William D. Davis

Charles is a board-certified civil trial lawyer and primarily represents property owners in securing just compensation when government takes private property for public use. While his experience has included takings projects for highway expansion, pipelines, electric transmission lines, and flood control, Charles’s principal practice is focused on highway and roadway widening projects impacting retail, commercial, and industrial uses. Charles has obtained successful special commissioner...

Tesha Peeples is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Tesha, 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 Tesha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Jud Waltman is the Managing Attorney in Houston over Personal Injury, Product Liability and Maritime Litigation. Mr. Waltman joined The Lanier Law Firm in 2002 and limits his practice almost exclusively to the representation of individuals who are victims of injury or death. He handles cases involving commercial truck collisions, product liability, medical malpractice as well as a focus on workplace injur...

Chris Hanno's success as a commercial real estate lawyer speaks for itself. He is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas board of Legal Specialization and has earned the trust of clients in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. These include acquisition, financing, development and disposition of retail, multi-family and office properties, as well as condominium and homeowners' associations, and mobile home developments. Chris has an equally strong background ...

A. John Harper III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. A. John, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which A. John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Elder is a partner in the Corporate Department at Paul Hastings and is based in the Firm’s Houston office. Mr. Elder focuses on mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities offerings, corporate governance and general corporate securities matters. He represents major corporate clients across the energy, oil and gas, sports and entertainment, and telecommunications sectors. He also advises issuers, underwriters and investment banking firms in public and private offerings....

Sammy Ford IV has tried over 20 cases before judges, juries, and arbitrators in his career. He represents companies and individuals around the country in all manner of civil matters, including complex commercial litigation, business torts, securities class actions, and catastrophic personal injury cases. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Sammy’s favorite place is in the courtroom trying cases. In 2022, he successfully tried a ...

Charley Davidson leads the firm’s criminal defense practice, where he offers passionate, responsive counsel to guide clients facing state and federal charges in the areas of white collar and blue collar crime. Prior to joining Hanszen Laporte, he was a partner at a large international firm specializing in white collar defense, as well as a partner at a Houston-based criminal defense law firm. Charley also spent three years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Offic...

Kevin has tried nearly 40 cases to verdict in state and federal courts and arbitration proceedings throughout Texas and across the country over the last 30 years – including successfully defending cases involving individuals and companies that sought hundreds of millions in personal injury and commercial damages and defeating class action claims that sought billions in damages. Kevin has obtained seven, eight and nine figure verdicts and arbitration awards. And he has recovered over $1 ...

Howard is a trial lawyer. He has tried and arbitrated complex personal injury, commercial and intellectual property cases all over the state. From patent and trade secret litigation in northeast Texas to multiple death and burn cases along the Texas-Mexico border, to massive coverage cases in Beaumont, he and his trial team have handled the difficult assignments. He has tried state and national class actions, medical device, oil & gas, nursing home, insurance coverage and intellectual pro...