Summer Allen

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

Mandi Phillips, Senior Attorney, primarily focuses on commercial and intellectual property litigation. She has experience litigating matters in both state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Mandi has represented clients (plaintiffs and defendants) in a wide variety of matters including general business litigation, energy, oil and gas, premises liability, product liability, personal injury, securities actions, and intellectual property matters including trademark and co...

Russell W. Budd, a mainstay of the plaintiff’s bar with more than forty-five years’ experience representing victims of corporate wrongdoing, has been a trailblazer for the entirety of his career. Serving as a Baron & Budd shareholder since 1985 and president and managing shareholder since 2002, Mr. Budd presides over one of the nation’s largest plaintiffs’ firms. Founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has nearly 200 full-time employees and is headquartered in Dallas, Te...

Kathleen Mataya is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Kathleen, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kathleen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Juanita advises on a variety of matters, with a focus on safeguarding and protecting IP rights through trademarks and patents, patent and trade secret litigation, and inter partes review proceedings. In addition, she is skilled in performing IP due diligence for litigation funding transactions. Juanita also is a member of the team assisting the Special Compliance Coordinator appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to monitor, assess and report on the U.S. export control compliance of Zho...

Amy E. Lott is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Amy E., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Panatier is a shareholder of Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC. Mr. Panatier was admitted to practice law in Texas after graduating from The University of Texas School of Law in 2001. His practice is focused entirely upon the representation of victims of toxic exposures at trial. Chris has obtained verdicts throughout the country exceeding $950,000,000.00. His verdicts have been named as top verdicts in both Texas and California. Together with his fellow shareholder David Greenstone, Chris ...

John Leininger joined Otteson Shapiro's Dallas office in January, 2016. Mr. Leininger is a key member of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights and Litigation practice areas. He focuses on core bankruptcy matters, bankruptcy litigation, and general civil litigation. He was named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. After graduating law school, Mr. Leininger served as a law clerk ...

Kim Rives Miers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Kim Rives, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kim Rives is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary McNulty represents corporations and partnerships in IRS audits, appeals, and tax litigation and provides tax planning for partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations. She specializes in Federal tax procedural issues, including statutes of limitations, interest, penalties, privilege, and TEFRA partnerships, and in partnership tax issues relating to private equity, oil and gas, wind energy, real estate, and exempt organizations.