Jeffrey M. "Jeff" Smith

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Jud Waltman is the Managing Attorney in Houston over Personal Injury, Product Liability and Maritime Litigation. Mr. Waltman joined The Lanier Law Firm in 2002 and limits his practice almost exclusively to the representation of individuals who are victims of injury or death. He handles cases involving commercial truck collisions, product liability, medical malpractice as well as a focus on workplace injur...

Katherine Strahan is a trial lawyer with twenty-five years of experience in complex commercial and managed care litigation. She has spent her entire career representing managed care organizations (MCOs) in business and healthcare disputes and has extensive experience representing employers, group insurers and claims administrators in disputes involving health, disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits, including claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (...

Sarah D. Monty is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Immigration Law. Sarah D. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Sarah D. Monty since 2026. 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 Sarah D. Monty is held by other lawyers.

Mindy McGehee Riseden is a Houston-based commercial litigation attorney and shareholder at Crain Caton & James . Mindy focuses on commercial litigation, dedicating a multi-decade practice to representing clients at trial. Mindy counsels local businesses, national corporations, multinational organizations, and individuals across diverse commercial conflicts. Mindy routinely resolves legal disputes involving breach of contract, partnership disputes, insurance brokerage liabilities, real est...

Sammy Ford IV has tried over 20 cases before judges, juries, and arbitrators in his career. He represents companies and individuals around the country in all manner of civil matters, including complex commercial litigation, business torts, securities class actions, and catastrophic personal injury cases. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Sammy’s favorite place is in the courtroom trying cases. In 2022, he successfully tried a ...

Rachel has significant litigation and appellate experience in both state and federal courts. In private practice, she has represented clients in a variety of matters, including complex commercial cases, personal injury claims, real estate disputes, theft of trade secret allegations, and insurance coverage litigation. Rachel’s skill in helping courts and clients navigate unique legal issues was honed by a decade working as a permanent law clerk at a federal district trial court and at a ...

Kevin Dubose has a BA in English from Rice University, and a JD from the University of Texas Law School. He began his career in a small litigation firm, primarily doing insurance defense work, and tried about 25 jury trial in his first 6 years of practice. He began specializing in appellate advocacy in 1985, first in a solo practice, then as the appellate specialist for a prominent plaintiff's personal injury practice. Since 1994 he has practiced in an appellate boutique environment. Kevin ha...

Melanie R. Cheairs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Melanie R. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Melanie R. Cheairs since 2022. 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 R. Cheairs is held by other lawyers.

Andrew Gould leads the appellate practice at Hicks Johnson PLLC, a litigation boutique with offices in Houston and Chicago. An award-winning former federal appellate prosecutor, Andrew regularly advocates in state and federal appellate courts nationwide. He has served as lead counsel in some 270 appeals and has conducted over 40 oral arguments, including over 25 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also often appears at the trial-court level to assist with complex motion...

A shareholder in the Firm’s Houston office, Mr. Mitchell's practice focuses primarily on employment-related litigation in federal and state court and representing clients before the various federal and state agencies charged with the enforcement of employment and labor laws. Mr. Mitchell also advises clients regarding various issues related to employee rights and benefits and employer obligations and policies. His practice also includes both creation and review of employment policies an...