About Lype, Dest & Smith

At Lype, Dest & Smith, we focus exclusively on one thing: defending medical professionals in licensing and administrative matters before Texas licensing boards and federal agencies. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other licensed professionals throughout Texas turn to our firm when a Board complaint, investigation, or other regulatory action threatens their career.

A complaint or notice of investigation can arrive without warning and set off a process most professionals have never navigated before. The agencies involved move deliberately, and the decisions they reach carry lasting consequences for a career built over years of dedicated work. From the first call to the close of a case, our commitment stays the same: provide honest guidance, skilled representation, and consistent support to every professional we serve.

Representing Medical Professionals in Licensing and Administrative Matters

Most licensed healthcare professionals answer to more than one regulatory agency at a time, each with the power to impose sanctions, restrict a professional’s practice, or move forward with formal disciplinary action. A Medical Board investigation alone can threaten employment, payor contracts, and the ability to practice altogether. The consequences reach further than many professionals expect when a complaint first arrives, and the process moves faster than most feel prepared for.

Because we focus exclusively on these matters, we understand how these agencies investigate, build cases, and reach decisions. Our clients never receive general legal advice from a firm spread across unrelated practice areas. They work with attorneys who know Texas healthcare licensing law and understand exactly how enforcement and hearing processes unfold. We represent physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, mental health providers, and other licensed professionals, giving us a broad view of how different boards operate and what each one prioritizes when reviewing a case.

A Boutique Law Firm Offering a Personalized Approach to Every Case

As a boutique firm based in Austin, Texas, we keep our caseload selective so every client receives direct, consistent attention from their attorney. No client becomes a number here. A licensing investigation touches every part of a professional’s life, from daily clinical responsibilities to long-term career plans, and the uncertainty it creates extends well beyond the workplace. Consequences like those deserve a personalized, thoughtful response, not a one-size-fits-all strategy borrowed from a previous case.

We take time to understand the specific circumstances behind each matter, the professional’s history, the agency involved, the nature of the allegations, and what realistic outcomes look like before mapping out a path forward. Small details often carry significant weight in licensing cases, and we pay close attention to all of them. Our clients stay informed and involved throughout, because the best outcomes come from attorneys and clients working closely together from start to finish.

Built on Decades of Combined Experience in Administrative and Healthcare Law

More than four decades of combined experience shape every decision we make, from evaluating an agency’s allegations to preparing clients for informal conferences and contested hearings. Administrative law and healthcare licensing require a specific kind of knowledge, one built through years of practice in front of the boards and agencies our clients face. General litigation experience does not translate directly to this work, and we never treat it as though it does.

Some of our attorneys previously worked inside the very agencies our clients now face, giving us practical insight into how investigators think, what decision-makers prioritize, and how to find the best path to a positive outcome. We know these processes from multiple sides, and we use that perspective to anticipate challenges early and respond to them with precision. First-hand knowledge of how these agencies operate gives our clients a meaningful advantage when the stakes are highest.

Clear Communication and Client Support at Every Stage

Facing a Board investigation or licensing proceeding brings real anxiety with it. The process feels unfamiliar, the timeline remains uncertain, and the stakes loom large. Professionals who have dedicated years to building a career deserve to know exactly where things stand at every point in the process, not just when something significant happens.

We keep the uncertainty manageable through consistent, direct communication. Clients always know where their case stands, what comes next, and what their attorney needs from them. We return calls and emails promptly, explain every update in plain language, and remain accessible throughout the process. No one should feel left in the dark about a matter as serious as their professional license. At Lype, Dest & Smith, communication stays consistent and clear from the first consultation through the close of every case.

Dan Lype

Not afraid to go to court when necessary, Dan has successfully litigated cases all the way to the Supreme Court of Texas. Dan also prides himself on being readily available to clients throughout their cases. He strongly believes effective representation should be a collaborative effort between a client and their attorney.

Years of experience: 15 years
Bar number: 24065658
Location: Austin, TX