courts across the country. He focuses his practice on civil litigation (plaintiff and defense), commercial litigation, corporate matters, federal compliance, internal investigations, government relations, and white-collar criminal defense.
Litigating for over 25 years, including three as a public defender, Austin has practiced law within the private, government, and non-profit sectors, geographically spanning the United States and beyond.
Austin began practicing law on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In addition to his time spent as a public defender, his law practice in Mississippi was extremely diverse, involving personal injury, commercial litigation, appellate, contracts, real estate, administrative law, bankruptcy, libel & defamation, insurance defense, general civil litigation, and other matters.
Austin then served as Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom (“ADF”) in Washington, D.C. While at ADF, he handled appeals and litigated constitutional cases in state and federal courts across the country, including matters regarding marriage, parental rights, voters’ rights, and religious freedom. He also authored several pieces of legislation and policy memoranda and testified before numerous state legislatures, as well as Congress. While with ADF, he made regular public appearances, speaking at numerous events and participating in hundreds of television, radio, and newspaper interviews with all major national media outlets.
Following this, Austin served in the Executive Administration of Texas Attorney General's Office as both Special Counsel and the Associate Deputy Attorney General for Special Litigation. During his time with the Attorney General's office, Austin coordinated and led myriad multi-state lawsuits and strategic litigation against the federal government, other states, and local government entities. On behalf of Texas (and other states), his teams achieved many victories against the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal agencies.
Prior to starting the Peele | Nimocks | Toth Law Firm, he worked for former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in the Ashcroft Law Firm in Austin, Texas. For General Ashcroft, Austin litigated cases against all levels of government (federal, state, and local).
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State:
• Texas
• Michigan
• District of Columbia
• Arizona
• Mississippi
• Alabama
Federal:
• Supreme Court of the United States
• D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
• First Circuit Court of Appeals
• Second Circuit Court of Appeals
• Third Circuit Court of Appeals
• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court, N.D. Alabama
• U.S. District Court, M.D. Alabama
• U.S. District Court, S.D. Alabama
• U.S. District Court, D. Arizona
• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan
• U.S. District Court, W.D. Michigan
• U.S. District Court, N.D. Mississippi
• U.S. District Court, S.D. Mississippi
• U.S. District Court, W.D. Texas
• U.S. District Court, N.D. Texas
• U.S. District Court, E.D. Texas
• U.S. District Court, S.D. Texas
• U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois
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In addition to being licensed in Texas, Austin is also admitted to practice law in multiple other states, the U.S. Supreme Court, and numerous federal circuit and district courts.
Austin is a native Texan, born and raised in the Fort Worth area. He resides and attends church in Dripping Springs, Texas, along with his wife and three daughters.
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Mr. Austin R. Nimocks
Austin@pntlawfirm.com
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Michael Toth
Co-Founder & Of Counsel
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Mike graduated from Stanford University with highest honors and the University of Virginia (J.D. & M.A.). Mike completed federal judicial clerkships for the Honorable Edith H. Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and for the Honorable Ursula Ungaro of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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Before becoming a General Counsel, Mike served as a judge on the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin. He also served as a Senior Counsel in the Executive Administration of the Texas Office of Attorney General and as lawyer in the United States Marine Corps, where he is a currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the reserves.
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State:
• Texas
• New York
Federal:
• Western District of Texas
• Northern District of Texas
• Southern District of Texas
• Eastern District of Texas
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Supreme Court
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Mike lives in Driftwood, Texas, with his wife and three children. He is also a tech corporate counsel with experience as the top in-house lawyer at several high-growth, early-stage companies. At PNT, Mike serves as outside General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and legal advisor to numerous companies. A collaborative problem-solver, Mike’s practice areas cover a broad range of corporate issues, including regulatory compliance, contracting, managing corporate litigation, debt and equity fundraising, licensing, data privacy and security, employment and corporate governance.
Mike is a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal on corporate legal topics and his work has been covered in Bloomberg, the New York Times, Law 360, and other publications. He is licensed to practice law in Texas and New York, as well as numerous federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
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Mr. Michael Toth
Mike@pntlawfirm.com
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Cleve W. Doty
Partner
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University of Chicago Law School, J.D.
Yale University, B.A. in Political Science
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Cleve is a Partner at PNT Law with a practice spanning corporate counsel, litigation, and the judiciary. He brings unique perspective to client matters, having previously served as General Counsel of a health technology company, where he oversaw mergers and acquisitions, international patent portfolios, corporate contracts, regulatory compliance, and litigation across the U.S. and abroad. In that role, he managed all legal matters for the company and its affiliated medical practice, gaining firsthand insight into the priorities and pressures faced by business leaders.
Before entering private practice, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Cleve to serve as Judge of the 455th District Court in Austin. During his tenure, he presided over civil proceedings including jury trials and thousands of hearings, while also serving on the Juvenile Board and the Court’s technology committee.
Earlier in his career, Cleve built and led a regulatory enforcement team at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, managing complex, high-stakes litigation often involving disputes between governments. He has also practiced at Baker Botts LLP, clerked for Justice Don R. Willett on the Texas Supreme Court, and served as a Fellow in the Texas Solicitor General’s Office.
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Admissions
State Bar of Texas
U.S. District Courts: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas; Eastern District of Michigan
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Cleve has represented clients at every level of the U.S. court system, including matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, his work at PNT focuses on corporate and general counsel services, along with select litigation. He emphasizes efficiency, strategic outcomes, and a client-first approach shaped by his own experience as a former in-house counsel.
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Cleve W. Doty
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Ben Walton
Senior Counsel
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A native Texan, Ben obtained his B.A. in Christian Philosophy from Whitefield College (Lakeland, FL) in 2007. Ben then graduated summa cum laude from Liberty University School of Law (Lynchburg, VA) in 2010. While in law school, Ben served as Editor-in-Chief of the Liberty University Law Review and received numerous advocacy awards in both local and national moot court tournaments.
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Ben served as a law clerk to the Hon. William G. Petty (Court of Appeals of Virginia) and then to the Hon. Alice M. Batchelder (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit). In 2014, Ben moved home to Texas and joined a civil litigation firm in Austin, where he represented both small businesses and large corporate clients. Ben handled litigation in both state and federal courts across Texas, including products liability, construction defect, premises liability, personal injury, and other types of disputes. In 2017, Ben joined the General Litigation Division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General, where he handled extensive employment law litigation, as well as lawsuits involving constitutional law and other subject areas. Ben joined PNT as Senior Counsel in 2025.
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State:
· Texas
Federal:
· Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
· Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
· Eastern District of Texas
· Northern District of Texas
· Southern District of Texas
· Western District of Texas
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With roots in the Texas Hill Country, Ben and his wife currently live in South Austin with their three daughters. Ben is an active deacon and chorister in his church, and he loves classical music and a good book.
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Mr. Ben Walton
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Rachel Thebeau
Counsel
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Rachel earned her J.D., cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law, and holds a B.A., cum laude, in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Southern Methodist University. Her academic and professional work has been recognized through moot-court advocacy awards and a leadership role in law review.
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After graduating from law school, Rachel started her career in the non-profit sector. Serving multiple domestic and international ministries, Rachel sought justice against sex traffickers, child sexual abuse material, and both sexual misconduct and abuse of power in local church settings. She also advised senior church leadership on governance, policy, and crisis communications. Through this work, Rachel gained significant experience in corporate and internal investigations, as well as the prosecutorial process. Additionally, she led communications efforts for various organizations: identifying compelling stories and developing multi-media content, briefing executives for presentations and media interviews, and engaging stakeholders. At PNT, Rachel applies her experience as internal corporate counsel and a communications professional to assist PNT’s corporate clients. Rachel’s background in prosecutions and investigations also benefits PNT’s white collar criminal defense and litigation practice.
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State Bar of Texas, 2014
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Outside of work, Rachel enjoys time with her family, including 12 nieces and nephews, her yellow lab Adalena, and carries on her family’s deep legacy of faith.
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Rachel Thebeau
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Jack Murphy
Paralegal
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Southwestern University – Georgetown, Texas
January 2022 – May 2024
Major: PsychologyBucknell University – Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
August 2020 – December 2021
Major: PsychologyAustin Community College – Austin, Texas
August 2024 – August 2025
Paralegal Advanced Technical Certificate -
Jack earned his paralegal certificate from Austin Community College and gained experience at Zwicker & Associates and the Hays County Law Library before joining the firm. Jack values PNT’s unique variety of practice areas and collaborative culture, where each team member contributes to both client success and professional growth. Known for his meticulous and intentional approach, he takes pride in delivering high-quality work. A lifelong Austin resident (with two years in Pennsylvania), Jack is also a sports enthusiast and former college baseball player at Southwestern University and Bucknell University.
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Sammi Hardin
Legal Assistant
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Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business — B.B.A., Business Management, expected May 2025
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Sammi Hardin, Legal Assistant
Sammi began her journey with PNT as an undergraduate intern, working with the firm for two summers before officially joining as a Legal Assistant. With a degree in Business Management, Sammi brings a unique perspective that combines her passion for both business and law. Her time at PNT has provided her with invaluable insight into the inner workings of a boutique law firm—from legal processes to the strategic considerations of building a firm from the ground up.
As she takes on this new role, Sammi is pursuing her paralegal certification to further strengthen her legal foundation. She is committed to exceptional client service, viewing every task—whether research, administrative support, or case preparation—as an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.
Sammi values PNT’s culture of community and encouragement, noting how the firm has supported her growth both professionally and personally. She looks forward to continuing her work with the team to serve clients in Austin and beyond.
Outside the office, Sammi is a coffee enthusiast who enjoys experimenting with new recipes on her espresso machine.
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Sammi Hardin
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746
Peggy Desselle
Office Manager
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Peggy brings years of experience in finance and operations, making her a valuable asset to the PNT team. With a strong background in business administration, she is highly organized, detail-oriented, and dedicated to ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
She takes a client-focused approach, always striving to be kind, approachable, and responsive to both client and team needs. Her expertise in accounting and organization allows her to take on essential tasks, helping to support the team and create an efficient work environment.
Outside of work, Peggy enjoys hiking, traveling—especially to the mountains—and reading. She thrives in dynamic environments and embraces the challenge of learning new things.
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Ms. Peggy Desselle
206 Wild Basin Rd. S.
Bldg. A, Ste. 206
Austin, TX 78746