Sam W. Cruse III

Jon Paul helps construction and energy companies solve problems as efficiently as possible. Jon Paul is often called to serve as a trusted legal advisor to his clients, providing a 360-degree approach to risk management, litigation and general business issues. His practice focuses on advising clients in the construction, energy, and oil and gas industries. He often represents general contractors, subcontractors, oil field service companies, product and equipment manufacturers, as well as prop...

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.

Bill Benitez is a partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, recapitalizations, joint ventures and corporate governance, with a particular emphasis on the energy and infrastructure sector. Clients have described Bill as a “great practitioner” who provides “incredible client service” in connection with his recognition in various industry publications, including Chambers Global, The Wor...

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Sam E. Taylor, II is the Managing Attorney of the asbestos litigation section in the Lanier Law Firm’s Houston office. Mr. Taylor has over 30 years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts. He has successfully tried to verdict over 50 civil jury trials in state district courts and federal district co...

Eva Guzman is a groundbreaking figure, with an impressive history both as a litigator and as a judge. She began her legal career in Houston, managing a successful civil law practice for a decade before accepting gubernatorial appointments, first to the Harris County District Court bench in 1999 and then, in 2001, to the Texas 14th Court of Appeals, where she served for eight years, hearing both civil and criminal cases. In 2009, she accepted a third gubernatorial appointment, becoming the fir...

Robert Vining is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office. A seasoned attorney with expertise spanning more than a dozen practice areas, he is a respected figure in his field who is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Louisiana State Bar Association, The Mississippi Bar and in nine U.S. District Courts across the Gulf Coast. Mr. Vining arrived to SBSB Eastham in February 2018 and has overseen a prolific law career of more than 28 years. He primarily splits his practice between lit...

Heather L. Brown is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Project Finance Law and Securitization and Structured Finance Law. Heather L., 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 Heather L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

John Jakuback represents businesses and institutions in complex commercial and personal injury litigation, including matters involving Fortune 500 companies, regional enterprises, municipalities, and other organizational clients. His practice focuses on the defense of high-exposure claims, including large-scale and multi-party disputes across Texas, Louisiana, and other jurisdictions. Based in Houston, Texas, John is a shareholder at Kean Miller and brings decades of litigation experience to ...

Luis F. Gomar is a partner in the Corporate department of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Houston office. Mr. Gomar has over 18 years of experience advising on domestic and cross-border transactions in the energy, finance and private equity sectors. Mr. Gomar counsels clients on both domestic and international transactions involving M&A, asset acquisition and divestitures, fund formations, joint ventures and strategic alliances, project development, and structured finance a...