Sarah R. Smith

Charley Davidson leads the firm’s criminal defense practice, where he offers passionate, responsive counsel to guide clients facing state and federal charges in the areas of white collar and blue collar crime. Prior to joining Hanszen Laporte, he was a partner at a large international firm specializing in white collar defense, as well as a partner at a Houston-based criminal defense law firm. Charley also spent three years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Offic...

C. Matthew Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law. C. Matthew, 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 C. Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

For over twenty-eight years, Paul Smith has been very successful trying many different types of cases to juries. He has also tried numerous bench trials and argued in federal and state appellate courts. Paul has tried a variety of cases on both sides of the docket, including oil & gas, environmental, commercial, personal injury, products liability, professional liability and employment cases. Paul started his career in the Tort section at Vinson and Elkins before joining Ware Jackson. He ...

Kent has served as a justice on the Texas Court of Appeals, a judge for the 80th District Court in Harris County, Texas, and as First Assistant Attorney General, the second-highest-ranking official of the Texas Office of the Attorney General. In 2017, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve as the Texas Commissioner of Insurance, the state’s top insurance regulatory position, responsible for the policies, operations, and enforcement activities of the Texas Department of Insura...

Amy M. Pepke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Amy M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rachael L. Lichman is a debt finance partner in the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Rachael represents borrowers and issuers, financial institutions, agent banks, underwriters and other institutional investors in connection with secured and unsecured bank financings, including acquisition financings, senior and subordinated debt, working capital credit facilities, bridge loans, asset-based and reserve-based financings and term loans, as well as with secured and unsecured high-yiel...

Jonathan K. Frels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Public Finance Law. Jonathan K., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan K. 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...

Andrew P. Flint is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Andrew P., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bob Collie serves as bond, disclosure, and underwriters’ counsel in tax-exempt bond transactions for clients including cities, counties, school districts, and special authorities throughout Texas. He has also worked on education, transportation, utility, aviation, port, convention center, and sports facility financings. Bob draws on his experience as City Attorney of Houston to represent local governments as special counsel in joint public/private development, election, redistricting, a...