Duane Brescia

Kurt Lyn is a partner in the Austin office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP focusing on mergers & acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance. He represents buyers, sellers, private equity funds and their portfolio companies, and financial institutions in a variety of corporate transactions including leveraged buyouts and public and private mergers and acquisitions.

Katie Valle’s practice focuses on divorce, complex child-custody and property disputes, and cases involving family violence and substance use. She brings a steady, trauma-informed approach to high-conflict matters. Prior to private practice, Katie served as Family Legal Services Director with Volunteer Legal Services, representing families fleeing violence and substance abuse, and mentoring attorneys new to family law. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Austin Bar Asso...

Melanie Plowman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Appellate Practice. Melanie practices law in Austin, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Melanie Plowman 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 Melanie Plowman is held by other lawyers.

Steven Highlander’s practice focuses on portfolio management for universities, non-profits and small to mid-sized corporate clients. Preparation and filing of patent applications, as well as prosecution of these cases, makes up the bulk of his docket. He also has considerable opinion experience for patentability, validity, infringement and inventorship disputes. Dr. Highlander has also been involved in over 20 interference proceedings, including several garnering Federal Circuit review....

Mr. Knisely is a partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. His practice involves representing individuals and institutions in fiduciary litigation, including primarily trust, estate and guardianship disputes. Mr. Knisely also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries with regard to complex and contentious trust and estate administrations. In addition, he handles appeals of a wide array of civil matters in both state and federal courts, with a focus on appeals involving trust,...

James E. Mann is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Regulatory Law and Oil and Gas Law. James E. practices law in Austin, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized James E. Mann since 2013. 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 James E. Mann is held by other lawyers.

Ms. Londergan represents clients in all areas of family law. Her practice includes extensive experience in negotiating and litigating issues involving divorce, contested child custody, high net worth asset division, visitation rights, geographical restrictions, spousal and child support, prenuptial agreements, and modification and enforcement actions. She also handles matters of paternity, support, and custody of non-marital children. Ms. Londergan is a skilled and detail oriented negotiator ...

As a seasoned litigator, Mitchell Chaney's practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation. His career, spanning over 30 years, includes trying cases on both the federal and state level for leading manufacturers of automotive products, ATVs, firearms and other product liability cases in South Texas. Additionally, Mitchell has tried railroad crossing cases as well as legal malpractice cases on the defense side. Before joining McGinnis Lochridge he was a partner in his own firm in Brownsvil...

David R. Keyes represents companies and financial institutions with respect to loans and deposits, structured finance and securitization, project finance, sales of financial assets, energy transactions, check clearing and bank payments systems, letters of credit, bankers acceptances, loan workouts, lender liability, bank insolvencies and related acquisitions, reorganizations and conveyances, and in financial and commercial transactions in the energy, financial institutions, and technology ind...

Mr. Armbrust practices in the areas of real estate, general business, contracts, environmental, land use, administrative, water and utilities. Mr. Armbrust serves on the Board of Directors of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. He has previously served on the Boards of the Colorado River Foundation, the Greater Austin Economic Development Corporation and the Brackenridge Hospital Development Council. He served on the Board of Directors of the Austin Real Estate Council and was its ...