Braxton Smith

Dara Hegar is the Managing Attorney of The Lanier Law Firm. She represents clients in each of the firm’s practice areas with a focus on trial coordination in complex litigation matters. While Mrs. Hegar’s proficiency spans across all of the firm’s practice areas, her specialty is providing specific insight that has resulted in many significant verdicts and settlements. She played a key role in the firm’s courtroom victories for years, including the $253 million verdict...

Neal Sweeney is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice exclusively on construction law and government contracts. Drawing on his more than 30 years of experience with the construction industry, Neal counsels clients on major infrastructure and P3 projects such as transit, airports, highways, wastewater treatment, and tunnels. He is also involved in energy and industrial projects linked to clean technology and renewable sources, including hydro, solar, wind, geother...

Adam H. Laughton guides health care providers and other parties through the complexities of health care transactions, including inevitable regulatory questions, licensing, payor enrollment and many other issues. Adam has handled transactions involving a wide variety of providers and facilities, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, behavioral health providers and freestanding emergency rooms, as well as physician practices and other entrepreneurs in the health care space. These tra...

Sam is a shareholder with Wilson Cribbs + Goren who primarily assists clients with transactional matters covering the development, leasing, acquisition, and disposition of all types and classes of real property. Like many of his colleagues, Sam grew up in both the real estate and legal industries, with family members in both. While attending the University of Texas, he began his schooling in real estate in earnest, by studying finance with a focus in real estate and participating in programs ...

Eric Rhine is a Houston, Texas attorney with Spagnoletti Law Firm . A native of Beaumont, Texas, he joined the firm in 2016. Mr. Rhine attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with high honors in two years. He double-majored in Government and History and was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Rhine attended Baylor University School of Law, where he received the Dean’s Academic Excellence Scholarship. Since graduating from law school, he has represented clients in a wi...

Dale Jefferson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants. Dale practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Dale Jefferson since 2015. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Dale Jefferson is held by other lawyers.

Avalyn C. Langemeier is a partner at Foster LLP in the Houston office and is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She focuses her practice on corporate immigration. She primarily manages employment-based immigration processes for employers, from large employers and academic, healthcare and religious organizations to start-up companies, across a wide variety of industries. She has extensive experience with corporate compliance and immig...

Elizabeth Massey is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Elizabeth practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Elizabeth Massey since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Elizabeth Massey is held by other lawyers.

Samuel J. Louis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Health Care Law. Samuel J. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Samuel J. Louis since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Samuel J. Louis is held by other lawyers.

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...