Michael T. "Mike" Gallagher

Russell W. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law. Russell W., 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 Russell W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Some cases are complex because of the mountains of ​evidence at issue; others because of the technical complexity of the industry involved. Either way, John Deis has a knack for distilling his cases down to the core issues and clearly presenting his client’s side to judges and juries. Mr. Deis once spent four days living aboard an oilrig offshore of Libya in order to understand how various equipment worked and the crew's performance. This was key to disproving his opponent’s conte...

Debra S. Casaceli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Debra S., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Debra S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elaine Howard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Elaine, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elaine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

T. Josh Judd is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. T. Josh, 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 T. Josh is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christopher C. Wan is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. His practice focuses primarily on resolving complex commercial and industrial construction disputes through litigation and arbitration. Chris’s experience covers a variety of disputes involving refineries, chemical plants, pipelines, water treatment plants, high-rise condominiums, and university buildings, among other commercial and industrial projects. Chris graduated from the South Texas College of Law, where ...

Vi Nguyen is a senior attorney at Foster LLP in our Houston office. Vi works primarily in employment-based immigration matters. A graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law with an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Vi served as a student attorney in the Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s Immigration Clinic and served as President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Prior to joining the firm and receiving her law degree, Vi worked as an inte...

Melissa Haselden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Melissa, 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 Melissa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James Richards is a trusted and experienced advocate and advisor for his clients with a focus on construction law and commercial litigation. James is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Construction Law and was selected to the Texas Rising Stars list in 2018, 2019, and 2020. James is also a Member in the State Bar College, serves as a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow, and was named to the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list for 2021. James has represented individu...

Mike Chernekoff is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on environmental law, related areas of environmental litigation and toxic tort defense, and commercial and energy litigation. Mike’s practice centers principally on matters and businesses located in Louisiana and Texas. As a litigator, he develops and pursues effective dispute-resolution strategies in the context of investigations, trials, and settlement negotiations; as a counselor, he regularly helps clients ide...