B. Todd Patterson

For over twenty-eight years, Paul Smith has been very successful trying many different types of cases to juries. He has also tried numerous bench trials and argued in federal and state appellate courts. Paul has tried a variety of cases on both sides of the docket, including oil & gas, environmental, commercial, personal injury, products liability, professional liability and employment cases. Paul started his career in the Tort section at Vinson and Elkins before joining Ware Jackson. He ...

Brian’s practice focuses on complex litigation and appeals. He has litigated and appealed a wide variety of claims for clients in the petroleum, transportation, insurance, and construction industries, including contractual, commercial tort, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death claims. As an appellate advocate, Mr. Cathey is frequently engaged to assist clients in the trial court with preparing dispositive motions, jury charges, post-verdict motions, and providing trial assis...

Michael D. Warner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Michael D., 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 Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mindy McGehee Riseden is a Houston-based commercial litigation attorney and shareholder at Crain Caton & James. Mindy focuses on commercial litigation, dedicating a multi-decade practice to representing clients at the trial and appellate court levels. Mindy counsels local businesses, national corporations, multinational organizations, and individuals across diverse commercial conflicts. Mindy routinely resolves legal disputes involving breach of contract, partnership dissolutions, insuran...

Susan Noe Wilson is a partner in SBSB’s office. A member of the firm’s bench since September 2016, she boasts a legal career spanning more than 30 years and a dozen practice areas, ranging from construction and maritime to energy and insurance, trucking, business transactions and more. Ms. Noe Wilson has handled and tried Jones Act cases, 905(b) claims, coverage disputes, commercial matters and land-based and offshore drilling-related disputes in courts throughout the Gulf Coast r...

Richard F. Whiteley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Richard F., 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 Richard F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tamara D. Bruno is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Tamara D., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tamara D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eva Guzman is a groundbreaking figure, with an impressive history both as a litigator and as a judge. She began her legal career in Houston, managing a successful civil law practice for a decade before accepting gubernatorial appointments, first to the Harris County District Court bench in 1999 and then, in 2001, to the Texas 14th Court of Appeals, where she served for eight years, hearing both civil and criminal cases. In 2009, she accepted a third gubernatorial appointment, becoming the fir...

Layla Panjwani is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Layla, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Layla is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Zavitsanos is a highly regarded trial lawyer who loves trying cases and loves winning. He has achieved success for a multitude of clients – both defendants and plaintiffs, from big energy companies to lone whistleblowers battling the odds. He has tried almost 100 cases to verdict in litigation that runs the gamut: financial services, oil and gas, construction, complex commercial disputes, director and officer liability, non-compete and trade-secret disputes, real estate development...