Clara B. "C.B." Burns

As a founding partner of Lyons & Simmons, Christopher Simmons focuses his practice on representing clients in complex civil litigation involving wrongful death, catastrophic personal injuries, product liability, complex business disputes, construction defects, and professional liability. He has a well-earned reputation as a trial lawyer who combines a tireless work ethic with a creative, “outside the box” approach to achieve outstanding results for his clients. Simmons believe...

Travis M. Brown is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Insurance Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Insurance. Travis M., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Travis M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah Clinton Jones is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office and boasts more than 20 years of courtroom experience as a trial attorney. With clients ranging from locally owned private businesses to Fortune 100 and 500 corporations with a national presence, her book is vast and diverse. As first chair or solo trial counsel, she has tried numerous lawsuits to verdict in state and federal court, with cases ranging from catastrophic injury to employment disputes. Sarah joined SBSB East...

Serving as Office Managing Partner of Akerman’s Houston office, Scott Marrs is a formidable trial lawyer litigating high profile matters in state and federal courts as well as arbitrations in the United States, South America, the Middle East, and Europe. Scott focuses on legal issues in virtually all aspects of the energy sector, including oil and gas exploration, production, transportation, storage, power, chemical, petrochemical, energy marketing, and well service. He also litigates i...

Patrick Hayes' practice focuses on commercial real estate, and assisting clients in acquiring, disposing, capitalizing and forming companies. Patrick’s real estate practice covers all aspects of commercial real estate, including acquisition, development, capitalizing, financing, leasing and disposition of all product types of commercial real estate. His corporate/commercial practice centers on the formation and restructuring of commercial entities, including corporations, partnerships a...

An accomplished trial lawyer, Darren Nicholson has been trying cases in state and federal courts for more than twenty years. After beginning his career at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington D.C., one of the country’s premier law firms, he returned to Dallas in 2008 and became a partner at the nationally-recognized trial boutique Sayles Werbner PC. Darren joined Burns Charest LLP in 2019 with one goal in mind – to help build one of the premier trial firms in the country. Darren&...

Matthew G. Paulson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Matthew G., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Childs is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He received his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, with a focus on civil litigation. Mr. Childs first came to the firm in 1996 as a law clerk and became an associate in November 1996. He has over fourteen years of extensive experience with complex family matters. As a litigator, his representation has included divorce, disputed property valuations and divisions of pro...

Hunter T. McLean is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Hunter T., who practices law in Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hunter T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Recognizing that divorce is a difficult time and often involves the division of an estate, Thomas Goranson applies a keen understanding to marital assets and how they can be valued and divided to achieve maximum benefit to the client. Befitting the founder of the firm, Tom also brings a certain stature to his cases that supports the client’s goals in the proceedings. With an eye toward preserving assets rather than destroying them, Tom offers clients a thorough analysis and creative but...