James R. "Jim" Griffin

Patrick Hanchey counsels and represents banks and other financial institution clients in matters involving state and federal banking laws, regulations, enforcement actions, and other corporate activities, such as mergers, acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and holding company formations. Patrick regularly counsels clients on compliance with complex banking laws and regulations before entering into transactions or business activities, and he also has extensive experience in representi...

Julie Heath focuses her practice primarily in the area of employment litigation and counseling. In addition to litigation and arbitration defense, she counsels HR departments and businesses of every size on all aspects of employment law, from addressing day-to-day employment and personnel questions, to investigating internal employee claims, to defending governmental agency audits, to advising clients on steps for litigation avoidance. Ms. Heath is rated AV®-Preeminent™ by the peer-...

Family law matters play no favorites, and it affects couples of every distinction. Jim Mueller is well-versed in the wide range of issues involved. As Managing Partner with Verner Brumley Mueller Parker PC, board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in family law and a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Jim's practice concentrates on complex divorce matters and contested custody litigation. He approaches all his divorce cases with the goal of helping client...

Laura Benitez Geisler is a partner at Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, L.L.P. For the past 23 years, her practice has focused on representing individuals and families in a wide variety of personal injury and wrongful death claims. She is driven by a passion to help others, and her empathy for her clients’ problems desire to seek justice on their behalf has resulted in multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements. Throughout her career, Ms. Geisler has served in several...

Todd W. Spake is the chair of Kelly Hart's Oil & Gas/Energy Practice Group and represents oil and gas operators and interest owners across the state in his broad-based energy practice. Mr. Spake's primary focus is on transactional matters, including the purchase and sale of oil and gas producing properties, farm-outs, joint development agreements, natural gas processing and sale agreements, seismic agreements, complex rural and urban oil and gas leases and surface use agreements, pipeline...

Timothy E. Taylor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Timothy E., 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 Timothy E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Biermacher, a director of the Firm, is the most senior member of the Litigation Section in the Dallas office. His general broad trial and appellate practice and experience representing clients on both sides of the docket not only encompass personal and bodily injury defense provided on behalf of insureds and self-insured entities arising out of catastrophic injury, wrongful death, toxic and mass tort, sick building, false arrest, rape, defamation and professional negligence claims, but al...

Maeghan E. Whitehead is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Maeghan E., 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 Maeghan E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Johansen's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts. He also regularly represents clients in arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Mark has handled litigation and arbitrations involving mergers and acquisitions, contract disputes, business torts, labor/employment, trade secrets, securities/shareholder litiga...

Robert R. Collins III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. Robert R., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.