Brian E. Armstrong

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...

Mary L. O’Connor’s practice focuses on representing public companies and their officers and directors in commercial litigation and arbitration, securities litigation, internal investigations, and regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings. Ms. O’Connor is a member of the Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association and is a FINRA arbitrator.

William Baine has spent more than 30 years litigating insurance disputes, contractual disputes, construction defects, defective design, poor workmanship, business torts, and fraud. He has the analytical experience and ability to tackle the most legally complex cases and understands not only what it takes to successfully achieve a fair resolution but also to be fully committed to trial if required. Bill applies his vast experience from many types of cases in representing locally owned business...

Randy has prosecuted and defended complex business cases throughout Texas. Randy’s docket has included virtually every area of business contract and tort litigation, including securities fraud, directors’ and officers’ liability, partnership disputes, employment related disputes, trust and estate litigation and other fiduciary litigation, oil and gas litigation, commercial real estate litigation and intellectual property litigation. Randy’s practice has also included a...

Eva W. Turner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Eva W., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eva W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

“Divorce is a complex and emotional process; I realize that clients need a strong advocate with a level head who will listen attentively and allow them to vent, process and heal.” — Esther R. Donald Esther Donald is an excellent resource in all areas of family law and particularly accomplished in cases where children are involved. A parent and stepparent herself, she mixes her life experiences with logic, patience and persuasion to move even the most emotional cases toward a...

Andrea Fair wanted to get out of the city and into the courtroom in 2016, after several years of practice at a major Houston-based law firm. Moving to Ward, Smith & Hill was the perfect opportunity to advance her professional career and achieve an enhanced work-life balance for her family. With a focus on intellectual property litigation, Andrea thrives in developing trial strategies and presentations that assemble the facts to tell a story that properly reflects the importance of each ca...

Sally Helppie is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Sally, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sally is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mike Baker began his practice in 1977 in Strong Pipkin’s Beaumont office. Over those years of practice, he handled or tried to conclusion all types of personal injury litigation: worker's compensation, vehicular collision, industrial, retail or commercial premises liability, railroad crossing accidents, FELA, Jones Act, general maritime and offshore rig accidents, and 42 USCA 1983 actions defending local governmental units involving civil rights violations, and/or work place discriminat...

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 ...