Valery Piedra

Mary-Olga “Mo” Lovett has been a trial lawyer for more than 30 years. In that time, she has taken dozens of cases to trial, involving a wide variety of complex legal issues, over 50 with more than $100 billion at stake. And she’s just getting started. A proven first-chair trial lawyer, Mo has been a fierce advocate for a wide range of national and global clients in bet-the-company litigation. When reputations are on the line or billions of dollars are at stake, clients have ...

With a 30-year litigation career as a partner in global law firms, John Strasburger is an experienced trial lawyer who is as comfortable in the boardroom as he is in the courtroom. His work typically includes matters involving novel, urgent, and sensitive disputes, that are often the subject of government and media scrutiny. Licensed in both Texas and New York, he has represented some of the world’s largest companies, as well as mid-market companies and high net worth individuals. His p...

Steve D. Kesten is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Steve D., 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 Steve D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Caroline Cho is an Associate in the Tax Planning and Business Transactions Section.

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, ...

Craig Stanfield is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Insurance. Craig, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Craig is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kelly Hartmann focuses on resolving client issues through innovative, cost-effective strategies that align with business goals—balancing aggressive litigation with practical resolution. He represents energy, maritime, and construction firms, their underwriters, and insurers, and handles complex litigation including wrongful death, Jones Act, drilling operations, health care, and trucking liability cases. Kelly also advises clients on contracts and commercial documents, including master ...

Gregg Costa is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Gregg, 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 Gregg 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...

Mike Chernekoff is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on environmental law, related areas of environmental litigation and toxic tort defense, and commercial and energy litigation. Mike’s practice centers principally on matters and businesses located in Louisiana and Texas. As a litigator, he develops and pursues effective dispute-resolution strategies in the context of investigations, trials, and settlement negotiations; as a counselor, he regularly helps clients ide...