C. Thomas "Tom" Kruse

Joe Roden grew up in Liberty, Texas and attended the University of Texas as an undergraduate, where he graduated in 1988. He then went into the U.S. Marine Corps. Joe attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and was a decorated officer in the Marine Corps during Desert Storm, the first Gulf War. After leaving the Marine Corps, he graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with honors and then clerked for Justice Murry Cohen on the First Court of Appeals. After clerking for the Court of Ap...

Mike Chernekoff is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on environmental law, related areas of environmental litigation and toxic tort defense, and commercial and energy litigation. Mike’s practice centers principally on matters and businesses located in Louisiana and Texas. As a litigator, he develops and pursues effective dispute-resolution strategies in the context of investigations, trials, and settlement negotiations; as a counselor, he regularly helps clients ide...

Co-founder of Houston-based Heim, Payne & Chorush, Les has helped build a nationally respected team of lawyers and has led litigation resulting in numerous 8- and 9- figure verdicts and settlements. As patent law has evolved with inter partes review validity challenges at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Les has become particularly effective representing both patent owners and accused infringers in this rapidly changing landscape. Heim, Payne & Chorush staffs its litigation for...

Stephanie Jeane is an executive compensation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Stephanie’s practice focuses on executive compensation and benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and divestitures and public offerings. Stephanie also advises clients on a wide range of compensation and associated tax, securities and corporate governance matters, including the design, disclosure and implementation of equity and cash incentive programs...

Kami D'Olive is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Kami, 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 Kami 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...

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

Stephen E. Hart is of counsel in the Houston, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Certified by the Texas State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Labor and Employment Law, Stephen represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Leveraging more than 20 years’ experience in federal and state court employment-related litigation, arbitration, and administrative agency proceedings, Stephen helps clients defend and negotiate complex discrimination, harassmen...

Jim D. Aycock is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Jim D., 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 Jim D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William S. Anderson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. William S., 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 William S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.