Cathy Bukowski Smith

Roger Aksamit serves as the Firm’s Houston Office Leader. In addition, he is a member of the Firm’s Strategic Lateral Hiring Committee and is involved with the Firm’s Diversity & Inclusion initiative. Roger specializes in energy and private equity taxation and counsels public, private equity, and closely held clients in mergers and acquisitions, financing, and joint venture transactions, as well as all other aspects of transactional tax matters and planning. He is Board ...

Edward “Ed” Blizzard is a skilled litigator with more than 40 years of experience. Mr. Blizzard has been recognized by his peers and national organizations for his resounding legal successes for many years and he continues to bring the highest level of legal excellence to clients. Mr. Blizzard has been at the center of some of the largest pharmaceutical injury verdicts and settlements in the country and has successfully taken on some of the world’s largest corporations, incl...

No stranger to a construction site, John Grayson worked his way through college as a laborer, equipment operator and pouring concrete in the Houston area. While a student, he pumped gas and fixed flats at a service station and worked in the History Dept at Texas A&M University. Grayson is a Principal in Cokinos | Young and represents major contractors, EPC contractors, subcontractors, pipeline contractors and owners, mechanical contractors and owners in complex construction matters across...

Elaine Howard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Elaine, 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 Elaine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tim Strickland is a trial partner in the Houston office of Kean Miller, where he represents clients in Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Based in Houston, Texas, he has practiced law for more than 33 years across Texas and the Gulf Coast. His background includes service as managing partner of the Houston office of a multi-state maritime litigation firm before joining Kean Miller in 2021. His practice focuses on offshore energy and marine litigation,...

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

A trial lawyer in the truest sense, Rob Ford has led the defense and prosecution of complex civil cases at every phase of litigation, from discovery and pretrial motion practice through trial, final judgment and appeal. Licensed in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, Rob practices in state and federal courts throughout Texas and the greater Gulf Coast, where he represents plaintiffs and defendants in an array of high-stakes civil litigation, including complex commercial litigation, trade-secrets ...

One of the nation’s leading tax controversy and planning attorneys, Richard Husseini brings to bear his 30 years of experience to successfully represent private and public companies and high-net-worth individuals in complex tax matters. He is described as “bright and thoughtful; a very good litigator” (Chambers USA 2022) and as “a national leader in tax disputes” whose “knowledge of the sector is very high” (Legal 500 US 2022). Richard is recognized b...

Joy M. Eckelkamp’s practice focuses on elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, guardianship, probate, trust administration, and fiduciary representation. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) with the National Elder Law Foundation and has been recognized with the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer-Reviewed rating for excellence in legal practice. While attending South Texas College of Law Joy was awarded the Inaugural Lyndon B. Johnson Civil Rights Award. Joy is a ...

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