Brian K. Bates

Wanda Fowler was a Justice on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals for almost 14 years before joining Wright Close & Barger, LLP as a partner. While on the Court she authored approximately 1900 opinions and decided approximately 3,800 more cases. In 2001, the other members of the Court elected her Acting Chief Justice for five months pending an appointment of a new chief justice and, in 2003, the Houston Chapter of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists voted her Appell...

Michael McBride is an intellectual property and patent trial lawyer who focuses primarily on high-stakes, complex patent litigation and patent prosecution matters in which his deep technical skills as an electrical engineer are a powerful asset to his clients. His vast experience in patent disputes over the last 13 years includes cases in venues across the country involving semiconductor manufacturing and transistor design, flash memory controllers, fiber optic networks, digital video compres...

Cynthia Mabry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Cynthia, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cynthia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Demetri Economou is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Demetri, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Demetri is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tony L. Visage is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Securities. Tony L., 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 Tony L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Greg Bopp is the managing partner of Bracewell LLP. Greg maintains an active practice focused on tax structuring, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets transactions for midstream and upstream companies, including master limited partnerships (MLPs). Greg was named a Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer for his role in representing Kinder Morgan, Inc. in the $76 billion acquisition of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., Kinder Morgan Management, LLC, and El Paso...

Scott B. Novak is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Scott B., 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 Scott B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Patrick Gaas is a Director in the Construction/Surety section of the Texas based law firm Coats Rose and Section Head of one of the largest and most accomplished construction practice groups in the USA. With over 25 years of experience, Patrick is regularly engaged by owners, contractors, engineering / design professionals and lenders to handle some of the largest and most challenging commercial and industrial disputes and transactions in the USA and internationally. Patrick's professional me...

Brittany Sakowitz is a corporate partner in the Houston and Austin offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, concentrating her practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Brittany advises private equity and venture capital investors, their portfolio companies, and other public and private companies across a broad range of industries, including infrastructure, energy and energy-related services, renewables, technology and digital infrastructure. She primarily counsels clients on public...