DAVID HENDERSON, Esq.

FACILITATOR

A well-dressed man in a dark suit and white shirt smiling and sitting at a table with his hands clasped together, in front of a white wall with vertical blinds.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• High-stakes presentations, keynotes, and TED-style presentations

• Media relations

• Leadership communication and difficult conversations

• Public speaking for lawyers

• Executive communication coaching for law-firm leaders

• Trial advocacy and witness preparation

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MEET DAVID

“I help my clients build authentic confidence, refine their message, and deliver it with clarity and impact — all in a judgment-free environment where they feel comfortable, supported, and understood.”

David is passionate about guiding, empowering, and inspiring professionals to be persuasive, engaging, and influential — especially in high-stakes situations.

David is a former prosecutor with the Special Crimes Division of the Bexar County’s District Attorney’s office, and later served as an Associate at international law firm Vinson & Elkins, LLP. Currently, David is a highly acclaimed and sought-after civil rights lawyer. He’s also a legal analyst with hundreds of appearances on national networks. His op-eds about anti-riot laws and qualified immunity have been published in the Washington Post and Newsweek.

With more than 30 years of experience in high-profile, high-pressure roles inside and outside the courtroom, David thoroughly understands the importance of connecting with audiences intellectually and emotionally. He knows that effective communication is not merely a matter of words or gestures. Rather, it is measured by influence and impact. 

  • David has the proven ability and a deep commitment to help ambitious professionals — both lawyers and non-lawyers — dramatically improve their communication performance and results. His clients also include professionals who are already top-tier communicators in their respective fields and roles, and through David’s expert coaching and support want to elevate their acumen and unleash a whole new level of satisfaction and success. 

    Due to his exceptional communication and public speaking talents, David was invited by the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association (TDCAA) to provide continuing education courses for other attorneys across the state. He also joined Toastmasters International in 2007, and in 2010 he was named World Champion of Public Speaking in a competition of more than 30,000 elite speakers from 113 countries.

    David holds a B.A. in Plan II Honors from the University of Texas, and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, where he continues to serve as an adjunct professor teaching trial skills and coaching mock trials.

A man in a dark suit giving a presentation to a group of people in a conference room.

  • “This was the best and most practical experience I had at the [retreat], bar none. It was very practical and very efficient. David Henderson was outstanding and had realistic expectations and practical pointers that I will use often.”

    Anonymous, Workshop Participant and Partner at Am Law 100 Firm

  • “David Henderson’s presentation to our incoming associates received rave reviews from all the participants. It was interactive, engaging, and provided excellent training for our new associates to begin their careers as more confident and capable communicators. We are thankful for SWA and David’s contributions to our programming.”

    Gayle Hanz, Manager of Talent Development at Haynes Boone, LLP

  • “David Henderson’s session was exceptionally well-delivered and demonstrated both depth of knowledge and a clear understanding of the practical challenges faced by professionals in high- stakes communication settings in the courtroom and with small and large audiences.”

    Anonymous, Attorney and Workshop Participant at Am Law 100 Firm

  • “David is an exceptional speaker and an exceptional teacher. When David explained the power of a good story, I had never thought about speaking that way. It was something I could immediately implement, and it worked! People responded. My goal was to become a more dynamic speaker. I am getting closer to that goal for sure. David gave me a lot of tools to continue on my journey of becoming more dynamic.”

    Anonymous, Counsel at Am Law 50 Firm

  • “David's command of the subject matter, coupled with a dynamic and engaging delivery style, made the session informative and highly motivating. The practical strategies offered—particularly those relating to managing presence, structuring our thoughts, and responding to difficult questions—were both relevant and immediately applicable to my practice.”

    Anonymous, Attorney and Workshop Participant at Am Law 100 Firm

  • “We can’t thank you enough for the training you provided to our junior associates to help them build their communications skills.  The associates think that David is a model public speaker with a style and approach that they hope to emulate.  We really appreciate your time and effort in making this such an impactful program!”

    Jessica Vanto, Director of Professional Development at Seward & Kissel LLP