Texas'
Best Lawyers 2026
Featured in Best Lawyers
Daniel J.T. Sciano is president and senior attorney at the Law Offices of Tinsman, & Sciano, Inc. With over 39 years of legal experience, Dan handles complex motor vehicle accident claims, truck/tractor motor vehicle wrecks involving serious injury or death, claims regarding unreasonably dangerous and defective products involving a vast array of commercial and industrial products, premises liability claims, including oil rig and construction site serious injury and death claims, complex m...
A fourth generation attorney, Debbie Dudley Branson is a key member of The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, one of the most respected trial firms in the Southwest. Her work focuses on high-level litigation strategy in a broad array of cases, from catastrophic personal injury claims to complex commercial litigation. Holding an advanced degree in psychology, Ms. Branson also directs focus groups, attitudinal surveys, voir dire, witness preparation, argument, and jury debriefing. Additionally, B...
In law, as in life, success is rarely left to chance. Instead, it’s the product of focused dedication and personal commitment. It’s what Frank L. Branson and the attorneys at The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson have consistently demonstrated for more than three decades. Branson and the lawyers at the firm’s Dallas-based offices are frequently the first choice of individuals who have suffered injuries in truck crashes, transportation accidents and other acts of recklessness a...
Tim Newsom has built a reputation on careful study and the preparation required to win on behalf of his clients. He brings a broad range of trial experience to the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, having tried personal injury and business litigation cases for over 30 years. Tim’s clients know that when they entrust their legal matters to him, their interests are the utmost priority. Tim began his legal career with a judicial clerkship at the Amarillo Court of Appeals. From there he ente...
As a founding partner of Lyons & Simmons, Christopher Simmons focuses his practice on representing clients in complex civil litigation involving wrongful death, catastrophic personal injuries, product liability, complex business disputes, construction defects, and professional liability. He has a well-earned reputation as a trial lawyer who combines a tireless work ethic with a creative, “outside the box” approach to achieve outstanding results for his clients. Simmons believe...
Chris Carr , an award-winning and nationally-recognized Texas lawyer, represents injured plaintiffs in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. He also represents businesses and individuals in high dollar and complex business disputes. Since 1994, Mr. Carr has tried cases to Judges, juries and arbitrators. He briefly interrupted his trial practice for a three-year term as General Counsel at USMD Holdings, Inc. during which he presided over the sale of that publicly traded compan...
Over the past 20+ years of practice, Lyons has tried cases to juries, judges, and arbitrators throughout the state of Texas and all over the country. In the process, Lyons has obtained verdicts, awards, and settlements totaling over a billion dollars on behalf of his clients—many involving high profile, high exposure matters . Lyons has extensive trial experience in cases involving catastrophic personal injuries , wrongful death , product liability , business disputes , construction def...
Wes Black’s practice combines the determination of a high-stakes trial lawyer with the exacting focus of a veteran appellate attorney. Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Wes represents clients involved in catastrophic injury cases and high-stakes business disputes. He has briefed and argued cases before both state and federal appellate courts, including numerous Texas Courts of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit Court ...
A zealous advocate for those involved in personal injury litigation and complex business disputes, Stephen Higdon is not afraid to stand up for clients. Anytime. Anywhere. That confidence is firmly rooted in his extensive courtroom experience where he has handled a wide range of civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. Stephen started his legal career clerking for the Honorable Michael H. Schneider in the Eastern District of Texas, where he was responsible for hundreds of comp...
Al Ellis, Of Counsel, is known in legal circles for his leadership and integrity in the practice of law, as well as his service to the community. At Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, L.L.P., he focuses his practice on personal injury, products liability, dram shop, medical malpractice litigation and mediation/arbitration. Al vigorously advocates for his clients, having tried more than 175 jury trials. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board o...
Andrew Sommerman represents clients in personal injury cases. A highly experienced trial lawyer, Andrew specializes in catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and defective product cases. Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization , Andrew has tried numerous complex cases involving car accidents, truck wrecks, house and apartment fires, slip and falls, and workplace injuries. He is an advocate for victims of damaging pharmaceutical drugs such as Yaz...
George Tex Quesada represents personal injury clients throughout Texas and New Mexico. He has successfully handled cases involving traumatic brain injuries, explosions, oil field injuries, truck wrecks, medical negligence and products liability. He also frequently represents small businesses in complex commercial litigation cases. Tex has argued before the Supreme Court of Texas, the Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Eighth Circuit, and received a peer-review rating of AV® Preem...
Laura Benitez Geisler is an experienced trial lawyer with a focus on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and civil rights litigation. Her courtroom experience has led to multi-million-dollar jury verdicts and substantial settlements on behalf of her clients, including a $21.375 million-dollar federal jury verdict in 2024 obtained on behalf of a terminated law enforcement officer who was the subject of a retaliatory conspiracy by elected public officials in violation of the officer's First Am...
Featured in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Jackson Smith’s trial practice focuses on representing plaintiffs in complex catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. Whatever the issue, Mr. Smith takes pride in obtaining meaningful results for his clients. Mr. Smith previously clerked for the Honorable Jane J. Boyle of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and interned for the Honorable Amos Mazzant, III of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Mr. Smith receiv...
Michael Fechner's trial practice focuses on representing plaintiffs in complex catastrophic personal injury cases and business disputes. Whether it is a personal injury matter or a complex business dispute, he demonstrates the uncommon compliment of human empathy to go with his critical thinking and legal experience. He has obtained favorable judgments, arbitration awards, and settlements for his clients across a wide spectrum of subject matter and currently handles cases before judges, jurie...
Michael Wozniak’s trial practice focuses on representing plaintiffs in complex catastrophic personal injury matters, including wrongful death cases and commercial vehicle accidents. Prior to joining Lyons & Simmons, Mr. Wozniak completed a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Renée Harris Toliver of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Mr. Wozniak earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as Associate Managing Editor of the Brookly...
James Kennedy began his legal career in consumer law and DTPA litigation, representing individual consumers, mass tort cases, and appellate work. After 10 years in consumer law, Mr. Kennedy has transitioned to successfully representing plaintiffs in cases involving serious injuries, traumatic brain injury, truck wrecks, and product liability. Before attending law school, Mr. Kennedy spent several years as a master’s level social worker at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, whic...
Rebecca Neumann is a passionate advocate, driven by her empathy for her clients’ problems and her desire to seek justice on their behalf. She has represented clients in a wide variety of litigation matters, including catastrophic injury, products liability, medical malpractice, commercial litigation, defamation, sexual assault and civil rights. Rebecca has deposed fact and expert witnesses, drafted and argued motions at every stage of litigation, briefed multiple appeals, and presented ...
Chad Taylor joined Baron & Budd’s trucking and catastrophic injury section in 2021. Prior to joining Baron & Budd, Mr. Taylor worked for a boutique personal injury firm in Dallas, Texas. At that law firm, Mr. Taylor represented individuals in a wide range of personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dangerous dog bites, sexual assault, medical malpractice, and truck accidents. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Taylor graduated from Texas A&M Sch...
Featured "Lawyer of the Year" Honorees
Sam is a partner at Minton, Bassett, Flores & Carsey, P.C., in Austin, Texas. He received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas. Sam has been board certified in criminal law since 1994. His practices criminal defense and family law. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, is AV Rated by Martindale Hubbel, and is a Texas Monthly Super Lawyer. In 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020, Best Lawyers in America named him Lawyer of the Year for criminal defense in Austin, Texas. ...
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Fearlessness In Pursuit of Justice
by Justin Smulison
Taking on the U.S. government in civil liability and wrongful death claims is a monumental undertaking, but Tinsman & Sciano, Inc. CEO, Daniel J.T. Sciano, is not intimidated.
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by Bryan Driscoll
Six months after the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act was established, the system is still figuring out how to incorporate these new guidelines.