Jessica Pharis

With over 20 years of litigation experience, David Jones leads the firm's Class Action/Multidistrict Litigation and Insurance Coverage practices. Handling cases for both plaintiffs and defendants, David views each dispute from every angle. Whether it is high stakes litigation for a Fortune 500 company or a claim involving individuals, David identifies the key issues and presents them in a simple story for the court or jury. His practice includes experience as lead counsel in cases involving c...

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

John Zavitsanos is a highly regarded trial lawyer who loves trying cases and loves winning. He has achieved success for a multitude of clients – both defendants and plaintiffs, from big energy companies to lone whistleblowers battling the odds. He has tried almost 100 cases to verdict in litigation that runs the gamut: financial services, oil and gas, construction, complex commercial disputes, director and officer liability, non-compete and trade-secret disputes, real estate development...

Layla Panjwani is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Layla, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Layla is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen Post is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Stephen, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sean T. Wheeler is a corporate partner who represents public and private companies, including private equity firms, in their most complex transactions. Sean’s experience spans the entire range of M&A activity, including strategic mergers, joint ventures, take-privates and cross-border transactions. He also has an active securities law practice, having led more than 40 IPOs and numerous debt and follow-on equity offerings. He has counseled clients across numerous industries, includin...

As a board-certified civil appellate attorney, Whitney Brieck is uniquely qualified to assist trial teams in seeking dispositive rulings, exploring procedural nuances, and preserving the record from the outset of litigation through post-judgment proceedings, and to pursue and defend relief sought in interlocutory and final appeals and emergency mandamus proceedings. Whitney studies the tenor of recent judicial decision-making to comprehensively counsel her clients about complex legal issues a...

Shubi Arora is a partner in the Houston and Austin offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on M&A transactions, private equity investments and special situations strategies, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. His experience spans the traditional energy sector and includes upstream, midstream and power transactions. He also frequently advises clients on energy technology and transition matters, including renewables, energy storage and carbon...

Tony Buzbee is a former Recon Marine officer. His mettle has been tested time and again through some of the most demanding training in the armed services and due to his involvement in some of the most intense Marine operations in various countries. Buzbee didn’t just survive or endure as a Marine officer, he excelled. In the Marine Corps, officers are taught to lead from the front, to do more with less, to work smart, to hit fast and exploit weaknesses, and to be creative. Tony Buzbee, ...

Paul Mitchell is an experienced trial lawyer with a diverse litigation practice. He focuses primarily on representing companies in the energy sector in commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations, and similar matters, but has also handled a wide range of contested matters. For two decades prior to joining Hicks Thomas, Mr. Mitchell was a partner at Baker Botts LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP, two of the oldest and most respected law firms in Texas, and he brings that big-firm exper...