Casey Handy-Smith

Sydney Alexandra Scott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Sydney Alexandra, 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 Sydney Alexandra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Ben Westcott, the firm’s Co-Managing Shareholder, has a practice that focuses on both transactional and dispute resolution aspects of construction law. He represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and owners on substantial construction projects, including schools, public infrastructure, sports facilities, airports, petrochemical and industrial plants, highway projects, wastewater treatment fa...

Marc Matthews practices in the areas of admiralty and tort litigation with a special emphasis in defending vessel owners and operators from claims arising under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as well as from claims arising from vessel collisions and cargo damage. He has extensive experience in the arrest and seizure of vessels in the federal courts, both from the standpoint of arresting vessels and from the s...

Nancy Hamren is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law. Nancy, 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 Nancy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Her response is immediate. When you ask Courtney Ervin to describe herself as a lawyer, she says, “I’m a problem-solver.” While she is one of the top up-and-coming trial lawyers in Texas, she also finds immense satisfaction using her business acumen to defuse disputes early, when possible. “Look, I welcome a good fight,” says Ervin. “That’s an essential part of a trial lawyer’s DNA. However, I never forget that my clients call me when they have ...

Alison Bloom is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Alison, 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 Alison is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Fernelius successfully handles high-profile and complex litigation, especially matters that come under intense public scrutiny. He has a sophisticated understanding of how cases affect his clients’ business, and he does everything he can to resolve his clients’ problems. His work for clients includes representing an international oil and gas company in three separate trials from 2005 to 2009 involving a catastrophic explosion at one of its oil refineries, which ultimately re...

Michael Marek P.C. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Michael, 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 Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen Jacobson is an executive compensation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He advises public and private companies, private equity firms and their portfolio companies on a wide range of employment, executive compensation and employee benefit matters, including in connection with mergers, acquisitions, sales, private equity investments, initial public offerings and restructurings. Stephen regularly advises clients on structuring and implementing equity and cash-ba...

Jack Langlois is the office managing partner for Houston. Jack focuses his practice on energy related matters, including upstream, midstream and downstream. He advises clients on investments in and financings of energy projects and assets, including, mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions and dispositions of assets and stock of energy companies. Jack represents public and private companies, private equity investors, lenders, governments and national oil companies in a number of substantial ...