James T. Southwick

Your lawyer should know the courtroom (and, for many business disputes, full-blown arbitration hearing action) if you want to know the worth of your case. Yet many lawyers have little or no trial experience. I have that experience – in a diverse array of matters, including energy and technology, corporate fiduciary, securities, executive compensation, banking, and real estate. Nothing but trial work sharpens a lawyer’s professional judgment, handling of hard questions, or accounta...

Andrea “AJ” Johnson, a director at the Firm, has been practicing in employment law and employment/commercial litigation for more than 30 years. She represents clients all over the nation, provides day-to-day advice on critical, time-sensitive business and employment matters, has tried numerous cases to successful verdict and/or to dispositive adjudication, and has arbitrated and enforced mandatory arbitration programs in several states. AJ has a straight-forward approach. She seek...

No stranger to a construction site, John Grayson worked his way through college as a laborer, equipment operator and pouring concrete in the Houston area. While a student, he pumped gas and fixed flats at a service station and worked in the History Dept at Texas A&M University. Grayson is a Principal in Cokinos | Young and represents major contractors, EPC contractors, subcontractors, pipeline contractors and owners, mechanical contractors and owners in complex construction matters across...

Garrett Brawley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Antitrust and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Garrett, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Garrett is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Garrett is an experienced trial lawyer with significant wins for...

Greg Bopp is the managing partner of Bracewell LLP. Greg maintains an active practice focused on tax structuring, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets transactions for midstream and upstream companies, including master limited partnerships (MLPs). Greg was named a Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer for his role in representing Kinder Morgan, Inc. in the $76 billion acquisition of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., Kinder Morgan Management, LLC, and El Paso...

Tom has extensive trial and appellate experience in business cases, including oil and gas, breach of contract, and fiduciary litigation for plaintiffs and defendants. He has significant involvement in probate litigation, representing executors, beneficiaries of estates, and guardians in cases that also involve complex business transactions. Mr. Wright has argued cases in the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, and most of the fourteen int...

Keeping his client’s business objectives foremost in mind, Kevin Troutman focuses his practice on litigation and providing day-to-day advice concerning a variety of employment and people management issues. In doing so, he calls upon both his experience as an attorney and his years of experience as a human resources executive, including a period when he was responsible for 22 hospitals in five states. Kevin concentrates on finding practical business solutions that minimize employers&rsqu...

Jerry Metcalf focuses his practice on the representation of lenders, borrowers, and privately held companies in a wide variety of both domestic and international transactions. He regularly advises financial institutions and borrowers on structuring and documenting senior and subordinated debt financings secured by or involving accounts, inventory, equipment, real estate, marine vessels, and aircraft. Jerry also frequently represents companies in structuring and implementing purchase and sale ...

Justin Scott’s practice is focused on commercial litigation, specifically in the energy, construction, and real estate fields. In the energy industry, he has experience representing oil and gas service companies, equipment manufacturers, and exploration and production companies in disputes ranging from royalty payment litigation to trade secret matters. In the construction industry, Justin has represented general contractors, property owners, and developers, and one of the nation’...

Carolyn Roch is a trial lawyer at Kean Miller based in Houston, Texas, with a practice focused on complex commercial litigation and employment law matters for management. She began her legal career as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office after graduating from The University of Texas School of Law. While serving as a prosecutor, Carolyn first-chaired more than 50 jury trials and argued multiple appellate matters, building a strong foundation in courtroom advocac...