Catherine Chlebowski

Forrest M. Smith III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Forrest M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Forrest M. 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...

Zeke DeRose is a member of The Lanier Law Firm’s Commercial Litigation section. He brings extensive experience to plaintiffs and defendants in a range of disputes before courts and in arbitration, including complex commercial and business litigation, antitrust, licensing disputes, merger disputes, qui tam (under both state and federal False Claims Act), federal securities, and intellectual property. He has represented both large and small clients across the nation in federal court, arbi...

Michael L. Burnett focuses his practice on commercial litigation as well as all aspects of construction law. His has a concentration in the representation of owners, general contractors, subcontractors and others in the construction industry. He assists clients through all stages of construction projects, including preparing and negotiating construction contracts, advising owners and contractors during the project so as to avoid and resolve disputes during projects, and litigating disputes su...

Kim Altsuler is the Managing Partner of Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office and chair of the firm’s Residential and Multi-Family Construction Practice. Kim also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Culture, Career Development & Inclusion Committee. While Kim has a diverse litigation practice, her concentration is in all aspects of residential construction, from contracting through dispute resolution. Over the years Kim has handled a variety of complex litigation matters, ...

Charles C. Foster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Charles C., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 1991. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicholas Earles is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office and has been a knowledgeable resource in the maritime space for more than 20 years. While his practice focuses in admiralty, his experience also extends to general and premises liability, workers’ compensation, subrogation and transportation. Additionally, he has navigated difficult cases for energy companies and overseas defense contractors covered by the Defense Base Act. A member of SBSB Eastham’s original rost...

Michelle Scheffler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. Michelle, 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 Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Merkley is a board-certified trial lawyer and Co-Chair of the firm’s litigation group and trial team. He is frequently retained in high-profile catastrophic accident cases to assume the defense or to navigate through complicated discovery issues leading to trial. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict and has been involved in several record-setting settlements for companies seeking to avoid the publicity of a jury trial. David is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates ...

Douglas C. Atnipp is the Texas Co-Regional Managing Shareholder, Co-Managing Shareholder of the Houston office and Co-Chair of the firm's national Energy and Natural Resources Practice. Doug has more than 25 years of experience representing clients engaged in all facets of the energy business. He is involved in a wide range of energy-related transactions including energy finance, joint ventures and strategic alliances, and acquisitions and dispositions of energy-related assets. In addition to...