Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Appellate Practice
Rachel has significant litigation and appellate experience in both state and federal courts. In private practice, she has represented clients in a variety of matters, including complex commercial cases, personal injury claims, real estate disputes, theft of trade secret allegations, and insurance coverage litigation. Rachel’s skill in helping courts and clients navigate unique legal issues was honed by a decade working as a permanent law clerk at a federal district trial court and at a ...
Jason LaFond is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Jason, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Melanie Plowman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Melanie, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melanie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Cameron Pope is a seasoned appellate specialist and Partner at Hicks Thomas LLP. After beginning his legal career as a federal law clerk, he spent over two decades in the appellate litigation group of a global law firm before joining Hicks Thomas in 2024. Mr. Pope represents clients in high-stakes appeals across a wide array of industries, including healthcare, energy, employment benefits, and toxic torts. His appellate experience is both broad and deep, and he has consistently secured favora...
Cynthia Eva Hujar Orr has attained national prominence defending citizens and entities in state and federal trial and appellate courts. She has earned the profound respect of her colleagues who elected her to Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Criminal Justice Section in 2014.Cynthia served as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers from 2009-2010, President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association in 2003, and became the first President of the San ...
Chris Nickelson is Dual Board Certified in Family Law and in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Fort Worth. With over 27 years practicing exclusively in family law, Chris is a past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, currently serves as Director of District 7 on the State Bar of Texas Board, and chaired the Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, Family & Probate Volume, from 2020 to 2024. He is a member of t...
“ The Best Lawyers in Dallas ” – Since 2005, Chad Ruback has consistently been named one of “The Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine. This is true of only four other appellate lawyers. “ The Best Lawyers in America ” – Chad is included in the “Appellate Practice” section of The Best Lawyers in America. “ Texas Super Lawyers ” – Chad is included in the Thomson Reuters “Texas Super Lawyers” list, which i...
In the last five years, Clayton Bailey has saved his clients approximately $500 million in potential exposure. His practice focuses on the litigation and trial of complex tort and commercial litigation matters. His experience includes handling contract disputes, business torts, RICO, ERISA, employment law, trade secrets, deceptive trade practices, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, antitrust, Packers and Stockyards Act, and wrongful death. Mr. Bailey’s litigation experience also includes ...
Formerly a Justice on the Texas Court of Appeals, David Keltner is a highly acclaimed and recognized lawyer in the field of appellate law in Texas. He has served as lead counsel in over 350 appellate decisions and his legal writings have been cited with approval by Texas courts. He has been honored with various prestigious awards and accolades for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession. From 2021 through 2025, he was recognized as a Star Individual by Chambers USA and has recei...
Kent has served as a justice on the Texas Court of Appeals, a judge for the 80th District Court in Harris County, Texas, and as First Assistant Attorney General, the second-highest-ranking official of the Texas Office of the Attorney General. In 2017, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve as the Texas Commissioner of Insurance, the state’s top insurance regulatory position, responsible for the policies, operations, and enforcement activities of the Texas Department of Insura...
Owen J. McGovern is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Owen, 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 Owen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Owen is board-certified appellate specialist who understands that exceptional advocacy requires both a superior understanding of the...
Katie advises and represents employers, executives and management in the field of employment law. Her experience includes managing complex litigation covering various employment law topics, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), non-compete issues, leaves...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.