Tara R. Mcelhiney

Joseph's practice concentrates in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation involving a wide array of first- and third-party claims including professional liability, pollution, food contamination, pharmaceutical products, construction projects, advertising injury, and medical devices. He is AV rated by his peers and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and "Top Lawyer in Texas" (2011-2017) in the area of insurance coverage litigation.Joe serves on the firm’s Board of Directors, the M...

Jessica Guobadia is a litigation attorney and mediator with Kean Miller in Houston, Texas, representing individuals and families in matters involving Elder Law, Trusts and Estates, and Litigation related to trusts and estates. Her practice focuses on guardianship, probate, and mental health commitment proceedings, where she works closely with clients to protect individual rights while helping families and caregivers navigate emotionally complex legal processes. Jessica regularly handles proba...

One of the nation’s leading tax controversy and planning attorneys, Richard Husseini brings to bear his 30 years of experience to successfully represent private and public companies and high-net-worth individuals in complex tax matters. He is described as “bright and thoughtful; a very good litigator” (Chambers USA 2022) and as “a national leader in tax disputes” whose “knowledge of the sector is very high” (Legal 500 US 2022). Richard is recognized b...

Juan F. Vasquez, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law. Juan F., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Juan F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Dove is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Chris, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Merkley is a board-certified trial lawyer and Co-Chair of the firm’s litigation group and trial team. He is frequently retained in high-profile catastrophic accident cases to assume the defense or to navigate through complicated discovery issues leading to trial. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict and has been involved in several record-setting settlements for companies seeking to avoid the publicity of a jury trial. David is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates ...

John M. Ransom is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. John M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian B. Kilpatrick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Brian B., 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 Brian B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Paul Mitchell is an experienced trial lawyer with a diverse litigation practice. He focuses primarily on representing companies in the energy sector in commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations, and similar matters, but has also handled a wide range of contested matters. For two decades prior to joining Hicks Thomas, Mr. Mitchell was a partner at Baker Botts LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP, two of the oldest and most respected law firms in Texas, and he brings that big-firm exper...

Neal Sweeney is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice exclusively on construction law and government contracts. Drawing on his more than 30 years of experience with the construction industry, Neal counsels clients on major infrastructure and P3 projects such as transit, airports, highways, wastewater treatment, and tunnels. He is also involved in energy and industrial projects linked to clean technology and renewable sources, including hydro, solar, wind, geother...