Benjamin S. Ritz

Allen H. Rustay is a partner at Hicks Thomas LLP and has over 20 years of experience in litigation in Texas State and Federal courts. He has extensive experience in commercial litigation including matters involving commercial disputes, energy, oil and gas, and maritime disputes on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. He has also litigated theft of trade secrets, breaches of fiduciary duty, and business torts. Formerly affiliated with a large international law firm, Mr. Rustay has been with Hi...

Nick Spiliotis is a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, where he counsels employers regarding a broad range of workplace issues. He is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Nick’s practice crosses multiple industries, representing clients in the oil and gas, restaurant and hospitality, banking, maritime, manufacturing, and construction arenas. He acts as a strategic advocate who seeks to minimize the possib...

As a real estate attorney, Tania Hovel’s practice focuses primarily on commercial transactions. She regularly handles complex matters related to retail, office and industrial leasing, finance, sales and development, acquisitions, and general corporate matters. Over the years she has provided counsel and representation for franchises, developers, family-owned businesses, high-net worth individuals, and private firms and investors in the preparation and negotiation of various types of agr...

C. Matthew Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law. C. Matthew, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A courtroom veteran, Peri has taken more than 65 civil and criminal cases to trial. She practices primarily in insurance, with experience in first-party claims, insurance bad faith and extra-contractual litigation. She often provides insurers with complex claims-handling advice, first- and third-party coverage opinions and guidance concerning Texas insurance statutes. Peri has also litigated in a variety of areas of civil litigation. That breadth of experience has benefited clients ranging fr...

Brian E. Simmons focuses on all facets of intellectual property law, including patent and trade secret litigation; patent counseling; due diligence investigations for investments, acquisitions, and divestitures; technology transfers, joint developments, and other research agreements; licenses; transactions involving IP; and risk consulting. Mr. Simmons has represented clients in a variety of matters in the chemical arts after serving as a senior research chemist prior to practicing law. His e...

Florence L. Luk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Florence L., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Florence L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dwana Waltman joined The Lanier Law Firm in February of 2009 as an intake attorney for the toxic tort division. Mrs. Waltman was born in Lufkin, Texas. She graduated from Baylor University, magna cum laude, in 1993 with a degree in Sociology and attended law school at Texas Tech University. Mrs. Waltman was in private practice in Lubbock before taking a position as an Executive Director of a non-profit legal organization. Under her direction, the agency tripled in size and vastly expanded ser...

Bill Ogden is an attorney with Kean Miller in Houston, Texas, and practices in the firm’s trial and appellate groups. His work focuses on commercial litigation and appeals, including matters involving communications law and the First Amendment, employment litigation, financial services, and energy-related disputes. His practice includes both state and federal courts. Bill is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He represents clients in Litig...

Roger Aksamit serves as the Firm’s Houston Office Leader. In addition, he is a member of the Firm’s Strategic Lateral Hiring Committee and is involved with the Firm’s Diversity & Inclusion initiative. Roger specializes in energy and private equity taxation and counsels public, private equity, and closely held clients in mergers and acquisitions, financing, and joint venture transactions, as well as all other aspects of transactional tax matters and planning. He is Board ...