Melisa Sánchez Córdova

Professional Experience Nathan Crystal is a scholar and a practicing attorney. He has advised individuals and entities, including major law firms, on matters of contract law and professional ethics and has lectured throughout the world on these subjects. He frequently serves as expert witness or consultant in multimillion dollar cases. Nathan Crystal is a Class of 1969 Professor Emeritus of Professional Responsibility and Contract Law, University of South Carolina. He taught for 34 years at t...

Derick W. Betts, Jr. is a member of Seward & Kissel’s Corporate Finance and Tax Groups. Derick has practiced law since 1970. Derick specializes in international corporate law, limited liability company, tax and ship finance matters principally related to mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and joint venture shipping transactions. He has particular expertise in taxation of the shipping industry, specifically the U.S. taxation of foreign shipping and joint venture shipping trans...

Thomas P. Clark, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Economic Development Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Thomas P., who practices law in Newport Beach, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

T. HARDEE BASS III practices exclusively in the firm’s tobacco litigation unit, litigating cases against cigarette-making giants Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco Company, and Liggett. He has tried numerous complex, multi-week tobacco cases in venues across the state of Florida, and has obtained multiple seven and eight figure verdicts, including: $21 million, Escambia County (2010) $21 million, Sarasota County (2018) $20 million, Palm Beach County (2014) $13.1 million, Pi...

Karen O’Kasey’s trial practice focuses on defending employers and medical professionals in state and federal courts in both Oregon and Washington. She has represented employers in all types of employment discrimination claims brought in federal and state court. In addition to defending private employers, Ms. O’Kasey has extensive experience defending municipalities against all types of tort claims, including Section 1983 claims, First Amendment claims, and public accommodati...

Frederick (Rick) Stearns provides his clients with experience on a wide range of issues affecting makers of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, medical devices, dietary supplements, cosmetics, food, and food ingredients. He is also deeply involved with the regulatory issues surrounding cannabis and hemp-based products, including cannabidiol (CBD) and related cannabinoids. Rick helps manufacturers evaluate the need for marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F...

Vincent W. Lau is the managing partner at Clark Lau LLC and he counsels employers and employees on a range of temporary and permanent immigration options. His clients include professionals, employers, investors, institutions, and families, and he represents a number of start-up companies before the immigration service and labor department. Vince has in-depth experience in obtaining employment visas for professionals with non-traditional duties. Vince enjoys taking complex immigration legal co...

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.

Michael P. Chu focuses his practice on all aspects of patent law, including complex litigation, opinions and prosecution. He serves as the Local IP Litigation Practice Group Leader in McDermott’s Chicago office. Mike is also the Chair of the Firm’s Racial & Ethnic Diversity Committee. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/chu-michael-p/

Mr. Dalton has been in private practice since 1987. In 2000, he founded Dalton & Associates, P.A. specializing in the areas of Personal Injury, Plaintiff Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Clergy Sex Abuse, Mass Tort and General Litigation. In 2004, Mr. Dalton became a fellow the American College of Trail Lawyers. Since 2009, he has served as ACTL’s Regent for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. He has been named to Best Lawyers in Delaware for 20 straight years and was name...