Darlene Payne Smith

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...

Consistently recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America, Sanford L. Dow, a third-generation Houston attorney, has, during his 32 year legal career, represented a diversity of individuals from all walks of life and businesses of all sizes. He has successfully represented prominent national religious leaders, a former United States Congressman, professional athletes, members of a Middle East Royal Family, an international fashion model, New York Stock Exchange companies, a restaurant fran...

J.W. Beverly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. J.W., 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 J.W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sydney Alexandra Scott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Sydney Alexandra, 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 Sydney Alexandra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa Haselden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Melissa, 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 Melissa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Kala Sellers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Kala, 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 Kala is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary Pace Livingstone represents defendants in a wide range of complex commercial circumstances in both state and federal courts. She joined the firm in August 2009. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Livingstone clerked for the Honorable Chief Justice Adele Hedges of the Texas Court of Appeals, First District and was an associate with Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP. Obtained dismissal in state court for a director of an oil and gas company in case involving negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and...

Mike Baker began his practice in 1977 in Strong Pipkin’s Beaumont office. Over those years of practice, he handled or tried to conclusion all types of personal injury litigation: worker's compensation, vehicular collision, industrial, retail or commercial premises liability, railroad crossing accidents, FELA, Jones Act, general maritime and offshore rig accidents, and 42 USCA 1983 actions defending local governmental units involving civil rights violations, and/or work place discriminat...

Biography His broad-based legal experience includes presiding as a municipal court judge of the City of Houston, a state district judge of both a Civil and Family District Courts, and served as assistant attorney general for the State of Texas and briefing clerk for the Honorable Judge Ingraham, Federal District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. He has extensive experience in civil trials and appeals involving complex litigation and family law cases. His mediation experience includes ...