Michele E. Taylor

Cesar Tavares is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Cesar practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Cesar Tavares since 2025. 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 Cesar Tavares is held by other lawyers.

Allen H. Rustay is a partner at Hicks Thomas LLP and has over 20 years of experience in litigation in Texas State and Federal courts. He has extensive experience in commercial litigation including matters involving commercial disputes, energy, oil and gas, and maritime disputes on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. He has also litigated theft of trade secrets, breaches of fiduciary duty, and business torts. Formerly affiliated with a large international law firm, Mr. Rustay has been with Hi...

JoAnn Storey focuses on appellate law and has been Board Certified in Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1987. She is the past chair of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section and past chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section. Ms. Storey was a long-time member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s Civil Appellate Law Examination Committee and Civil Appellate Law Advisory Commission. She is a former adjunct professor at t...

Neal Sweeney is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice exclusively on construction law and government contracts. Drawing on his more than 30 years of experience with the construction industry, Neal counsels clients on major infrastructure and P3 projects such as transit, airports, highways, wastewater treatment, and tunnels. He is also involved in energy and industrial projects linked to clean technology and renewable sources, including hydro, solar, wind, geother...

Demetrios Anaipakos is widely considered to be one of the country’s top civil trial lawyers, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent and complex commercial litigation for nearly three decades. Among his many high-profile victories, Mr. Anaipakos helped a client obtain, and collect, one of the largest patent judgments in the history of the United States; won jury trials against some of the largest technology companies in the world; and has architected dozens of successful i...

A. John Harper III is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. A. John practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized A. John Harper III since 2018. 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 A. John Harper III is held by other la...

Rhett A. van Syoc is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Rhett A. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Rhett A. van Syoc 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 Rhett A. van Syoc is held by other lawyers.

Tod is a trial lawyer. He has extensive trial experience in contract, insurance, and personal injury cases involving products liability, construction, transportation, and the railroad industry. He has represented the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, BNSF Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the National Passenger Corporation d/b/a Amtrak, with diverse experience including crossing accident litigation, FELA, contract disputes, and environmental claims. Tod is als...

Melanie R. Cheairs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Melanie R. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Melanie R. Cheairs since 2022. 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 Melanie R. Cheairs is held by other lawyers.

Shubi Arora is a partner in the Houston and Austin offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on M&A transactions, private equity investments and special situations strategies, with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. His experience spans the traditional energy sector and includes upstream, midstream and power transactions. He also frequently advises clients on energy technology and transition matters, including renewables, energy storage and carbon...