Melanie Cruthirds

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...

D. Ferguson McNiel III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction. D. Ferguson, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which D. Ferguson is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Heather Peterson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Heather, 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 Heather is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matt Pacey is a partner in Kirkland's Houston office. His practice concentrates on capital markets transactions, corporate governance and compliance. He regularly represents private equity-backed companies in connection with initial public offerings, particularly in the upstream, midstream and oil field service sectors. He has extensive knowledge of master limited partnership matters and has represented issuers or underwriters in numerous MLP financing transactions, including initial public o...

Allan Kirk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Allan, 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 Allan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael D. Warner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Michael D., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alexander White is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Alexander, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alexander is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Wills Collier is a Partner at Houston's Heim, Payne & Choursh, focusing on patent infringement litigation covering a wide range of technologies, including computer and electrical engineering, oil and gas technologies, and mechanical systems. With experience in all phases of district court litigation, Mr. Collier provides a technical and engineering background that helps him effectively communicate key issues to judges and juries. Mr. Collier began his career practicing patent litigation a...

Stephen Jacobson is an executive compensation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He advises public and private companies, private equity firms and their portfolio companies on a wide range of employment, executive compensation and employee benefit matters, including in connection with mergers, acquisitions, sales, private equity investments, initial public offerings and restructurings. Stephen regularly advises clients on structuring and implementing equity and cash-ba...

Jon Shoebotham focuses his practice on product liability, environmental litigation, commercial litigation, pharmaceutical, and medical device litigation. Three of the cases he has tried to jury verdict have been selected by The National Law Journal as among the most significant defense verdicts in the United States. He is a member of the Texas and New York state bars and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Ct. of App., Fifth Circuit; U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. Texas; U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist...