Austin Ciuffo

Shubi Arora is a partner in the Houston and Austin offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on M&A transactions, private equity investments and special situations strategies, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. His experience spans the traditional energy sector and includes upstream, midstream and power transactions. He also frequently advises clients on energy technology and transition matters, including renewables, energy storage and carbon...

Ivan M. Rodriguez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Insurance Law. Ivan M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ivan M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matt Pacey is a partner in Kirkland's Houston office. His practice concentrates on capital markets transactions, corporate governance and compliance. He regularly represents private equity-backed companies in connection with initial public offerings, particularly in the upstream, midstream and oil field service sectors. He has extensive knowledge of master limited partnership matters and has represented issuers or underwriters in numerous MLP financing transactions, including initial public o...

Jason S. McManis is a partner at AZA and the head of AZA’s intellectual property group. He is a skilled trial lawyer with extensive experience in front of the jury in courtrooms across the United States. IAM Patent 1000 ranks Mr. McManis as a leading patent litigator and highlights that he “is often brought in to take over cases from previous counsel” while commending his ability to “adapt to changing circumstances with alacrity.” Mr. McManis represents both plai...

Forrest M. Smith III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Forrest M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Forrest M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott Fletcher is one of the leading securities litigation and enforcement attorneys in the country. He represents institutions and individuals in securities, commercial, and bankruptcy litigation; government enforcement actions; and internal investigations. Before forming his own firm, Scott was co-head of the securities litigation and enforcement groups at Jones Day and at Vinson & Elkins. For more than 30 years he has represented clients in matters ranging from routine securities litig...

David Castro Jr. is a corporate partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. David’s practice focuses on mergers & acquisitions and the formation of joint ventures involving energy assets across the value chain, including traditional and renewable energy sources. David has represented clients in connection with the purchase and sale of a broad range of assets, including upstream and midstream oil and gas assets and companies, processing and fractionation facilities and...

Co-founder of Houston-based Heim, Payne & Chorush, Les has helped build a nationally respected team of lawyers and has led litigation resulting in numerous 8- and 9- figure verdicts and settlements. As patent law has evolved with inter partes review validity challenges at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Les has become particularly effective representing both patent owners and accused infringers in this rapidly changing landscape. Heim, Payne & Chorush staffs its litigation for...

Letitia Quinones-Hollins brings more than 23 years of white collar and criminal law experience to her clients in Houston, throughout the state of Texas, and across the nation. A graduate of Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Letitia began her legal career in a partnership and subsequently accepted an apprenticeship under the tutelage of the legendary Robert A. Jones. After spending five years under his guidance, Letitia branched out on her own and formed Quinon...

John Jakuback represents businesses and institutions in complex commercial and personal injury litigation, including matters involving Fortune 500 companies, regional enterprises, municipalities, and other organizational clients. His practice focuses on the defense of high-exposure claims, including large-scale and multi-party disputes across Texas, Louisiana, and other jurisdictions. Based in Houston, Texas, John is a shareholder at Kean Miller and brings decades of litigation experience to ...