Julie Houston

Jay Breedveld is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law. Jay, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jay is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kerry McGrath is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Energy Regulatory Law. Kerry, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kerry is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert T. Stewart represents a broad array of industrial and commercial clients, focusing on air pollution control, toxic torts, environmental criminal investigations, cost recovery for waste remediations and environmental enforcement defense. He has extensive experience handling matters before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Stewart worked as a chemical engineer for Union Carbide Corporation. He is annu...

Mike advises a diverse group of clients with water planning and management, water quality, water rights, water utility and endangered species issues. He is a partner at the Austin law firm of Lloyd Gosselink, and serves on the firm’s Board and Executive Committee. He is a water, utility and environmental lawyer and works among a team of 30 lawyers within the firm’s Water and Litigation Practice Groups, chairing the Water Practice Group. He serves as General Counsel of the Texas Wa...

Jeannie Heffernan is an experienced trial lawyer who leads Kirkland’s IP litigation practice in Texas. She has won more than a dozen patent infringement trials in federal district courts across the country and at the International Trade Commission, with victories affirmed at the Federal Circuit. She represents clients in a wide range of fields, including computer networking, telecommunications, cryptography, semiconductors, and medical devices. Jeannie has particular experience leading ...

Monica M. Jacobs has been practicing Texas water law for more than twenty years. She focuses her practice on strategic water supply planning and water asset management for both surface water and groundwater rights. Ms. Jacobs chairs Kelly Hart's Water Law practice group, and is a registered lobbyist. Her experience includes: Water Resources: water supply and water rights management for large landowners, industrial users and major Texas municipalities; surface water permitting at TCEQ; groundw...

Ryan Squires is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Ryan, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa Lorber is a board-certified appellate lawyer who represents businesses in litigation at both the trial and appellate levels, in state and federal courts. She regularly represents clients before the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Courts of Appeals, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a former newspaper journalist, Melissa employs her writing, research, and investigation skills in advocating for her business clients' interests.

Christopher L. Drymalla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Christopher L., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric Nichols practices both civil trial and criminal law, and joined the Austin office of Butler Snow in 2019. His background includes not only many years representing companies and individuals in private practice but also experience in both Texas state government and the federal government, having served as Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and a law clerk to a ...