Trent D. Stephens

Nicholas Earles is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office and has been a knowledgeable resource in the maritime space for more than 20 years. While his practice focuses in admiralty, his experience also extends to general and premises liability, workers’ compensation, subrogation and transportation. Additionally, he has navigated difficult cases for energy companies and overseas defense contractors covered by the Defense Base Act. A member of SBSB Eastham’s original rost...

Brittany Sakowitz is a corporate partner in the Houston and Austin offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, concentrating her practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Brittany advises private equity and venture capital investors, their portfolio companies, and other public and private companies across a broad range of industries, including infrastructure, energy and energy-related services, renewables, technology and digital infrastructure. She primarily counsels clients on public...

Jason Waguespack serves as Managing Director of Galloway and focuses his practice on admiralty and maritime litigation. He regularly represents domestic and international insurers, vessel owners, and offshore service companies, handling a broad range of maritime, commercial, and insurance-related matters. Jason is also a trained mediator. More on Jason’s leadership and maritime experience: gallowaylawfirm.com

A trial lawyer in the truest sense, Rob Ford has led the defense and prosecution of complex civil cases at every phase of litigation, from discovery and pretrial motion practice through trial, final judgment and appeal. Licensed in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, Rob practices in state and federal courts throughout Texas and the greater Gulf Coast, where he represents plaintiffs and defendants in an array of high-stakes civil litigation, including complex commercial litigation, trade-secrets ...

David A. Brooks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. David 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 David A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hugh M. Ray III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Hugh M., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hugh M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Masood Anjom is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Patent Law. Masood, 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 Masood is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Heim, Payne & Chorush co-founder Michael Heim specializes exclusively in intellectual property litigation and antitrust lawsuits involving intellectual property. Mr. Heim represents plaintiffs and defendants throughout the United States in patent litigation in a wide range of technologies including microprocessors, computer architecture, memory control systems, cellular telephone systems, data transmission systems, on-line gaming systems, database caching software, logging-while-drilling ...

Wesley E. Wright is a native Houstonian, and has been practicing law in the Houston area since 1982. He is a graduate of the University of Houston and South Texas College of Law. Mr. Wright is a Board Certified attorney in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation. His legal practice focuses exclusively in the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning with an emphas...

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...