Robert R. Burford

Jared Caplan has spent nearly two decades representing clients in the construction and oilfield industries. His multi-faceted experience ranges from trusted advisor on business operations to his successful prosecution and defense of multimillion-dollar litigation matters. Jared’s experience includes dispute resolution, contract disputes, toxic tort exposures, insurance coverage matters, personal injury, wrongful death, property damage and premises liability. He has successfully handled ...

Stephen Pate focuses his litigation practice on property insurance matters, Directors and Officers insurance matters, business interruption issues, CGL insurance matters, builders risk matters, commercial general liability insurance disputes, fraud, and various other extracontractual litigation matters. Over a 30 year career in coverage work, he has tried more than 45 first-party extracontractual cases to verdict. Prior to joining the firm, Stephen had been partner in the Houston office of an...

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

Hilary Tyson focuses on commercial real estate and related business transactions. She joined BoyarMiller and returned to Houston after practicing in the Dallas area for more than 11 years. She has over 20 years experience in the practice of real estate law representing developers, landlords and tenants in residential, office, industrial, retail, restaurant and mixed-use spaces. She represents developers, regional and national homebuilders and equity investors in a wide range of real estate re...

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...

Kelly D. Brown is a Houston-based shareholder in the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) section at Crain Caton & James. Kelly concentrates on EHS-related civil litigation, corporate transactions, regulatory compliance counseling, and environmental remediation projects. Kelly defends corporate clients in toxic tort and personal injury lawsuits, as well as administrative enforcement proceedings. Kelly routinely navigates regulatory matters before the Environmental Protection Agency (EP...

Russ has briefed and argued dozens of appeals, appearing before the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas intermediate appellate courts, the Fifth and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He has assisted in or handled all phases of litigation in a wide variety of matters, including products liability, catastrophic personal injury, intellectual property, insurance coverage, employment discrimination, and commercial lawsuits. Before joining the firm, Russ s...

Francis D. McWilliams IV is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Construction Law. Francis D. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Francis D. McWilliams IV 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 Francis D. McWilliams IV is held by other lawyers.

James R. Brown is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Corporate Law. James R. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized James R. Brown since 2027. 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 James R. Brown is held by other lawyers.

Jim Hall is a trial lawyer at Kean Miller based in Houston, Texas, representing businesses and organizations in complex civil litigation. He has experience appearing before state and federal trial courts, the United States Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Clients regularly seek his counsel for strategic guidance in high-stakes matters that require careful case management and a practical approach to dispute resolution. Jim serves as national litigation counsel for compan...