Texas Super Lawyers Articles

Five Texas women follow the ‘path through the jungle’ carved by predecessors like Sandra Day O’Connor

Dawn Estes tears it up, both at her women-owned powerhouse and with the band

For Michael Rodriguez, that goes for clients and community

How Laura Brown found her niche handling birth injury cases

Benjamin L. Hall III believes in the power of the written word—and the pen that creates it

Bill Jackson has taken on cases involving Agent Orange and the Deepwater spill; this one is bigger

Discovery with John Zavitsanos

Former Marine K. Knox Nunnally still works toward the greater good

Karen Gross is carving out an online space where kids can learn to agree to disagree—with civility

Philip Vickers inspires colleagues to help others move forward in life

Kari Konikowski Blackman’s family found its American dream; now she helps others in their search

Prisoner rights attorney Scott Medlock says making a mistake shouldn’t mean losing your dignity

Discovery with Thomas Scannell

Local Counsel with Audrey M. Chang

The Houston attorney’s talents include a strong work ethic, natural connection with juries, technological savvy, deep faith, photographic memory—and even acting chops

The Dallas litigator says the pathway to relationship-building is through customer service

Texas attorney Bob Hilliard calls suit ‘the crack in the dam’

The largest jury award in the U.S. this year went against Johnson & Johnson 

Lobbyist Mark Vane shines at persuading lawmakers to change things. Or, sometimes, keep them the same

Larry Macon holds the Guinness World Record for most runs in a single year. That would be 239

The lyrics tell of beating cancer, then sailing ‘round the world

Local law firms pitched in to help Houston recover from Harvey’s wallop

Sofia Adrogué says “sí se puede” to life

A case of the jitters, a bleeding ankle and a nearly missed entrance couldn’t keep 7 Texas lawyers from their dates with the nation’s highest court

These are the words that get Sujata Ajmera out of bed every morning

How a weekend wine-sipper turned his passion into an excellent cabernet

Jason Steed on making time to lend a helping hand

Rodrigo Dominguez’s negotiating skills are helping change the energy game in Latin America

You won’t read Angel Berbarie’s favorite word here—not her second-favorite, either

Why so many lawyers do pro bono work—and why so many people still slip through the holes

The appellate attorney helps shape the law—and sometimes ‘translates’ it for judges

When a charity needs a little help, four Beaumont attorneys are ready to jump in and get it 'from here to there'

Elizabeth Copeland spearheaded a program to help low-income taxpayers stand up to the IRS

Nick Bettinger spends his free time twisting ‘sculptures’ and delivering smiles

How Paul Yetter made a federal case out of the state’s foster-care program

In Robin Russell’s world, practicing law and quilting are both fine arts.

The Texas attorney is handling a lawsuit that would force ball clubs to do more to protect fans

Kevin Lashus’ health tip: Do more pro bono

How Manuel Berrelez worked his way from his hometown to Yale to Dallas

Population: the five lawyers of the Simpson clan

How ‘gadget nerd’ Coyt Johnston became an expert in unmanned vehicles

How John Warren went from sweeping construction sites to representing builders in court

Arnold Shokouhi made the journey from revolutionary Iran to Cowboys Stadium

Handy technologies fellow attorneys are using

Jeff Barnes fights for refugees and troubled teens

Emily Stroope: courtroom dynamo, skydiver and lover of all things sweet

Rhonda Hunter started out her career as Della Street—but soon realized she could aim much higher

Austin litigator Stephen McConnico puts his straightforward style to work for clients ranging from big pharma to a former governor of Texas

Natural resources attorney Tom Paterson wrangles cattle—and government agencies—to manage his ranch and environs

His mother’s words inspire Frank Herrera Jr. to help empower the Latino community

Why the Dallas attorney tackled Texas’ tough election-ID law

Jeff Blackburn is freeing one wrongly convicted Texan after another

Wesley E. Wright tells how he ended up riding a horse and bringing our 1st president to life

Marshall Searcy’s clients range from oil companies to big law firms. Just don’t ask him to give up the coffee and cigarettes.

Handy legal apps fellow Texas lawyers are using

Dallas attorney Ashley McDowell tells us what’s good in the neighborhood

An oral history with a half-dozen attorneys who got their start back when a lawyer could cut his or (occasionally) her teeth on trials

The Houston attorney tells us what’s good in the neighborhood

The Houston family lawyer knows secrets, imitations and the accordion

Former reporter, campaign manager and disc jockey Adam Milasincic holds one other title: No. 1 on his Bar exam

The Southlake family attorney has already tackled 2 national headline-grabbing cases

For health care lawyer Richard Cheng, that’s the one to avoid

Things haven’t always gone the way Michael Gavito wanted—usually, they’ve turned out better

How a major in Spanish led Erin Jones to a career handling multimillion-dollar bankruptcy suits

Jessica Palvino has come a long way from walking her cows every morning to walking the halls of the courthouse.

Former judge Deborah Hankinson on access to justice, bringing appeals, and the battle over Prop 12Featuring Deborah Hankinson

Gordon J. Quan helps shopkeepers, laborers and cooks step out of the shadowsFeaturing Gordon J. Quan

Jane Snoddy Smith handles complex, high-stakes real estate transactions—without the high anxietyFeaturing Jane Snoddy Smith

Once an aspiring drummer, the San Antonio attorney discovered a new love in labor lawFeaturing Shannon B. Schmoyer

… It’s probably Lynn Tillotson Pinker & Cox, working its magic on a juryFeaturing Eric Pinker, …

Dick DeGuerin doesn’t sidestep reality when he represents clients like accused murderer/millionaire Robert DurstFeaturing Dick DeGuerin

Conor Civins negotiated a settlement for Lamebook, which parodies the social-media giantFeaturing Conor M. Civins

Gary Udashen leads the way to help Texas’ wrongfully imprisoned

Carl Roth has racked up $2.4 billion worth of patent cases—and championed a heroic burn victim along the wayFeaturing Carl R. Roth

Natalie Gregg is a lover of fairytale endings ‘trapped in a divorce lawyer’s body’Featuring Natalie Gregg

As a kid, Tai C. Tran mapped buildings; now he puts buildings on mapsFeaturing Tai C. Tran

The hard hats in personal injury lawyer Matt Matheny’s office are not for decorationFeaturing Matthew C. Matheny

Mary Hazlewood Barkley takes on eminent domain cases for landowners and public authoritiesFeaturing Mary Hazlewood Barkley

Brent de la Paz on the new wave of DWI forensic lawFeaturing Brent K. de la Paz

McCathern business lawyer Jesse Hoffman likes to tackle questions that haven’t already been answeredFeaturing Jesse Hoffman

The business litigator has suited up for clients ranging from Blockbuster to PlayboyFeaturing Ricardo G. Cedillo

A harp performance at Sandra Day O’Connor’s request came early in a legal career that is hitting all the right notesFeaturing Allyson N. Ho

If you ask Tony Buzbee, only losers are OK with losingFeaturing Tony Buzbee

Aviation attorney Michael L. Slack, a former NASA engineer, shoots for industry reform as well as client compensationFeaturing Michael L. Slack

Amy Elizabeth Stewart’s favorite things include digging into complex insurance policies, serving as head rainmaker and helping women move out of ‘second chair’Featuring Amy Elizabeth Stewart

Former prosecutors Eric Nichols and Fields Alexander and defense attorney Deric King Walpole revisit the mayhem surrounding the polygamist’s trialFeaturing Deric Walpole, …

Husband-and-wife duo Caddell & Chapman commit to their clients and their familyFeaturing Cynthia B. Chapman, …

Mesquite personal injury lawyer Ted Lyon has set his sights on the Koch brothers, the Texas prison system and, lately, on marauding packs of wolvesFeaturing Ted Lyon

Lessons learned as an Air Force captain have inspired Jeff Whitfield’s litigation practice—and his commitment to helping veteransFeaturing Jeff E. Whitfield

How Suzette E. Selden quietly eviscerates witnessesFeaturing Suzette E. Selden

They’re all Kerrisa Chelkowski, whose anxious parents bought her a black cowboy hat when she switched from prosecuting accused criminals to defending themFeaturing Kerrisa Chelkowski

How the courtroom duo of Dustin and Dennis Burrows overcome the latter’s failing eyesightFeaturing Dennis R. Burrows, …

The employment attorney defends the ‘puppy mill’ law

The Fish & Richardson partner reflects on humble pie, hard work and comparisons to President ObamaFeaturing Taj Jamar Clayton

The intellectual property litigator didn’t let neighborhood gangs or a naysaying teacher derail her dreamsFeaturing Hilda C. Galvan

Shannon Ratliff chose politics over ranching, then law over politicsFeaturing Shannon H. Ratliff

Microbiologist-turned-lawyer Benny Agosto Jr. is devoted to kids, soccer and underdogsFeaturing Benny Agosto, Jr.

The Houston employment lawyer would rather keep the peace than go to trialFeaturing Andrea M. Johnson

Former Marine Patrick J. McLain has 10 kids and a strong sense of right and wrongFeaturing Patrick J. McLain

Thad Dameris’ phone started to ring after the Costa Concordia ran aground in ItalyFeaturing Thad T. Dameris

Diana Friedman and Sherri Evans are recruiting their colleagues to guide low-income couples through breakups

Charles C. Foster marshaled the force of the entire U.S. government to help a Chinese ballet artist who wanted to stay in HoustonFeaturing Charles C. Foster

Leslie Ritchie Robnett carries on a proud legal legacy in her oil-and-gas regulation practice  Featuring Leslie Ritchie Robnett

Trial lawyer Ryan Zehl has a rare combination of tenacity and people skills  Featuring Ryan Zehl

When life threw him a curve, the sports attorney found a new way to play ballFeaturing Christian S. Dennie

Appellate lawyer Ryan Clinton helped make Austin one of the country’s most animal-friendly citiesFeaturing Ryan Clinton

At Arnold & Itkin in Houston, friendship is the main ingredient for successFeaturing Jason A. Itkin, …

The young Houston lawyer’s trial-prep proficiency landed her the role of managing attorney for the firm’s national asbestos practiceFeaturing Dara Hegar

Lynn Kamin entered family law and made it her ownFeaturing Lynn Kamin

Veteran trial lawyer A. Martin Wickliff Jr. follows in his father’s pioneering footsteps by starting the largest minority-owned law firm in TexasFeaturing A. Martin Wickliff, Jr.

Windle Turley fights for gun controlFeaturing Windle Turley

Philip H. Hilder helps whistleblowers like Sherron Watkins do what’s rightFeaturing Philip H. Hilder

How tax attorney Emily Parker became the first female managing partner in 125 years at Thompson & KnightFeaturing Emily A. Parker

Jon Kettles is the guy to call when something happens in the skyFeaturing Jon C. Kettles

There’s a reason he’s the lawyer other attorneys don’t want to face in courtFeaturing Thomas M. Melsheimer

Michael Jung’s love of law seems to be geneticFeaturing P. Michael Jung

Joel W. Heydenburk brings commercial deals across the finish lineFeaturing Joel William Heydenburk

Toby Cole advocates for personal injury clients by being himself in the courtroomFeaturing Tobias A. Cole

The Dallas trial lawyer excels at handling heated situationsFeaturing Shelly T. Greco

Nobody fights harder to recapture lost savings for his clients than Jason Braun

In the world of click-fraud investigations, Dean Gresham’s name is at the top of any search engineFeaturing R. Dean Gresham

The Jones Day attorney has carved out a niche in representing international corporations that are dealing with fraud matters, which has him doing a lot of traveling to Mexico and Central America. We caught up with him in his Dallas office and found out why he’s discovered it’s sometimes best to stay near the hotelFeaturing Emmanuel E. Ubinas

Be careful what you post—Plano family law attorney Rick Robertson has seen e-communications come back to haunt

Ophelia Camiña entered law school on a lark, but her success has been far from a flukeFeaturing Ophelia F. Camina

Bob Hilliard takes on the cases other lawyers won’t touch—and winsFeaturing Robert C. Hilliard

Kathleen Wu advocates for diversity in the boardroom and on the tennis courtFeaturing Kathleen J. Wu

Allan Polunsky has a Texas death row facility named after him and doesn’t mindFeaturing Allan B. Polunsky

The Fort Worth attorneys win a 25-year case to prove that vitamin E supplement E-Ferol can be harmful to babiesFeaturing Frederick L. Streck, III

How Michael P. Maslanka applies Shakespeare to his practiceFeaturing Michael P. Maslanka

Robin Gibbs on the opportunity that he saw 40 years ago for small firms in commercial litigationFeaturing Robin C. Gibbs

What hasn’t kept Kathleen Wu busy since her feature story in 2011?

Daniel N. Ramirez helps employers comply with immigration and employment laws regarding employee documentationFeaturing Daniel N. Ramirez

Diana M. Liebmann has quietly become one of the top wind energy lawyers in TexasFeaturing Diana M. Liebmann

He’s already had his first one, as a sports reporter. Now he has his second, as a media lawyerFeaturing Travis S. Crabtree

James Bailey enjoys maritime lawFeaturing James T. Bailey

When can a Texas school ban religious proselytizing on its grounds?Featuring Joshua A. Skinner

When Anthony Lowenberg isn’t handling products liability claims, he’s reviewing restaurants

What was the best advice you ever received?Featuring Michelle Hartmann, …

No one knows how to get to the essence of an appeal like Greg Coleman

Sean Tracey looks for the answerFeaturing Sean Patrick Tracey

Gayla Crain wanted to work at a new kind of law firm, so she went and helped build itFeaturing Gayla C. Crain

Environmental litigator Rick Faulk sticks to the facts

That’s Linda L. Addison, the daughter of Holocaust survivors and current leader at Fulbright & JaworskiFeaturing Linda L. Addison

Kevin Glasheen takes on Cargill, railroads and the Lone Star StateFeaturing Kevin T. Glasheen

Mark Mueller adds Eastern thinking to the Western practice of lawFeaturing Mark R. Mueller

Bringing collaboration and reasonableness to divorce lawFeaturing Angeline Lindley Bain

What Mike Gruber learned about life and law from volunteering with Habitat for HumanityFeaturing G. Michael Gruber

Richard Orsinger of McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing talks about designing CLE presentations, the genius of Bruce Bowen and just how long it takes for a divorce to stop hurtingFeaturing Richard R. Orsinger

How Mark Trachtenberg parlayed a great law school paper into billions for educationFeaturing Mark Trachtenberg

How Wendy Wang discovered civil rights law is more complex than it used to be

After seven years and about $2.5 million, Sarah Teachout helps to free two innocent men

How one little girl taught a good lawyer to be a great man

Juan Garcia started out in supermarkets and ended up in Super Lawyers

Jeff Embry spotted a flaw in airbags and pushed for their redesign

After Marjan Shansab’s harrowing escape from Afghanistan, nothing seemed impossible

Stallone inspires children to turn to musicFeaturing Joseph A. Stallone

Featuring Brooks W. Taylor

Featuring Paige L. Smith-Taylor, …

How Tony Taft unlocked the secrets of the courtroomFeaturing Tony R. Taft

Nicole DeBorde knows the other side—she was on it for almost a decadeFeaturing Nicole DeBorde

By day, a few million-dollar cases; by night, Wayne Fisher smokes six briskets at onceFeaturing Wayne Fisher

Frank Branson does just what he wants, and that includes winning casesFeaturing Frank L. Branson

Like Abraham, Craig Watkins asks if we want to destroy the righteous with the wicked

Houston neighbors Scott Atlas and Stanley Schneider run their own personal innocence projectFeaturing Stanley G. Schneider

After more than $250 million in wins, Ray Thomas found he was missing something—and it wasn’t successFeaturing Raymond L. Thomas, Jr.

J. Gary Trichter channels a Western heroFeaturing J. Gary Trichter

Jeff Kobs is digging in Jordan for a biblical hotspotFeaturing Jeff Kobs

Both Randy Roach and his wines have depth and good characterFeaturing Robert M. (Randy) Roach, Jr.

How Richard Haynes kicked a spittoon and launched a legendary career

Aubrey Connatser and Ramsey Patton took on one of the largest custody cases—over 400 children—in Texas historyFeaturing Aubrey M. Connatser

What's it like to work every day with the person you wake up next to each morning? Or to settle payroll disputes with the man who paid your first allowance?Featuring Jamal K. Alsaffar, …

Rick Daly found a novel way to finalize the deal—pokerFeaturing Richard D. Daly

Don't try to pigeonhole Chris Ward; you're sure to get him wrongFeaturing Christian J. Ward

Chris Smith takes on Ike and Rita       Featuring Christopher S. Smith

Raul Leal gets to play J. Beresford Tipton to Texas landownersFeaturing Raul Leal

John Boundas wins the most important fight of his lifeFeaturing John T. Boundas

A classroom visitor supplied the key to a college educationFeaturing Yolanda C. Garcia

Brad Caldwell meets the most convincing law school recruiter everFeaturing Brad Caldwell

Jennifer King enlists the homeless in community serviceFeaturing Jennifer A. King

Brett Busby clerked—and played violin—for the Supreme Court

Jennifer Morris tells tales of unsung heroes

Amy Jetel puts the skills she learned while in uniform to good useFeaturing Amy P. Jetel

Chris Collins liked being a rock star, but he loves being a lawyerFeaturing Christopher D. Collins

ExxonMobil's GC discusses Valdez, the merging of two oil giants and more

Clients in trouble—and the Supreme Court—beckon Dave BeckFeaturing David J. Beck

Greg Westfall sings the stories—and saves the lives—of society's rabble        Featuring Greg Westfall

You can overuse the Atticus Finch comparison—few people really deserve it. Jim Coleman doesFeaturing James E. Coleman, Jr.

The El Paso lawyer refuses to let a political derailment make him bitter        Featuring Enrique Moreno

David Keltner expands the law to new frontiers        Featuring David E. Keltner

Paula Sweeney works (and works and works) for her clients        Featuring Paula Fisette Sweeney

Harry Reasoner has been injecting the law with his good sense for almost half a centuryFeaturing Harry M. Reasoner

Jim Cannon fires a shot heard 'round Texas        

K. Marshall Dye found her place at Match.com  

Shawn Raymond is poised to revolutionize public service in AmericaFeaturing Shawn L. Raymond

Nikkee Espree — Mehaffy Weber        Featuring Nikkee E. Espree

Jeremy Brandon brought a little bit of West Texas to Harvard  

Jim Ho plays well on both sides of the aisle

Amy Dinn fights hard, on skates and in the courtroomFeaturing Amy Catherine Dinn

A new class of younger female attorneys is upending the Texas legal worldFeaturing Lou Thompson Black, …

Sometimes marching to your own beat is just what’s called for

Karla Pascarella interfaces culturesFeaturing Karla R. Pascarella

Trey Branham gets a senator’s job doneFeaturing Charles W. (Trey) Branham, III

Toto, we’re not in Wright City anymoreFeaturing Amy M. Carter

Visiting Harriet Miers, on (and under) cloud nine

Craig Brown plays in the big leagues but lives in the small onesFeaturing Craig W. Brown

He’s an uber-boy scout, ultra-prepared Featuring Mike McKool

The woman behind Roe is still fighting for women's rights, almost 40 years after revolutionizing the United States

A billion-dollar win? He's got lots of those Featuring G. Allan Van Fleet

Michael Marin fights for fairness, whether his client is a huge corporation or the average Texas juror Featuring Michael D. Marin

Dick DeGuerin magically transforms losers to winnersFeaturing Dick DeGuerin

Kelly Shackelford fights for people of faith

Featuring Steven M. Ladik

John Allen Chalk likes to tell his clients that he was happy with his first career 

E. Michelle Bohreer spends much of her off-time each year watching and learning about the top college football linemen

Kinnan Golemon invests much of his time on his 600-acre cattle ranch

We know what you don't know about the goings on with Texan lawyers

Terri Zimmermann learned her chops in the Military Featuring Terri R. Zimmermann

Angela Zambrano out-Algers Horatio Alger

Where the military is, there is Stephen Karns

At Mary Kay, what Julia Simon says, goes

Donate hundreds of hours? Tammy Wood would—and did

Trek Doyle put everything into his wife’s fight against leukemia

Daryl Lansdale and the Green Elephant

Mark Werbner finds a novel way to fight terrorism

Richard Mithoff “just goes down to the courthouse and does it”

John Browning sticks up for the average guy against the recording industry

How could Bill Jones prepare for space shuttle debris and executions?

Tullos Wells is the off-court MVP for the San Antonio Spurs

For Texas’ No. 1 power couple, it’s just an old-fashioned love song

Lisa Blue is revolutionizing how lawyers see juries

Fred Baron became a big guy by never forsaking the little guy

Steven K. DeWolf and his 1943 PT-17 open-cockpit biplane

Rufus Cormier has run into Nelson Mandela and the Clintons

Linda Addison in the daughter of two Holocaust survivors

He proves something to himself in Iraq

Off the slopes, Gerry Goldstein palled around with Aspen neighbor Hunter S. Thompson

James Payne's effort to promote black-operated businesses

That Herman Miller chair was just too confining for Jay Mac Rust

Schooled in London,Mexico City and Austin, Adolfo Campero is multiculturalism incarnate

Grappling with the right to life

In her spare time, Nikelle Meade is helping preserve 50,000 acres of land in Austin

Janice Leverett learned early on the value of intellectual property,when a song she wrote as a teenager was stolen from her

Jason Ryan spent 17-hour days helping hurricane victims — then he became one of them

Geronimo Rodriguez left the picking fields to go to high school; by age 22 he was working for the Clinton White House

Morris Moon tracks all 400-plus death row inmates in Texas.

Cheryl Leb protects the legacy of Ben Hogan

Mary Ellis Lagarde’s secret weapon

Charla Aldous finds her way to big-money cases by listening to her heartFeaturing Charla G. Aldous

Talmage Boston’s new book explores baseball’s most important year

D Magazine named Peggy Facklis one of the 12 Most Eligible Bachelorettes in Dallas

Erin Nealy Cox is leading the fight against Internet drug dealers

Catherine Robb brings her famous family's spirit to a new generation

To be or not to be. That is the question

Bob Bragalone serves God by serving his clients well

In court or the arena, Bock takes challenges in stride

Beckman can turn a Barbie doll into a living, breathing human being

Panatier likes making trouble across party lines

Pro bono work gives Blum the chance to get out of the office and into the courtroom

He may be the richest lawyer in America, but even at 78 Joe Jamail shows no signs of slowing down

When that (other) rich and famous Texan decided to run for president, he chose Kim J. Askew to lead the chargeFeaturing Kim J. Askew

Rogge Dunn sees art where others see only advertisingFeaturing Rogge Dunn

The man The Wall Street Journal calls the “second richest lawyer” in America says when it comes to winning cases, he’s number one

Patrick Oxford and Boe MartinFeaturing Patrick C. Oxford

Rumors of his client's death have been greatly exaggeratedFeaturing Ike Vanden Eykel

Mark Lanier, founder of the Christian Trial Lawyers Association, is no one's liberalFeaturing Mark Lanier

Mary Alice McLarty took the long way to becoming a lawyer. But she’s made up for lost time.

The Mystery of the Week is “How does Les Weisbrod find time for everything he does?”Featuring Les Weisbrod

Maybe a brain tumor slows other people down, but not Scott Schwind

Beth Sufian doesn’t let her battle with cystic fibrosis stop her from crusading for the rights of the disabledFeaturing Beth S. Sufian

Through two wars men and women from across Texas have helped reshape Iraq. From the front lines to the courtrooms, with bullets and ballpoint pens, Texas attorneys have taken great risks to restore some measure of freedom to that country. Below we profile three such heroes, Bill Gameros, Brad Clark and Brian FarlowFeaturing Bill Gameros

In a cynical era, the American Dream is reaffirmed in Bryan Brown. From the ROTC to the SEC, he has made a habit out of exceeding expectationsFeaturing Bryan K. Brown

No time for The Da Vinci Code — Kent Rutter spent thousands of hours examining the records of the Texas Court of AppealsFeaturing Kent Rutter

Take the most daunting of legal challenges, such as the asbestos litigation that Halliburton was facing, and Don Godwin will find a solution. He always does.Featuring Donald E. Godwin

Holy transactions and litigation! Steve Stodghill comes to the rescue for all his famous clientsFeaturing Steven H. Stodghill

For former POW Ronald Bliss, every moment matters

At this Houston firm, expert legal work goes hand in glove with epochal sports momentsFeaturing Allan B. Diamond

The men of Death by Injection can argue your case during the day, and rock your socks off at night.

At the University of Texas, watching is learning