Stephen C. Jacobs

Tod is a trial lawyer. He has extensive trial experience in contract, insurance, and personal injury cases involving products liability, construction, transportation, and the railroad industry. He has represented the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, BNSF Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the National Passenger Corporation d/b/a Amtrak, with diverse experience including crossing accident litigation, FELA, contract disputes, and environmental claims. Tod is als...

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...

Foster C. Johnson is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial litigation. He has represented Fortune 100 companies in a variety civil actions, including contract disputes, oil and gas matters, non-compete claims, intellectual property litigation, and consumer and employment class actions. His recent successes include a six-week trial that ended in a $41.6 million jury verdict against Lloyd’s of London. The case was one of the top 100 2017 verdicts in the nation according to the ...

Rodolfo Rueda Ballesteros is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Natural Resources Law. Rodolfo practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Rodolfo Rueda Ballesteros since 2024. 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 Rodolfo Rueda Ballesteros is held by other lawyers.

Monica Uddin is a trial lawyer and the hiring partner for AZA. She is a skilled trial lawyer who has represented energy companies and other businesses and individuals in a variety of complex commercial matters including contract disputes, partnership break ups, and trade secrets. With a computer science background from Stanford University, she has also been active with AZA’s intellectual property and patent litigation team. A University of Chicago Law School graduate, Ms. Uddin excels a...

Joseph Y. Ahmad, a founding partner in the Houston law firm of AZA, is a lawyer for executives and has been recognized nationally as one of the best lawyers in his field. He represents executives in a variety of matters, including breach of contract, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, breach of fiduciary duty and other matters. He was elected to the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, an elite group of the country’s leading judges and civil trial lawyers. He has been se...

Omar Izfar is a Shareholder for the Land Use and Zoning Section of Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, P.C. where he assists clients with complex land use and zoning issues in connection with commercial, industrial, and large-scale residential development projects. Although Houston lacks formal zoning laws, it has a sophisticated set of land use controls that affect land use and real estate development, largely through the subdivision platting process. Numerous other cities in the metro-Houston area a...

Matt Thompson is a Principal in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young with a focus on construction disputes and business litigation. Matt has been named a Texas Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation (2025-2026), a Texas Rising Star in Construction Litigation (2018-2023) by Thomson Reuters, and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America ® for Construction Law (2026). He currently serves as Chair of the Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section, where he has served as a Board Member...

Alex delivers a dynamically versed perspective in commercial real estate, having experience at both an international law firm and a commercial real estate development company. For 11 years, he served clients in acquisitions, dispositions, ground-up development, landlord/tenant representation, and financing on behalf of Andrews Kurth LLP. During his career at AK, Alex developed a strong relationship with PinPoint Commercial, a real estate development company in Houston, and was later hired to ...

Wilburn Orea McDonald is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Corporate Law. Wilburn Orea practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Wilburn Orea McDonald since 2015. 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 Wilburn Orea McDonald is held by other lawyers.