Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Appellate Practice
As a board-certified civil appellate attorney, Whitney Brieck is uniquely qualified to assist trial teams in seeking dispositive rulings, exploring procedural nuances, and preserving the record from the outset of litigation through post-judgment proceedings, and to pursue and defend relief sought in interlocutory and final appeals and emergency mandamus proceedings. Whitney studies the tenor of recent judicial decision-making to comprehensively counsel her clients about complex legal issues a...
Anna Baker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Anna, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
R. Brent Cooper focuses his practice on commercial litigation, insurance litigation, and appellate practice. He has had significant experience in the representation of clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitration proceedings. He has tried numerous cases covering areas of business litigation, construction litigation, catastrophic personal injuries, complex litigation, intellectual property, constitutional and business tort cases. In his 35 years of pra...
M. Michelle Carreras is a key member of the Issues and Appeals section of The Lanier Law Firm, handling complex appeals, briefings and research for trial. She has worked on a wide variety of cases, including mass tort, products liability, personal injury, business litigation and sports law litigation. She was a key member of the firm’s Pinnacle bellwether trial team that won a $1 billion combined jury verdict and a $502 million jury verdict in 2016. Those victories were recently ranked ...
Chris Nickelson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Family Law. Chris, who practices law in Fort Worth, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Caroline McLeod is an attorney who represents clients in the Houston, Texas area with Appellate issues. Mrs. McLeod chose to pursue a career in law after completing undergraduate studies. She attended Texas Tech University School of Law and graduated in 2018. She passed the bar exam and was admitted to legal practice in 2018. Ms. McLeod resides in Houston with her husband and their two Goldendoodles. In her spare time she enjoys riding her horse and traveling.
Brent T. Buyse is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Brent T., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brent T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Gracen Moreno is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Law and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Gracen, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gracen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Elliot Kudisch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Labor and Employment Law - Employee and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Elliot, 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 Elliot is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Willie G. Cochran is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Willie G., who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Willie G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nicole Cordoba is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Nicole, who practices law in Austin, Texas, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicole is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nicholas Bruno is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Nicholas, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Nicholas is a board-certified appellate specialist who helps corporate clients and trial lawyers wit...
Mollie Mallory is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Mollie, who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mollie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Prerak Shah is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Prerak, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Prerak is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.