Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Sydney Alexandra Scott is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Sydney Alexandra practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Sydney Alexandra Scott since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sydney Alexandra Scott is held by other lawyers.
Recognized by Best Lawyers since 2021, Toby M. Galloway has been honored in Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), and Litigation - Securities. An accomplished trial attorney and former SEC attorney, Toby has extensive experience representing clients before major regulatory and law enforcement agencies, including the SEC, DOJ, CFTC, FINRA, Texas State Securities Board and other state securities regulators, and the PCA...
Thomas M. Melsheimer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Antitrust Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, Litigation - Securities and Qui Tam Law. Thomas M. practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Thomas M. Melsheimer since 2007. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal p...
PHILIP H. HILDER was formerly the attorney-in-charge of the Houston Field Office of the United States Department of Justice, Organized Crime Strike Force. Prior to his appointment as a special attorney with the Justice Department, Mr. Hilder was an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of Texas with the Presidential Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Since leaving government service, Mr. Hilder has practiced in the area of white collar criminal defense, internal ...
Neal A. Davis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Neal A. practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Neal A. Davis since 2015. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Neal A. Davis is held by other lawyers.
Acclaimed Texas trial lawyer Rusty Hardin is the founder and name partner of Houston’s Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP , accomplished in both complex civil matters and significant criminal cases. Mr. Hardin has more than 40 years of litigation experience, beginning his career as an assistant prosecutor in Houston’s Harris County in 1975. Since entering private practice in 1991, Mr. Hardin has tried over 70 jury trials, fairly evenly split between civil and criminal cases. His c...
Letitia Quinones-Hollins brings more than 23 years of white collar and criminal law experience to her clients in Houston, throughout the state of Texas, and across the nation. A graduate of Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Letitia began her legal career in a partnership and subsequently accepted an apprenticeship under the tutelage of the legendary Robert A. Jones. After spending five years under his guidance, Letitia branched out on her own and formed Quinon...
Eric Nichols practices both civil trial and criminal law, and joined the Austin office of Butler Snow in 2019. His background includes not only many years representing companies and individuals in private practice but also experience in both Texas state government and the federal government, having served as Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice for the Office of the Texas Attorney General, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and a law clerk to a ...
Richard Bratton Roper is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Richard Bratton practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Richard Bratton Roper since 2012. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Richard Bratton Roper is held by other lawyers.
Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Nicole DeBorde practices law in Houston, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube since 2015. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube is held by ...
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 ...
Audrey Hatcher is an Associate at Varghese Summersett, where she represents clients in state and federal criminal matters. Her practice includes misdemeanor and felony cases involving intoxication offenses, drug charges, sex offenses, theft, assault, and other serious allegations. Audrey is dedicated to providing thoughtful, thorough representation and developing effective strategies tailored to the circumstances of each client and case. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Audrey earned...
Julián Alejandro Ríos is a litigation associate who joined Ford O’Brien Landy LLP in 2022. Julián mainly focuses on complex commercial and securities litigation within the firm’s general white-collar defense practice. Julián has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 and 2025 for work in securities litigation and white-collar criminal defense. Julián has also been recognized in Super Lawyers® Rising Stars 2024 for...
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.
