John L. Stavinoha III

L. Kelly Frels is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Education Law and Government Relations Practice. L. Kelly practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized L. Kelly Frels since 2008. 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 L. Kelly Frels is held by other lawyers.

Shawn Bates has more than 22 years of practice in commercial litigation in the energy industry and across numerous other industries. He is a seasoned first-chair trial lawyer, handling cases worth tens of millions. He has conducted hundreds of depositions and supervised trial teams on matters of varying size. He focuses his practice on litigation and arbitration of complex disputes for clients in the energy sector (oil and gas companies, oilfield supply and support companies, pipeline builder...

Adam H. Laughton guides health care providers and other parties through the complexities of health care transactions, including inevitable regulatory questions, licensing, payor enrollment and many other issues. Adam has handled transactions involving a wide variety of providers and facilities, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, behavioral health providers and freestanding emergency rooms, as well as physician practices and other entrepreneurs in the health care space. These tra...

John is a Director in the Real Estate Section. His practice involves the representation of clients in matters related to real estate development, banking, corporate/partnership matters and special purpose districts used to finance development, including municipal utility districts, levee improvement districts, and tax increment financing districts. He has also represented clients in connection with negotiating Chapter 380 and Chapter 381 development agreements with both cities and counties in...

Patrice Pujol is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Patrice practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Patrice Pujol 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 Patrice Pujol is held by other lawyers.

Tod is a trial lawyer. He has extensive trial experience in contract, insurance, and personal injury cases involving products liability, construction, transportation, and the railroad industry. He has represented the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, BNSF Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the National Passenger Corporation d/b/a Amtrak, with diverse experience including crossing accident litigation, FELA, contract disputes, and environmental claims. Tod is als...

Ryan aggressively seeks justice and accountability for people and institutions that have been harmed. He has 20 years’ experience successfully litigating complex disputes from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast. Ryan represents both plaintiffs and defendants in matters including breach of contract, partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, antitrust, RICO, civil theft, theft of trade secrets, fraud, fraudulent transfer claims and securities, and antitrust class actions. His clients ...

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...

Michael Piazza is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Energy Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Oil and Gas Law. Michael practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Michael Piazza since 2024. 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 Michael Piazza is ...

Ryan S. Holcomb is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Ryan S. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Ryan S. Holcomb since 2013. 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 Ryan S. Holcomb is held by other lawyers.