Katherine Smith

Kristen McDanald is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Insurance Law. Kristen practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Kristen McDanald since 2023. 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 Kristen McDanald is held by other lawyers.

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...

Francis R. Bradley III has a wide-ranging transactional practice that counsels clients primarily engaged in banking and finance (oil and gas, merger and acquisition, construction, international, structured and project), energy, oil and gas, natural resources, and corporate transactions. Frank was recognized by Chambers USA 2007-2018 for being "practical and commercially reasonable" and "is always careful to maintain the highest level of accuracy." Frank advises both commercial lenders and cor...

Matthew P. Whitley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent. Matthew, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Over his more than 20 years of practicing law, Matthew has ge...

Charles “Chuck” Jeremiah represents employers as trial counsel in litigation. With over 30 years of experience and a strong track record handling hundreds of matters, Chuck knows how to formulate early, efficient and effective strategies, and lead a team to achieve the best possible results for clients. His practice includes all aspects of employment law with an emphasis on overtime, discrimination and non-compete/trade secret defense matters. He has successfully handled both sing...

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 ...

Kent Newsome serves as Chair of the firm's Houston Real Estate Practice. He has more than 25 years of experience that includes commercial real estate, real estate development, health care acquisitions and development, financing transactions, and general business law. Kent regularly represents owners and developers of commercial, retail and industrial properties in the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management and sale of income producing properties, including office buildings, ...

Kelcy L. Palmer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employment Law - Management. Kelcy L. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Kelcy L. Palmer 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 Kelcy L. Palmer is held by other lawyers.

Keith Short is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Keith practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Keith Short 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 Keith Short is held by other lawyers.

Joseph Y. Ahmad, a founding partner in the Houston law firm of AZA, is a lawyer for executives and has been recognized nationally as one of the best lawyers in his field. He represents executives in a variety of matters, including breach of contract, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, breach of fiduciary duty and other matters. He was elected to the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, an elite group of the country’s leading judges and civil trial lawyers. He has been se...