Cody T. Rutowski

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...

Howard is a trial lawyer. He has tried and arbitrated complex personal injury, commercial and intellectual property cases all over the state. From patent and trade secret litigation in northeast Texas to multiple death and burn cases along the Texas-Mexico border, to massive coverage cases in Beaumont, he and his trial team have handled the difficult assignments. He has tried state and national class actions, medical device, oil & gas, nursing home, insurance coverage and intellectual pro...

Cynthia has been focused on real estate and lending law since 1985, when clients at her first law firm needed assistance with real estate matters. She is now a Shareholder at Wilson Cribbs + Goren, and is board-certified in Commercial Real Estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Cynthia’s practice primarily involves the representation of lenders and borrowers in connection with the financing of commercial real estate projects. She also maintains a significant affordable housi...

Michael Piazza is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Energy Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Oil and Gas Law. Michael practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Michael Piazza since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Michael Piazza is ...

Scott Armstrong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Scott, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Paul Mitchell is an experienced trial lawyer with a diverse litigation practice. He focuses primarily on representing companies in the energy sector in commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations, and similar matters, but has also handled a wide range of contested matters. For two decades prior to joining Hicks Thomas, Mr. Mitchell was a partner at Baker Botts LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP, two of the oldest and most respected law firms in Texas, and he brings that big-firm exper...

Heather L. Brown is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Project Finance Law and Securitization and Structured Finance Law. Heather L. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Heather L. Brown since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Heather L. Bro...

Marni Zarin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Marni practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Marni Zarin since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Marni Zarin is held by other lawyers.

Bradley J. Benoit is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) and Litigation - Securities. Bradley J. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Bradley J. Benoit since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Bradley J. Benoit...

John Zavitsanos is a highly regarded trial lawyer who loves trying cases and loves winning. He has achieved success for a multitude of clients – both defendants and plaintiffs, from big energy companies to lone whistleblowers battling the odds. He has tried almost 100 cases to verdict in litigation that runs the gamut: financial services, oil and gas, construction, complex commercial disputes, director and officer liability, non-compete and trade-secret disputes, real estate development...