Michael J. Mazzone

Edward “Ed” Blizzard is a skilled litigator with more than 40 years of experience. Mr. Blizzard has been recognized by his peers and national organizations for his resounding legal successes for many years and he continues to bring the highest level of legal excellence to clients. Mr. Blizzard has been at the center of some of the largest pharmaceutical injury verdicts and settlements in the country and has successfully taken on some of the world’s largest corporations, incl...

Victor Cardenas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Victor, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Victor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephanie Jeane is an executive compensation partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Stephanie’s practice focuses on executive compensation and benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs and divestitures and public offerings. Stephanie also advises clients on a wide range of compensation and associated tax, securities and corporate governance matters, including the design, disclosure and implementation of equity and cash incentive programs...

Amy M. Pepke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Amy M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Omar Izfar is a Shareholder for the Land Use and Zoning Section of Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, P.C. where he assists clients with complex land use and zoning issues in connection with commercial, industrial, and large-scale residential development projects. Although Houston lacks formal zoning laws, it has a sophisticated set of land use controls that affect land use and real estate development, largely through the subdivision platting process. Numerous other cities in the metro-Houston area a...

Julie Barry is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and practices extensively in the area of transaction law, focusing primarily on the representation of small and midsized enterprises. Her practice includes representation of purchasers and sellers in the acquisition and disposition of businesses and real estate, lenders and borrowers in connection with commercial and real estate loans, and landlords and tenants in connection with leasing matters.

Rachael L. Lichman is a debt finance partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Rachael represents borrowers and issuers, financial institutions, agent banks, underwriters and other institutional investors in connection with secured and unsecured bank financings, including acquisition financings, senior and subordinated debt, working capital credit facilities, bridge loans, asset-based and reserve-based financings and term loans, as well as with secured and unsecured high-yiel...

Michael Childs is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He received his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, with a focus on civil litigation. Mr. Childs first came to the firm in 1996 as a law clerk and became an associate in November 1996. He has over fourteen years of extensive experience with complex family matters. As a litigator, his representation has included divorce, disputed property valuations and divisions of pro...

Derrick Carson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Arbitration, International Arbitration - Commercial and Litigation - Construction. Derrick, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Derrick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alexandre A. Afanassiev is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. Alexandre A., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alexandre A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.