Alfonso L. "Al" Melendez

Kenya S. Woodruff works with hospitals, physicians and other health care providers looking to improve the performance of their clinical operations and ensure regulatory compliance. She also helps those organizations merge and expand, whether through joint ventures, mergers or acquisitions. Due to her prior experience as deputy general counsel at the Parkland Health & Hospital System, Kenya approaches operational issues from the client's perspective, taking into account both technical issu...

S. Scott West is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. S. Scott, who practices law in Sugar Land, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which S. Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lauren Black is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group with more than a decade of experience handling a diverse array of matters. While her practice is “industry agnostic,” she has represented clients in the energy, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, shipping, technology, and logistics industries. Lauren has achieved favorable results for clients facing all aspects of civil litigation, from a strategic approach to early dispute resolution to a favorable sett...

Heidi has extensive litigation and appellate experience in both state and federal courts in Texas. In private practice, Heidi has represented clients in a variety of matters, including complex commercial cases, personal injury claims, premises liability claims, professional liability claims, and employer/employee and labor disputes. She has briefed and handled appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Texas Supreme Court and various Texas courts of appeals. ...

A. John Harper III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. A. John, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which A. John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With 36 years’ experience in civil litigation, Bruce Smith offers mediation services and represents clients in cases involving auto accidents, business torts, breach of contract, commercial disputes, products liability, insurance claims, and deceptive trade practices. Since 1986, Mr. Smith has tried more than 60 cases to verdict. In 1992, Mr. Smith earned Board Certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. He has been re-certified in 1997, 2002...

Tod is a trial lawyer. He has extensive trial experience in contract, insurance, and personal injury cases involving products liability, construction, transportation, and the railroad industry. He has represented the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, BNSF Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the National Passenger Corporation d/b/a Amtrak, with diverse experience including crossing accident litigation, FELA, contract disputes, and environmental claims. Tod is als...

Michelle Apodaca is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Michelle, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Nelson is a partner in Barnes & Thornburg's Intellectual Property and Technology practice based in Dallas and Houston. He has more than 20 years of experience litigating large, multifaceted patent infringement cases in federal district courts and before the International Trade Commission. Mark also has experience in post-grant proceedings, including both inter partes and covered business method reviews (“IPRs” and “CBMs”). Mark's experience in patent litigatio...

John W. Proctor is the Managing Partner of Brown Dean. He has over 30 years of experience in civil trial law. Mr. Proctor has been board certified in civil trial law since 1990 and represents railroad and aircraft manufacturers in difficult and often emotionally charged personal injury and wrongful death litigation and consistently obtains successful results for his clients. Since 2002, he has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuter...