Paula H. Blazek

Julie Heath focuses her practice primarily in the area of employment litigation and counseling. In addition to litigation and arbitration defense, she counsels HR departments and businesses of every size on all aspects of employment law, from addressing day-to-day employment and personnel questions, to investigating internal employee claims, to defending governmental agency audits, to advising clients on steps for litigation avoidance. Ms. Heath is rated AV®-Preeminent™ by the peer-...

Kirby Cronin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Kirby, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirby is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Charles E. Soechting, Jr. is a shareholder and trial lawyer with Simon Greenstone Panatier, P.C. In his role as the head of the catastrophic injury department Mr. Soechting focuses on serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. He has first-chaired many injury and death trials in multiple states including California, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, in state and federal courts. In addition to the matters that have gone to trial, Charles has personally handled hundreds of cases of...

James E. Mann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Regulatory Law and Oil and Gas Law. James E., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sumit K. Arora is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Construction. Sumit K., 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 Sumit K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gemma L. Descoteaux is a partner in the Corporate Practice group in the firm's Dallas office. She is Chair of lateral partner recruiting for the Dallas office. Gemma represents buyers and sellers in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; participants in complex domestic, international and cross-border joint ventures and partnerships; providers and customers of outsourcing services; and companies who are in need of sound corporate commercial counsel in a wide range of industries, including te...

Carolyn Roch is a trial lawyer at Kean Miller based in Houston, Texas, with a practice focused on complex commercial litigation and employment law matters for management. She began her legal career as a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office after graduating from The University of Texas School of Law. While serving as a prosecutor, Carolyn first-chaired more than 50 jury trials and argued multiple appellate matters, building a strong foundation in courtroom advocac...

Andrew Pratka is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Andrew, 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 Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Justin Bernstein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Justin, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marcus Helt has a national debtor-focused bankruptcy practice, primarily comprising the restructuring of companies in and out of bankruptcy, debtors' rights, debtor-in-possession financers and acquisitions of distressed assets and companies. His clients are increasingly coming from the energy sector. Marcus is known for his creative, solutions-oriented approach in Chapter 11 proceedings. He has served as Chapter 11 counsel to the following: Dallas Proton Treatment Center, LLC, et al., in thei...