W. Derek Darby, is a partner of Hay Compere, PLLC. He began his legal career in Houston, Texas with the firm of Shanks, Butler & Associates, PC. In 2007 he was promoted to shareholder, and the firm was renamed Shanks Darby, PC. His main practice over the last five years has been representing real estate developers, owners and investors in acquiring, developing, leasing, financing and disposing of real estate. He has represented financial institutions in structuring, negotiating, and documenting numerous types of residential and commercial real estate lending.

Mr. Darby graduated cum laude from Angelo State University in 2002 with a B.B.A. in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate Finance. He earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in May 2005. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, Houston Realty Business Coalition, and Texas Young Lawyers Association.

Additionally, Mr. Darby in October, 2008, was nominated by Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick and appointed by Governor Rick Perry as a Commissioner of the Texas Facilities Commission to fulfill the remaining term of a former Commissioner. In January, 2009, he was nominated by Texas House Speaker Joe Straus and re-appointed by Governor Rick Perry for a full six year term as a Commissioner of the Texas Facilities Commission which expires January 31, 2015.