Baker Hostetler is one of the nation's top 100 law firms with 620 attorneys serving clients around the country and throughout the world. Established in 1916 by Newton D. Baker, U.S. Secretary of War during World War I, and former Mayor of Cleveland, the firm now has offices in ten U.S. cities across four time zones. Baker Hostetler is a multidisciplinary firm with 11 practice groups and 55 areas of practice strength.

Baker Hostetler is known as "Counsel to Market Leaders." Our clients include businesses and individuals that are leaders globally, nationally, regionally and locally. Many are in the top of their market segments, and many are household names. Others are leaders of the future - companies with the aspiration and will to drive tomorrow's high-growth industries.

Statement of Practice

Antitrust and Trade Regulation; Appellate; Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights; Benefit Plans; Business; Charitable Planning; Class Action Defense; Class Actions; Commercial Litigation; Copyrights; Corporate Governance; Counseling and Compliance; Customs and Export Controls; Debt Finance; Development and Land Use; Employee Benefits; Employment; Employment Litigation; Energy and Environmental; Executive Compensation; Executive Compensation; Executive Compensation; Global Practices; Health and Welfare Plan Counsel; Hospitality; Intellectual Property; Intellectual Property Due Diligence; Intellectual Property Litigation; Intellectual Property Transactions; International Intellectual Property; International Litigation; International Tax; International Trade; International Trade and Immigration; International Transactions; Labor Relations; Legislative and Regulatory; Litigation; Maritime; Media; Mergers and Acquisitions; Motor Vehicle and Equipment Franchise Practice; Patents; Policy and Lobbying; Private Equity; Private Wealth Planning; Product Liability and Toxic Tort; Real Estate; Real Estate; Real Estate Asset Program; Real Estate Finance; Real Estate Transactions; Regulatory Proceedings; Reportable Tax Transactions; Securities Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement; Securities Offerings and Reporting; State and Local Tax; Tax; Tax Controversy and Litigation; Trade Secrets; Trademarks, Trade Dress and Domain Names; Trusts and Estates; Venture Capital; White Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations.

Address

1000 Louisiana, Suite 2000
Houston, TX 77002-5009, (Ft. Bend, Harris & Montgomery Cos.)

Phone

Phone: 713-751-1600
Fax: 713-751-1717
To contact an attorney on the Internet use first initial and surname followed by @bakerlaw.com

Website

http://www.bakerlaw.com

Firm/Affiliate Offices

OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER

Lisa H. Pennington (Managing Partner) born Wichita Falls, Texas, October 28, 1958; admitted to bar, 1984, Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; 1992, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Texas (B.A., magna cum laude, 1981; J.D., 1983). Phi Beta Kappa; Order of Barristers. Member, ATLA Mock Trial Team. Frequent Author and Speaker on Employment and Litigation Topics. Board of Directors, Houston Lawyer Referral Service, 1997-1999. Member: Houston (HBA President's Award for Outstanding Committee Chair, 1995-1996) and American (Member, Litigation, Employee Rights and Responsibilities Sections) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Litigation; Employment Law.Email: Lisa H. Pennington

PARTNERS

Gary M. Alletag (Partner) born Ada, Oklahoma, January 12, 1951; admitted to bar, 1976, Texas. Education: University of Texas (B.B.A., Honors Plan, with highest honors, 1972); University of Texas (J.D., with honors, 1976). Phi Delta Phi (Magister); Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Eta Sigma; Beta Gamma Sigma; Order of the Coif. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. (Board Certified, Commercial Real Estate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Energy; Real Estate; Business Law; Financial Institutions Law.Email: Gary M. Alletag

Donald W. Brodsky (Partner) admitted to bar, 1973, Texas. Education: Duke University (B.A., 1970); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1973). Practice Areas: Securities; Public Offerings; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Merger Reorganization; Corporate Governance.Email: Donald W. Brodsky

Matthew W. Caligur (Partner) admitted to bar, 2001, Texas; 2002, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas; 2003, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 2004, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of North Texas (B.A., 1989; M.S., 1991); South Texas College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2001). Member: Order of the Lytae; The Order of the Barristers. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation; Product Liability; Toxic Tort; Appellate Litigation.Email: Matthew W. Caligur

Donna S. Clark (Partner) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1984, Texas. Education: University of Florida (B.S., Nursing, with high honors, 1974); Texas Women's University (M.S., 1980); University of Houston (J.D., with honors, 1983). Phi Delta Phi. Member: State Bar of Texas; American Bar Association (Member, Health Law Section). Practice Areas: Health Care; Health Care Facility Regulation; Health Care Legislation; Health Care Compliance; Public Health Law.Email: Donna S. Clark

Hurlie H. Collier (Partner) born La Marque, Texas; admitted to bar, 1988, Texas, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1989, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., 1979); University of Texas at Austin (M.B.A., 1983); University of Houston (J.D., 1987). Co-Author: "The Conspicuousness Requirement: Litigation and Drafting Contractual Indemnity Provisions In Texas After Dresser Industries, Inc. v. Page Petroleum, Inc." South Texas Law Review. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Employment; Litigation.Email: Hurlie H. Collier

Douglas D. D'Arche (Partner) born San Diego, California; admitted to bar, 1995, Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Southern and Western Districts of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas. Education: Willamette University (B.S., 1990) University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 1995). Order of the Barons. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Bankruptcy Section); Houston Young Lawyers Association (President's Award, 1997); Houston Young Lawyers Foundation (Board Member, 1999); Texas Young Lawyers Association (Board Member, 2000-2001). Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Energy; Construction Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Douglas D. D'Arche

Billy M. Donley (Partner) born Spartanburg, South Carolina; admitted to bar, 1992, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1993, U.S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Houston (B.S., 1989); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1991). Beta Alpha Psi. Phi Alpha Phi. Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Manufacturer-Labor Relations; Litigation; Antitrust; Administrative Law; Legal Malpractice Defense; Employment Litigation.Email: Billy M. Donley

John English (Partner) born Shreveport, Louisiana, 1947; admitted to bar, 1972, Louisiana; 1973, Texas. Education: Louisiana Tech University (B.S., 1970); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1972). Order of the Coif; Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Delta Phi. Member: Houston, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Louisiana Mineral Law Institute; Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.Email: John English

Gregory Nolan Etzel (Partner) admitted to bar, 1995, Texas; U.S. District Court, for the District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, First, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh and District of Columbia Circuits. Education: University of Texas (B.B.A., Finance, 1991); University of Houston (J.D., magna cum laude, 1995). Order of the Coif. Practice Areas: Health Law; Hospital Law; False Claims Act; Medicare and Medicaid; Fraud and Deceit.Email: Gregory Nolan Etzel

Paul S. Francis (Partner) born Shreveport, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 1973, Texas; 1974, New Mexico and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1976, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1989, U.S. Tax Court; 1990, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1992, U.S. Supreme Court; 1994, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 1997, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 2001, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: Dartmouth College (B.A., 1970); University of Texas (J.D., 1973). Member: Houston and American (Member, Sections on: Antitrust Law; Litigation; Corporation, Banking and Business Law) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Section on Litigation). (Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization).Email: Paul S. Francis

Susan Feigin Harris (Partner) born Boston, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1988, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: Duke University (B.A., with honors in Public Policy Studies and History, 1985); University of Houston (J.D., 1988). Intern to the Hon. Judge David Hitner, U.S. Federal District Court, Southern District. Adjunct Professor, Health Law, University of Houston, 1996-1997. Member, Texas Lyceum Association. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; American Health Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Health Care; Health Care Legislation; Health Care Regulation; Health Care Compliance.Email: Susan Feigin Harris

Dean D. Hunt (Partner) born Carson City, Nevada; admitted to bar, 1991, Texas; 1994, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Education: University of Nevada (B.S., Chemical Engineering, with high distinction, 1980); University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 1990). Practice Areas: Technical Litigation; Telecommunications; Zoning and Land Use; Business Torts; E-Commerce.Email: Dean D. Hunt

Jon David Ivey (Partner) born Dallas, Texas, February 2, 1955; admitted to bar, 1980, Texas; 1981, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1986, U.S. District Court, Northern and Western Districts of Texas; 1991, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1992, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., Finance, 1977); Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 1980). Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Litigation; Energy; International Trade.Email: Jon David Ivey

Tonya A. Jacobs (Partner) born Yoakum, Texas, July 2, 1969; admitted to bar, 1994, Texas; 1995, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; 1999, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: University of Texas (B.A. in History, with honors, 1991); University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 1994). Order of the Coif; Order of the Barrons. Managing Editor, Houston Law Review. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Houston Management Lawyer's Forum; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Employment Litigation.Email: Tonya A. Jacobs

David R. Jarrett (Partner) born Lebanon, Indiana, December 5, 1959; admitted to bar, 1994, Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1998, Indiana and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; 2003, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: Multnomah Bible College (B.S., summa cum laude, 1990); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1994). Delta Epsilon Chi. Who's Who Among Students in American College & Universities, 1989. Who's Who in American Jurisprudence, 1997. South Texas Law Review, 1993-1994. Author, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Commercial Law Newsletter, 1996-1997. Texas Research Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, 1994-1997. Member: Indianapolis, Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Business Litigation; Administrative Law.Email: David R. Jarrett

Pamela G. Johnson (Partner) born Texarkana, Texas; admitted to bar, 1980, Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1986, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 1987, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 1989, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: Southwest Texas State University (B.S., 1976; M.A., 1977); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1979). Phi Alpha Delta. Member: The Order of Barristers; Order of Lytae. Adjunct Professor, South Texas College of Law, 1981-1982. Member: Houston (Member, Bankruptcy Section) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; American Bankruptcy Institute. (Board Certified, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, and Business Bankruptcy Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy Law; Creditors' Rights Law.Email: Pamela G. Johnson

Jamie A. Joiner (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Texas; 2001, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2002, U.S. Supreme Court; 2003, U.S. Court of International Trade; 2006, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Education: Westminster College (B.A., 1996); Louisiana State University (J.D., 2000). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: International Trade Regulation.

Mark C. Joye (Partner) born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1954; admitted to bar, 1979, Texas; 1980, Florida and U.S. Court of International Trade; 1982, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Education: United States Naval Academy (1971-1973); University of Florida (B.A., 1975); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1979). Phi Alpha Delta. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Appointment as Chairman of District Export Council, 1987-1991. Member: Houston and American (Member, Section on International Law and Practice) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Global Trade Services and Litigation; Export Controls; Customs; Transportation.Email: Mark C. Joye

Eric W. Kristiansen (Partner) admitted to bar, 2000, Texas and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2001, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: Trinity University (B.S., 1996); Tulane University of Louisiana (J.D., 2000). Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association; Texas Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Commercial Arbitration; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Oil and Gas Litigation.Email: Eric W. Kristiansen

C. Thomas Kruse (Partner) born Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1963; admitted to bar, 1989, Texas. Education: Emory College (B.A., 1985); University of St. Andrews, Scotland (Bobby Jones Scholar, 1986); Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 1989). Listed in Who's Who in American Law. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. Fellow: Houston and Texas Bar Foundations. (Board Certified Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Energy Litigation; Arbitration; Securities Litigation.Email: C. Thomas Kruse

B. Scott McBride (Partner) born Ogden, Utah; admitted to bar, 1997, Texas; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2003, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, First and Fifth Circuits. Education: Brigham Young University (B.S., cum laude, 1994; J.D., magna cum laude, 1997). Order of the Coif. Managing Editor, Brigham Young University Law Review, 1996-1997. Member, Healthcare Financial Management Association. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; American Health Lawyers Association; Health Care Compliance Association. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Health Care; Health Care Regulation; Health Care Compliance; Health Care Reimbursement.Email: B. Scott McBride

Michael W. Mengis (Partner) born Baton Rouge, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 1986, Texas; 1987, Louisiana; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of St. Thomas (B.A., 1982); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1986). Delta Epsilon Sigma; Phi Kappa Phi; Order of the Coif. Law Clerk to the Hon. Frank J. Polozola, U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Louisiana, 1986-1987. Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury; Toxic Torts; Energy; Products Liability.Email: Michael W. Mengis

John M. Mings (Partner) admitted to bar, 1989, Texas; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Education: Texas Tech University (B.A., 1986); Duke University (J.D., 1989). Membe: State Bar of Texas. Special Agencies: United States Patent and Trademark Office. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Intellectual Property.Email: John M. Mings

Sameer Vijay Mohan (Partner) born New York, N.Y., May 15, 1974; admitted to bar, 1999, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1996); University of Houston (J.D., 1999). Alumni Relations Editor, Houston Journal of International Law, 1998-1999. Contributing Editor, Hospital Contracts Manual. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Transactional Law; Health Care; Commercial Real Estate; Mergers and Acquisitions.Email: Sameer Vijay Mohan

James L. Moore (Partner) born Houston, Texas; admitted to bar, 1977, Texas; 1978, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1979, U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; 1979, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 1992, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1993, U.S. Supreme Court; 1994, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: University of Houston (B.A., cum laude, 1971; J.D., 1977). Practice Areas: Toxic Tort; Product Liability; Litigation; Premises Liability.Email: James L. Moore

Michael J. Pappert (Partner) born Houston, Texas, October 15, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Texas. Education: University of Texas (B.B.A., 1979); University of Houston (J.D., 1982). Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Co-Editor, Real Estate Newsletter, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, 1987-1993); Houston Young Lawyers Association; Texas Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Real Estate; Residential Real Estate; Mergers and Acquisitions; Financial Institutions Law.Email: Michael J. Pappert

Michelle D. Pector (Partner) born San Antonio, Texas; admitted to bar, 2000, Texas; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., cum laude, 1997); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., cum laude, 2000). Order of the Barristers. Member: State Bar of Texas; American Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association; Association of Women Attorneys. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment Litigation; Products Liability Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Michelle D. Pector

W. Robert Shearer (Partner) born Lafayette, Indiana, November 18, 1969; admitted to bar, 1994, Texas. Education: University of Texas (B.B.A., high honors, 1991); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 1994). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Mergers and Acquisitions; Securities Offerings; Securities Regulation; Corporate Governance; Private Equity; Corporate Law; Energy Law.Email: W. Robert Shearer

Glen Shu (Partner) born Oakland, California; admitted to bar, 1996, Texas; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2000, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; 2003, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 2004, U.S. Supreme Court; 2005, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. Education: University of New Mexico (B.A., magna cum laude, 1992); University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 1996). Chief Articles Editor, Houston Law Review, 1995-1996. Briefing Attorney to the Hon. Leslie Brock Yates, Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, 1996-1997. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association.Email: Glen Shu

S. Shawn Stephens (Partner) born Amarillo, Texas, January 26, 1960; admitted to bar, 1988, Texas, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1989, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 1995, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas and U.S. Supreme Court; 2002, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third and Eleventh Circuits; 2003, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 2004, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Baylor University (B.A., 1982); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1988); University of Houston Law Center (LL.M., 1995). National Order of Barristers. ABA National Moot Court Champion and Oralist, ABA National Finals, 1988; Second in Nation as Best Oralist and Team, Bar Association of the City of New York; National Moot Court Competition, 1987-1988; Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Award. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Procedure. Author: "The Hermitage and Pushkin Exhibits: An Analysis of Ownership Rights to Cultural Properties Removed from Occupied Germany," 18 Houston Journal of International Law 59 (1995). Adjunct Faculty, Appellate Advocacy, South Texas College of Law, 1988—. Secretary, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. Member, Executive Committee, ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers. Member: Houston, Fifth Circuit and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. (Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Civil Appeals; Commercial Litigation.Email: S. Shawn Stephens

Drew B. Tipton (Partner) born Angleton, Texas, August 15, 1967; admitted to bar, 1994, Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1995, U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas; 1998 U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. Education: Texas A & M University (B.A., 1990); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1994). Law Clerk to the Honorable John D. Rainey, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1994-1995. Former Board Member: United Way, Food Bank and the Bach Festival. Member: American Legion; Marine Corps Association. Member: Houston (Member, Administration of Justice Committee), Federal and American (Member, Employment Law and Litigation Sections) Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas (Member, Employment Law and Litigation Sections); American Inns of Court, Garland Walker Inn. (Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Labor and Employment Law; Litigation.Email: Drew B. Tipton

Gregory C. Ulmer (Partner) born Houston, Texas; admitted to bar, 1995, Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1992); University of Houston (J.D., 1995). Member, American Inns of Court. Briefing Clerk, Texas Supreme Court. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors, 1998—); State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association.. Practice Areas: Litigation; Business Litigation.Email: Gregory C. Ulmer

W. Ray Whitman (Partner) born Fort Worth, Texas, November 6, 1961; admitted to bar, 1990, Texas; 1992, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 1996, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 2001, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: Texas Tech University (B.S., Geophysics, 1983); South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1989). Phi Delta Phi; Order of the Lytae. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; American Association of Petroleum Geologists; Society of Exploration Geophysicists. Practice Areas: Oil and Gas Litigation; Product Liability Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Oil and Gas Law; E-Commerce Litigation.Email: W. Ray Whitman

James C. Winton (Partner) born Fort Worth, Texas; admitted to bar, 1977, California; 1979, U.S. Court of Military Appeals; 1980, District of Columbia; 1987, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1988, Texas; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1995, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California; U.S. District Court, Southern, Eastern, Western and Northern Districts of Texas. Education: University of Southern California (B.A., cum laude, 1974); Southwestern University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1977). Staff Member, Southwestern University Law Review. Member: Houston Bar Association; The State Bar of Texas; District of Columbia Bar; State Bar of California; Maritime Law Association of the United States. [LCDR, JAGC, USNR]. Practice Areas: Oil, Gas and Energy Law; Admiralty; Litigation.Email: James C. Winton

Robert M. Wolin (Partner) born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1958; admitted to bar, 1984, Texas. Education: Kent State University; University of Maryland (B.S., 1979); Ohio State University (M.B.A., M.H.A., 1981); Rutgers University (J.D., with honors, 1984). Member, National Moot Court Team. Editorial Advisory Board, Contemporary Long Term Care Magazine, 1988-1989. Member: American Bar Association (Member, Consumer Financial Services Committee; Health Law Committee); State Bar of Texas; American Health Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Distribution; Health; Consumer Credit; Business.Email: Robert M. Wolin

COUNSEL

Seth Freedman (Counsel) born New Orleans, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 1976, Texas. Education: Lawrence University (B.A., 1971); University of Texas at Austin (J.D., with honors, 1976). Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Corporate; Securities.Email: Seth Freedman

Judy G. Gechman (Counsel) admitted to bar, 1987, Texas. Education: University of Cincinnati (B.A., 1970; M.A., 1972); University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 1987). Order of the Coif; Order of the Barons. Member: Houston (Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Corporate; Securities; Antitrust Counseling.Email: Judy G. Gechman

DIRECTOR

Pamela Doss Nieto (Director) admitted to bar, 1984, Texas; 2008, U.S. Court of International Trade; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., cum laude, Economics, 1981); University of Houston (J.D., 1984). Member: State Bar of Texas. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: International Trade; Customs Law; Import and Export Law.Email: Pamela Doss Nieto

ASSOCIATES

Troy S. Allen (Associate) born San Antonio, Texas, July 17, 1979; admitted to bar, 2004, Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., magna cum laude, 2001); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2004). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Litigation; Oil and Gas Litigation; Complex Litigation.Email: Troy S. Allen

Ameena Ashfaq (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 2004); Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 2008). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Health Care.Email: Ameena Ashfaq

Krista M. Barnes (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Texas. Education: Rice University (B.A., Psychology, cum laude, 2001); Duke University School of Law (J.D., 2004). Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; American Health Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Health Care; Health Care Administration; Health Care Litigation; Health Care Regulation.Email: Krista M. Barnes

Michelle Benavides (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 2002); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2005). Member: Houston Bar Association; Houston Young Lawyers; Mexican-American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation.

Laird McGraw Doran (Associate) admitted to bar, 2001, Texas; 2002, U.S. Court of International Trade and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas; 2003, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; 2008, Colorado. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1998; J.D., 2001). Member: Stat Bar of California. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Laird McGraw Doran

Rebecca Jackson Doty (Associate) admitted to bar, 2003, Texas; 2004, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Northern and Western Districts of Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas. Education: University of Virginia (B.A., 2000); University of Texas at Austin (J.D., 2003). Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Texas Young Lawyers' Association. Practice Areas: Toxic Tort; Admiralty Law; Litigation.Email: Rebecca Jackson Doty

Robyn R. Goldstein (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.S., 2001); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2008). Order of the Barristers; Order of the Scribes. Recipient: Distinguished Service Award; Multiple Interscholastic Moot Court Awards, 2006-2008. Editor-In-Chief, Houston Journal of International Law, 2007-2008. Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Litigation; Employment Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Robyn R. Goldstein

Farrell A. Hochmuth (Associate) born Wheaton, Illinois, March 25, 1975; admitted to bar, 2003, Texas; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas. Education: Southampton College, Long Island University (B.A., Environmental Studies, magna cum laude, 1997); University of Houston (J.D., cum laude, 2003). Member, Order of the Barons. Casenotes and Comments Editor, Houston Journal of International Law. Fulbright Scholar, 1998. Member: Houston Bar Association (Member, Environmental Section); State Bar of Texas; Texas Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Environmental Law.Email: Farrell A. Hochmuth

Adam R. Law (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 2005); University of Texas at Austin School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2008). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: General Practice.Email: Adam R. Law

James H. Nye (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 1991); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006). Order of the Coif; Order of the Barristers; Order of the Barons. Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation.Email: James H. Nye

Stephen T. Olson (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: The University of Georgia (B.B.A., Banking and Finance, Honors Program, 2002); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2006). Practice Areas: Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Business Acquisitions; Mergers and Acquisitions; International Mergers and Acquisitions; Real Estate Acquisitions.Email: Stephen T. Olson

John W. Petrelli, III (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas; 2007, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Northern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 2002); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 2006) Order of the Coif; Order of the Barons. Member: State Bar of Texas; Houston Bar Association; Texas Young Lawyers Association; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Energy; Environmental Law.Email: John W. Petrelli, III

James E. Phillips (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Texas. Education: Texas A & M University (B.A., Political Science, 2004); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2007). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: General Practice.Email: James E. Phillips

Matthew R. Raley (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Washington and Lee University (B.A., cum laude, 2001); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2005). Member: Houston Bar Association; State Bar of Texas; Texas Young Lawyers Association.Email: Matthew R. Raley

Rachel M. Smith (Associate) born Dallas, Texas, April 1, 1979; admitted to bar, 2004, Texas; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas; 2006, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas and U.S Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Baylor University (B.A., 2001); University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2004). Member: State Bar of Texas; Texas Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment; Commercial Litigation.Email: Rachel M. Smith

Summer D. Swallow (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: Baylor University (B.A., Political Science, 2002); University of Houston (J.D., 2006). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Health Care.Email: Summer D. Swallow

Joshua Thomas (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: Auburn University (B.S., Environmental Sciences, 1998); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., summa cum laude, 2008). Served as Managing Editor of Houston Law Review and Vice President of Student Bar Association. Participated in moot court, winning John Black Moot Court Championship, as well as two Best Brief awards and a Best Oral Advocate award in John R. Brown national Admiralty Moot Court Competition. Interned for Justice Laura Carter Higley of Texas First Court of Appeals and for Justice Leslie Brook Yates of the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals. Was a project scientist for environmental engineering and consulting firm where he managed environmental assessment and remediation projects for a variety of industrial clients. Member: Texas and Houston Bar Associations and Houston Young Lawyer Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Energy.Email: Joshua Thomas

Sarah M. Tobin (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Texas. Education: Ohio University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2003); Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 2006). Phi Beta Kappa. Member: Houston and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas; Houston Young Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Real Estate Acquisitions.Email: Sarah M. Tobin

STAFF ATTORNEY

Kati L. Freeman (Staff Attorney) admitted to bar, 2008, Texas. Education: Trinity University (B.A., cum laude, 2005); University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2008). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Health Care.Email: Kati L. Freeman

Tiffany D. Reyes (Staff Attorney) admitted to bar, 2007, Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.B.A., Finance, 2002; J.D., 2007). Member: State Bar of Texas. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Health Care.Email: Tiffany D. Reyes