Casey E. Weaver

Jessica Guobadia is a litigation attorney and mediator with Kean Miller in Houston, Texas, representing individuals and families in matters involving Elder Law, Trusts and Estates, and Litigation related to trusts and estates. Her practice focuses on guardianship, probate, and mental health commitment proceedings, where she works closely with clients to protect individual rights while helping families and caregivers navigate emotionally complex legal processes. Jessica regularly handles proba...

Kent Newsome serves as Chair of the firm's Houston Real Estate Practice. He has more than 25 years of experience that includes commercial real estate, real estate development, health care acquisitions and development, financing transactions, and general business law. Kent regularly represents owners and developers of commercial, retail and industrial properties in the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management and sale of income producing properties, including office buildings, ...

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...

Russell Chorush is a co-founder of Houston-based Heim, Payne & Chorush, a patent litigation boutique that is known for its sophisticated and effective litigation related to patent infringement and patent-related antitrust work. Russ is a true pioneer in patent-related antitrust litigation against pharmaceutical companies under the Sherman Antitrust Act and FTC v. Actavis, Inc., 133 S. Ct. 2223 (2013). Russ plays leadership roles on multifirm teams and has assisted in securing groundbreaki...

Gregg Costa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Gregg, 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 Gregg is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David R. Eastlake is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. David R., 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 David R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Taylor Toombs Imel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Taylor Toombs, 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 Taylor Toombs is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Monica Uddin is a trial lawyer and the hiring partner for AZA. She is a skilled trial lawyer who has represented energy companies and other businesses and individuals in a variety of complex commercial matters including contract disputes, partnership break ups, and trade secrets. With a computer science background from Stanford University, she has also been active with AZA’s intellectual property and patent litigation team. A University of Chicago Law School graduate, Ms. Uddin excels a...

Mary F. Buzak is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Economic Development Law. Mary F., 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 Mary F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen Pate focuses his litigation practice on property insurance matters, Directors and Officers insurance matters, business interruption issues, CGL insurance matters, builders risk matters, commercial general liability insurance disputes, fraud, and various other extracontractual litigation matters. Over a 30 year career in coverage work, he has tried more than 45 first-party extracontractual cases to verdict. Prior to joining the firm, Stephen had been partner in the Houston office of an...