Attorney Profiles
Karen Chesley
ATTORNEY AT LAW
KAREN@chesleyperaleslaw.com
Karen Chesley received her juris doctor degree from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law in 2002. Karen began her legal career as a prosecutor for the Galveston County District Attorney's Office. During her tenure with Galveston County, she handled all kinds of criminal cases ranging from Class B misdemeanors to First Degree felonies, including juvenile cases. Karen then joined the Collin County District Attorney's Office in 2005, where she served as a chief misdemeanor prosecutor and felony domestic violence prosecutor. As the domestic violence prosecutor, she handled all the office's protective orders, reviewed the intake of family violence cases, and gave numerous lectures and presentations regarding protective order and family violence crimes to law enforcement agencies, practicing attorneys, and judges. With over 7 years experience as a former prosecutor and trial counsel on more than 100 criminal trials before a jury and the court, Karen has developed significant insight and strategies in defending criminal cases.
Donny J. Perales
ATTORNEY AT LAW
DONNY@chesleyperaleslaw.com
Donny J. Perales received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998. Donny received his law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2004. During law school, Donny was a staff writer and an associate editor for the St. Mary's Law Journal. Donny began his legal career as a prosecutor for the Collin County District Attorney's Office. While at Collin County, Donny served as chief misdemeanor prosecutor, felony trial team prosecutor, and crimes against children prosecutor. In 2008, Donny became a criminal defense attorney working for the Wright Firm, LLP in Lewisville, Texas, handling criminal matters in Denton, Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties. As a former prosecutor and current criminal defense lawyer, he has negotiated hundreds of plea agreements and has tried over 100 criminal trials involving all levels of misdemeanors and felonies. In 2008, he successfully defended a client charged with first degree murder in Collin County. After a week of trial and Donny's strategic attacks on the State's case, the jury acquitted his client of first degree murder. In 2010 and 2011, Donny was designated as a Rising Star by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomas Reuters Service.