ROB DUNIKOSKI

rob@ch-llp.com | LinkedIn | 214.800.2012

Education

  • Notre Dame Law School, JD, cum laude

  • University of Dallas, BA

Clerkship

  • U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, 2005-2006

Bar/Court Admissions and Professional Affiliations

  • State Bars of Texas and Colorado

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • United States District Court for all Districts of Texas

  • United States Court of International Trade

  • Dallas Bar Association, International Law Section, CLE Committee

  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

  • Association of Workplace Investigators, DFW Chapter Co-Convenor

  • St. Thomas More Society

Publications and Speaking Engagements

• Ethical Pitfalls in Internal Investigations, Presentation to the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators, 2023

• Interview: Customs Summons, Fraud Investigations, and Recommendations, Torres Talks Trade: International Trade and National Security Podcast, 2022

• Interview: Federal Investigations within the Department of Homeland Security, Torres Talks Trade: International Trade and National Security Podcast, 2022

• Sanctions, Export Violations, and Homeland Security Issues Impacting Corporate Clients, Dallas Bar Association, International Law Section, CLE Presentation, 2022

• Statutory Interpretation, Texas A&M Law School, Guest Lecturer, 2021

• Supreme Court’s Categorical Approach, SMU Law School, Guest Lecturer, 2021

• Undercover Operations Training School, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Training Presentation for Special Agents and Task Force Officers, 2019

• 11th Annual Jolly Roger Hal Jackson Memorial Criminal Law Seminar, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, CLE presentation, 2018

• Airport Search and Seizure, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Training Presentation for Special Agents and Task Force Officers, 2018

• 139th Annual Training Conference, Sheriff’s Association of Texas, Training Presentation, 2017

 
 
 

Rob Dunikoski is a former federal prosecutor with extensive litigation and investigations experience who provides sound advice and counsel on high-stakes matters.

As a partner with Castañeda + Heidelman, Rob primarily represents middle-market clients, global non-profits, and high-net-worth individuals. Rob’s investigation practice focuses on matters involving executive misconduct, embezzlement and fraud, whistleblower complaints, discrimination and retaliation, foreign corrupt practices, import-export issues, and ethical and policy violations. His litigation practice centers on complex commercial cases involving breach of contract, fraud, defamation, and trade secret claims, and employment litigation involving whistleblowers, unlawful termination, and discrimination allegations. Rob also provides employment counsel and outside general counsel services for mid-market companies and sophisticated non-profits.

Before joining Castañeda + Heidelman, Rob led a team of over twenty attorneys handling federal litigation and compliance matters for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Rob routinely advised senior government officials on employment cases and internal investigations into workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and discrimination.  He also served as agency counsel for high-profile federal litigation and provided guidance to special agents working on complex cross-border investigations, including the illegal export of controlled technology, cybercrime, and intellectual property theft. Rob received numerous awards for his efforts, including recognition for excellence from the General Counsel for Homeland Security.

Earlier in his career, Rob prosecuted federal crimes for the U.S. Department of Justice as a Special Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.  He also worked in DLA Piper’s commercial litigation group where he helped sophisticated clients with contract disputes, regulatory matters, anti-counterfeiting efforts, and trade secret litigation. 

In his first and favorite legal job, Rob served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis.  Judge Solis was a skilled jurist, incredible mentor, and wonderful human being.  He passed away unexpectedly in 2021, and Rob strives to practice law in a way that honors the Judge’s memory.

Rob graduated cum laude from Notre Dame Law School.  While there, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy.  

On a personal note, Rob and his wife, Anna, live in Irving, Texas, and have five beautiful children.  Rob serves on the board of the Catholic Music Initiative and is active in the Cistercian Alumni Lawyer’s Group and the St. Rita Catholic Community.

  • Successfully represented healthcare technology company founder in arbitration over breach of contract and whistleblower claims arising out of an acquisition.

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    Lead draftsperson of winning briefs to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit defending a multi-million dollar arbitration award.

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    Successfully resolved non-compete dispute for a large metal fabrication company through a strong and thorough response to a cease and desist letter.

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    Litigated trade secret and other claims on behalf of gas turbine engine cleaning company against former sales executive and third-party supplier.

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    Defended international engineering and service company in several personal injury actions.

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    Defended international shipping company in litigation relating to a major trucking accident.

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    Represented international hotel chain in consumer litigation.

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    Represented restaurant franchisor in litigation surrounding termination of a franchise agreement.

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    Represented major insurance company in dispute over annuity contract.

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    Conducted fifty-state legal survey on ERISA issue as part of team opposing certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • Investigated allegations of executive level misconduct at a mega church.

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    Investigated retaliation claims against the chief executive officer of a publicly traded restaurant franchise company.

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    Investigated allegations of gender discrimination at a global non-profit with interviews throughout the United States and in Africa and Australia.

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    For a law firm client, investigated public corruption and wrongful detention allegations against a federal law enforcement officer.

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    Investigated racial harassment allegations for a large restaurant franchise company.

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    For a church board client, investigated allegations that church leadership knew that an individual interacting with church members was a registered sex offender and failed to act appropriately on that knowledge.

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    Investigated sexual misconduct allegations involving the former employee of a global non-profit with interviews throughout the United States and in Asia.

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    Investigated organizational response to youth misconduct allegations at a summer camp.

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    Investigated counterfeit tobacco product sales on behalf of a global tobacco company.

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    For a church board client, investigation allegations that a former youth pastor committed sexual misconduct with young females and that church leaders failed to act appropriately when told about the misconduct.

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    Represented national accounting firm during FBI securities fraud investigation.

  • Advised non-profit on high risk employment decision with potential for significant public relations fallout and drafted severance agreement that helped successfully resolve the matter.

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    Advised global non-profit on risk of conducting certain humanitarian activities in Russia and the Ukraine in light of OFAC’s Ukraine/Russia Related Sanctions and Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions.

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    Drafted executive employment agreements for aircraft maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) company.

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    Advised global non-profit on statutory and regulatory restrictions surrounding the use of automatic subscription renewals, including Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s regulations.

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    Represented aviation industry company in responding to inquiry from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), relating to the Russia-Belarus Export Controls.

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    Advised foreign corporation in international letter of credit dispute arising out of a U.S. Department of State import ban.