Shannon N. Smith

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...

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

Ashley V. Tomlinson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Ashley V., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ashley V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hunter Barrow is a seasoned commercial trial lawyer who leads the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group. He has a broad litigation practice in trial and appellate courts. Hunter has experience handling a wide variety of matters, involving securities, financial institutions, energy, real estate, intellectual property, antitrust, insurance, product liability, and general commercial litigation. His clients span numerous industries, including energy, banking and finance, real estate dev...

Susan B. Murphy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Susan B., 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 Susan B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Rhett A. van Syoc is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Rhett A., 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 Rhett A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bart Huffman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Technology Law. Bart, 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 Bart is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dan Cogdell is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the corporate compliance and white collar defense team. He defends corporations and individuals in high-profile white collar criminal defense jury trials and related disputes. Dan has nearly 40 years of experience representing individuals and corporations in a broad range of high-profile, bet-the-company white collar and criminal defense matters. Dan is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-on...

Cory Itkin has established a reputation as one of the most aggressive and prepared trial lawyers in the country. His experience includes maritime accidents, trucking accidents, plant explosions, and other high-stakes personal injury cases. Mr. Itkin has won verdicts and settlements for clients in more than two dozen states. He also obtained favorable results in the high-profile litigation involving families who lost loved ones or workers who were injured in the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion ...