Craig Haston

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...

A courtroom veteran, Peri has taken more than 65 civil and criminal cases to trial. She practices primarily in insurance, with experience in first-party claims, insurance bad faith and extra-contractual litigation. She often provides insurers with complex claims-handling advice, first- and third-party coverage opinions and guidance concerning Texas insurance statutes. Peri has also litigated in a variety of areas of civil litigation. That breadth of experience has benefited clients ranging fr...

Michael D. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Litigation - Insurance. Michael D., 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 Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Rob Carty has been litigating cases for more than 30 years. During that time, he has handled a wide range of disputes and developed extensive courtroom experience. He began his legal career in the United States Air Force, serving four years as a judge advocate. After his military service, Rob spent years working within the corporate legal environment, gaining firsthand insight into how large companies and insurance carriers evaluate and defend claims. That background informs his approach toda...

Carlyn Burton uses intellectual property (IP) in creative and strategic ways to help clients achieve their business goals. With more than 20 years of IP legal experience under her belt, Ms. Burton has represented a wide range of clients – from accomplished Fortune 500 companies to innovative start-ups. As a scientist, she combines diverse technical knowledge with a strong skill set across multiple areas: domestic and foreign patent prosecution and maintenance , IP counseling , licensing...

Stephanie Koo Song is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Securitization and Structured Finance Law. Stephanie Koo, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephanie Koo is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Kevin P. Parker is the head of the Issues and Appeals Section of The Lanier Law Firm. His pre-trial work insures that client cases will stand the test of an appeal. Mr. Parker is an accomplished lawyer, having personally handled more than 20 cases at the appeals court level. He was a key member of the firm’s Pinnacle bellwether trial team that won a $1 billion combined jury verdict and a $502 million jury...

Shawn Bates has more than 22 years of practice in commercial litigation in the energy industry and across numerous other industries. He is a seasoned first-chair trial lawyer, handling cases worth tens of millions. He has conducted hundreds of depositions and supervised trial teams on matters of varying size. He focuses his practice on litigation and arbitration of complex disputes for clients in the energy sector (oil and gas companies, oilfield supply and support companies, pipeline builder...

John B. Thomas is the co-founder of Houston-based commercial litigation boutique Hicks Thomas LLP. Known for his deep experience in handling complex commercial litigation, Mr. Thomas and the firm’s lawyers represent both defendants and plaintiffs in lawsuits involving oil and gas, securities, environmental matters, banking, transportation, intellectual property and health care. Mr. Thomas has been named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America and Lawdragon’s 500 Leadin...