Ryan Cicero

John B. Thomas is the co-founder of Houston-based commercial litigation boutique Hicks Thomas LLP. Known for his deep experience in handling complex commercial litigation, Mr. Thomas and the firm’s lawyers represent both defendants and plaintiffs in lawsuits involving oil and gas, securities, environmental matters, banking, transportation, intellectual property and health care. Mr. Thomas has been named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America and Lawdragon’s 500 Leadin...

Stephen E. Hart is of counsel in the Houston, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Certified by the Texas State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Labor and Employment Law, Stephen represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Leveraging more than 20 years’ experience in federal and state court employment-related litigation, arbitration, and administrative agency proceedings, Stephen helps clients defend and negotiate complex discrimination, harassmen...

W. Cleland Dade is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Energy Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. W. Cleland, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which W. Cleland 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...

David Merkley is a board-certified trial lawyer and Co-Chair of the firm’s litigation group and trial team. He is frequently retained in high-profile catastrophic accident cases to assume the defense or to navigate through complicated discovery issues leading to trial. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict and has been involved in several record-setting settlements for companies seeking to avoid the publicity of a jury trial. David is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates ...

Wesley E. Wright is a native Houstonian, and has been practicing law in the Houston area since 1982. He is a graduate of the University of Houston and South Texas College of Law. Mr. Wright is a Board Certified attorney in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation. His legal practice focuses exclusively in the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning with an emphas...

Stephanie Koo Song is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Securitization and Structured Finance Law. Stephanie Koo, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephanie Koo is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Demetri Economou is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Demetri, 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 Demetri is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tom has extensive trial and appellate experience in business cases, including oil and gas, breach of contract, and fiduciary litigation for plaintiffs and defendants. He has significant involvement in probate litigation, representing executors, beneficiaries of estates, and guardians in cases that also involve complex business transactions. Mr. Wright has argued cases in the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, and most of the fourteen int...

Joel W. Mohrman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Patent Law. Joel W., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joel W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.