Gary J. James

Born Ponca City, Oklahoma, July 5, 1941; admitted to bar, 1966, Oklahoma. Preparatory education, Oklahoma State University (B.S., 1963); legal education, University of Oklahoma (J.D., 1966). Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. Assistant Attorney General, State of Oklahoma, 1968. (J.A.G.C., U.S. Army, 1966-68).

Matthew Panach is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Matthew, who practices law in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hard work is part of my DNA. I put myself through law school at night while working full time. I am both an attorney and a business owner with over 30 years experience. I understand that business is not a 9-5 proposition, and that's why my clients know they can reach me whenever they need me.

Eric is a partner in the firm's Oklahoma City office and Editor in Chief of CounselorLibrary.com's Spot Delivery publication. He assists national and state banks, savings associations, credit unions, mortgage bankers, other licensed lenders, motor vehicles dealers and automotive finance companies in the development and maintenance of nationwide consumer mortgage and automobile finance programs; online motor vehicle sales programs; litigation funding programs; and electronic payment programs. ...

I did not always know that I wanted to become an attorney. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in psychology, I was still searching for a meaningful career path. I decided to take time to explore my interests and moved to New York for a year. While there, I observed a law school class with a friend, an experience that sparked my interest in the law. That moment led me to prepare for the LSAT and ultimately enroll at Touro Law School. Law school proved to be a transf...

Melissa began her legal career in-house with a Fortune 500 oil and gas company. Since that time, her practice has focused on oil, gas, and energy law , including the preparation of drilling and division order title opinions across Oklahoma, Texas, and North Dakota. Her work frequently involves the preparation of curative documents, probate-related matters, and support in litigation for oil, gas, and renewable energy clients. In addition to her energy law practice, Melissa represents clients i...

Michael J. Heron is a Partner in our Oklahoma City office with over 30 years of legal experience. He specializes in protecting the rights of individuals and businesses in civil cases involving medical malpractice, professional liability, construction, transportation, and insurance matters. Mike represents hospitals, practice groups, physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals in a wide range of litigation, policies and procedures, compliance, investigations, business transactions,...

Michael Carter is a Partner in our Oklahoma City office where he focuses his practice on asbestos, talc, and silica defense, products liability, labor and employment, and workers’ compensation matters. Michael has defended multi-party asbestos, talc, respirable dust, silica, and benzene exposure cases in multiple jurisdictions across the United States, representing equipment manufacturers, distributors, contractors, premises owners, manufacturers of industrial and cosmetic talc products...

Mark E. Bialick entered the practice of law in 1981. His practice centers upon complex civil litigation, and, over the course of his nearly forty-year career, Mark has litigated and tried to verdict several of the State of Oklahoma’s seminal cases in the areas of insurance, particularly with respect to the duty of good faith and fair dealing, as well as cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. In 2006, Mark was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawye...

Sam Fulkerson’s practice is focused on the representation of management in all phases of the employment relationship, including litigation before federal and state courts, regulatory and administrative agencies, and in arbitration matters. He also handles litigation matters involving the enforcement of non-competition and confidentiality agreements, breach of employment contracts, handbook and personnel policy violations, wage and hour disputes, and other disputes arising out of the emp...