Christopher Mahfouz

Dwayne L. Mason serves as the head of the Texas Intellectual Property Litigation Practice. Dwayne’s practice focuses on patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and technology-based commercial litigation. Dwayne also manages patent and trademark portfolios and assists companies in protecting and commercializing their intellectual property, including many transactional matters in the technology, media, life sciences, energy, and natural resources industries. Dwayne has litigated numer...

Highly regarded for his skillful resolution of bankruptcy and insolvency matters, David Parham represents corporate and partnership debtors, creditor committees, equity holders, secured and unsecured creditors, lessors, and trustees in bankruptcy proceedings, litigation, and workouts. His representations have spanned a range of sectors including restaurants, health care, insurance, real estate, retail, aviation, telecommunications, distribution, manufacturing, energy, and mining. David’...

Mr. West is the Managing partner, of West Mermis PLLC. He is in his 30th year of practice handling cases all over the State of Texas. His practice includes complex commercial litigation, construction defect litigation, business litigation and worksite accidents. He is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating in legal ability & ethical standards. This year he was again named both as a Super Lawyer and one of Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers. He was also named as a Best Law...

For over twenty-eight years, Paul Smith has been very successful trying many different types of cases to juries. He has also tried numerous bench trials and argued in federal and state appellate courts. Paul has tried a variety of cases on both sides of the docket, including oil & gas, environmental, commercial, personal injury, products liability, professional liability and employment cases. Paul started his career in the Tort section at Vinson and Elkins before joining Ware Jackson. He ...

Lauren Black is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group with more than a decade of experience handling a diverse array of matters. While her practice is “industry agnostic,” she has represented clients in the energy, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, shipping, technology, and logistics industries. Lauren has achieved favorable results for clients facing all aspects of civil litigation, from a strategic approach to early dispute resolution to a favorable sett...

Nicholas Earles is a partner in SBSB’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’s original roster in February 2...

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.

Jason S. McManis is a partner at AZA and the head of AZA’s intellectual property group. He is a skilled trial lawyer with extensive experience in front of the jury in courtrooms across the United States. IAM Patent 1000 ranks Mr. McManis as a leading patent litigator and highlights that he “is often brought in to take over cases from previous counsel” while commending his ability to “adapt to changing circumstances with alacrity.” Mr. McManis represents both plai...

As a real estate attorney, Tania Hovel’s practice focuses primarily on commercial transactions. She regularly handles complex matters related to retail, office and industrial leasing, finance, sales and development, acquisitions, and general corporate matters. Over the years she has provided counsel and representation for franchises, developers, family-owned businesses, high-net worth individuals, and private firms and investors in the preparation and negotiation of various types of agr...

G. Mark Jodon focuses his practice on employment-related litigation, including wage and hour collective actions, specifically handling matters related to: Employment discrimination Minimum wage and overtime claims Non-disclosure and non-competition agreements NLRB Proceedings He represents clients in state and federal courts, in labor arbitrations and in administrative hearings before the National Labor Relations Board. He also appears before governmental agencies such as the Equal Employment...