Valerie Auger

John Podvin Jr. is a partner in the firm with more than 25 years of regulatory agency, law firm, and corporate experience. He is based in Dallas, Texas, where he works nationally with the firm’s clients. His practice areas include banking and financial services, litigation, corporate governance, finance, financial crisis advisory and litigation, financial regulatory, government relations strategy, and mergers and acquisitions. As outside counsel, Mr. Podvin works closely with the firm&r...

Grady Reiff is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Grady practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Grady Reiff 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 Grady Reiff is held by other lawyers.

Brad M. LaMorgese is trusted and respected by his clients as a passionate advocate with the ability to analyze and balance competing interests in every matter he handles, from beginning to end. He is one of the few appellate family lawyers in Texas. During his nearly two decades in practice, he has achieved success in dozens of cases in Texas appeals courts and the Texas Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He has handled appeals involving all areas of Family Law, ...

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...

After 15 years at two nationally-recognized law firms in Dallas and Louisville, a formative early role as a Dallas County Assistant District Attorney, over a decade leading his own award-winning commercial litigation and corporate law firm, and being recommended to the Governor for a state judgeship, Blaine is proud to return to his Texas roots as a Partner at Johnston Clem Gifford—a Chambers USA–ranked and U.S. News Tier 1–recognized firm for Commercial Litigation. With 30 ...

Mikhail Paltiyevich is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Mikhail practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Mikhail Paltiyevich 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 Mikhail Paltiyevich is held by other lawyers.

Merritt Clements practices all aspects of litigation, including discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiation, trial, and appeals. He handles commercial, personal injury and professional liability disputes.

David is a problem solver with deep experience across a range of family law matters. Whether it’s a divorce, custody dispute, or property division, he works with clients to identify achievable goals to work toward. Once that’s been accomplished, he lays out a plan to give them the best possible chance of making it happen. David understands people are coming to him for help with the most serious problems they’ve ever faced. He believes an essential part of his job is to make ...

Clients embroiled in bet-the-company appeals and high-stakes litigation call on Dana for the type of broad and deep experience that a savvy, experienced, and skilled appellate lawyer can bring. A board-certified appellate specialist, Dana is recognized as one of the premier appellate practitioners in the state, with particular expertise before the Fifth Circuit and the Supreme Court of Texas. A former Law Clerk for the Fifth Circuit and a former Staff Attorney at the Supreme Court of Texas, D...

Experienced in federal and state trial and appellate courts, Kelly Utsinger’s practice is concentrated on employment, insurance, nonsubscriber, trucking and catastrophic injury litigation. After receiving his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, he worked as a briefing attorney for the 7th Court of Appeals. He has maintained an appellate practice with over 30 reported cases and has also prosecuted and defended commercial litigants and multi-million dollar first party ins...