Steven G. "Steve" Spears

Sammy Ford IV has tried over 20 cases before judges, juries, and arbitrators in his career. He represents companies and individuals around the country in all manner of civil matters, including complex commercial litigation, business torts, securities class actions, and catastrophic personal injury cases. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Sammy’s favorite place is in the courtroom trying cases. In 2022, he successfully tried a ...

Alison Bloom is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Tax Law. Alison practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Alison Bloom since 2026. 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 Alison Bloom is held by other lawyers.

Kelly M. Haas is a partner in the Houston office. Her practice is focused on the areas of admiralty and maritime law and energy-related litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Her practice consists of defending vessel owners and operators, as well as offshore companies, from claims arising from collisions, property damage, personal injury, maritime pollution, environmental issues, cargo matters and contract disputes, and it regularly includes matters involving the Jones Act, the ...

Adam Milasincic is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Adam practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Adam Milasincic since 2026. 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 Adam Milasincic is held by other lawyers.

Lauren Black is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group with more than a decade of experience handling a diverse array of matters. While her practice is “industry agnostic,” she has represented clients in the energy, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, shipping, technology, and logistics industries. Lauren has achieved favorable results for clients facing all aspects of civil litigation, from a strategic approach to early dispute resolution to a favorable sett...

Matt Pacey is a partner in Kirkland's Houston office. His practice concentrates on capital markets transactions, corporate governance and compliance. He regularly represents private equity-backed companies in connection with initial public offerings, particularly in the upstream, midstream and oil field service sectors. He has extensive knowledge of master limited partnership matters and has represented issuers or underwriters in numerous MLP financing transactions, including initial public o...

Roger Aksamit serves as the Firm’s Houston Office Leader. In addition, he is a member of the Firm’s Strategic Lateral Hiring Committee and is involved with the Firm’s Diversity & Inclusion initiative. Roger specializes in energy and private equity taxation and counsels public, private equity, and closely held clients in mergers and acquisitions, financing, and joint venture transactions, as well as all other aspects of transactional tax matters and planning. He is Board ...

Adam H. Laughton guides health care providers and other parties through the complexities of health care transactions, including inevitable regulatory questions, licensing, payor enrollment and many other issues. Adam has handled transactions involving a wide variety of providers and facilities, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, behavioral health providers and freestanding emergency rooms, as well as physician practices and other entrepreneurs in the health care space. These tra...

John Absher represents investors and business owners in a wide range of real estate transactions, including but not limited to purchase agreements, survey and title reviews, objection letters, commercial lease negotiations, and limited partnerships for commercial real estate developments. Drawing on his unique background overseeing his family’s businesses—ranging from movie theaters and franchise restaurants to commercial real estate properties—John brings a hands-on, busine...

Kent Newsome serves as Chair of the firm's Houston Real Estate Practice. He has more than 25 years of experience that includes commercial real estate, real estate development, health care acquisitions and development, financing transactions, and general business law. Kent regularly represents owners and developers of commercial, retail and industrial properties in the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management and sale of income producing properties, including office buildings, ...