Ellen M. Van Meir

Practice Areas Labor & Employment Law Arbitration/Mediation/ADR Practice Emphasis Ms. Carr is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is an experienced mediator and arbitrator. Her expertise is in representing employers in all matters arising out of the employment relationship, including litigation defense, risk management, training, consultation, and representation during government audits. Ms. Carr has first chair trial experience in...

Nothing defines an appellate lawyer more than writing ability. Chad Baruch wrote one of the most acclaimed appellate briefs in American history while representing what the New York Times called "a glittering array of hip hop stars." The "Hip Hop Brief" went viral and received national media coverage including articles in New Yorker and Rolling Stone. One newspaper called it "the greatest amicus brief in Supreme Court history." Chad’s work focuses on high-stakes civil and family appeals,...

Dustin is a founding member of Simon | Paschal PLLC, an employment and business law boutique law firm in Frisco, Texas. Prior to starting and managing his own firm, Dustin exclusively practiced employment law at another law firm. Dustin has a degree in Human Resource Management from Baylor University and a law degree from Baylor Law School. Dustin maintains an active advice and counsel practice in addition to his litigation work. Dustin’s practice focuses on the workplace and employment...

Kevin Vela is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Gaming Law. Kevin, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Pat Sargent focuses on structured finance, corporate securities and business transactions, including extensive experience in securitization of diverse asset types, collateralized mortgage obligations, pass-through certificates, bond financings and various project and international finance transactions. He has represented a national credit rating agency in commercial mortgage and asset-backed securitizations and also represents issuers, underwriters, investors and servicers in public and priva...

J. Michael Young is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Michael, who practices law in Sherman, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which he is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Prior to moving to North Texas in 2006, Mike represented the interests of large corporations and insurance companies, ...

Abbey Garber focuses his practice on tax litigation and providing advice in connection with applying tax laws to individuals, estates, corporations, and partnerships. Serving more than 30 years in the Office of Chief Counsel at the Internal Revenue Service, he tried cases of all sizes in Tax Court, earning significant favorable opinions in fraud, tax shelter, and many other cases; received a full Tax Court opinion in an attorneys’ fees case; and prosecuted criminal tax cases in United S...

Amy T. Ford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Amy T., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Neal handles the most complex family law cases but his approach is very simple: protect the client at every turn. Sometimes that means delicate settlement negotiations; other times it’s fighting a court battle. In every situation, Bill is aggressive and thorough and he represents every client with the same unwavering dedication. Bill specializes in divorce cases involving large estates, family-owned businesses and complicated custody arrangements. He takes special interest in prote...

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...