Abadi Accessibility
Abadi Accessibility is an accessibility consulting firm that is dedicated to educating the building industry about the laws of accessibility. Marcela Abadi Rhoads received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas in Austin and is a registered architect in Texas and an accessibility specialist. She assists the building industry, in part, by performing plan reviews and inspection for Texas Accessibility Standards and producing a monthly newsletter to educate on the best way to apply the standards to architectural projects. Ms. Rhoads is the author of The ADA Companion Guide and Applying the ADA published by John Wiley and Sons.

Olaide A. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Mr. Banks is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Mary Hazelwood Barkley is a partner at Cantey Hanger LLP, where she has worked for the past 13 years and specializes in real estate litigation, including eminent domain. Ms. Barkley represents both condemning authorities and landowners in easement matters, regulatory takings, inverse condemnation, and statutory condemnation both at trial and on appeal.

Larry W. Johnson Attorney at Cobb Martinez Woodward
Mr. Johnson focuses his practice on the defense of design professionals in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings. He also provides contractual negotiation assistance for his clients, assisting them in managing future risk and providing early resolution of potential legal issues. Mr. Johnson seeks a reasoned approach to litigation that balances strategy and action based on the individual claim and the client’s objectives. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, and Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

Benjamin D. Mathews is an attorney at Mathews & Freeland, LLP in Austin. Mr. Mathews practices in the areas of environmental, natural resources and public utility law. He serves a diverse mix of clients including municipalities, public utilities, land owners and home and ranch owners associations. Mr. Mathews’s representation involves both compliance counseling and litigation before state and federal administrative agencies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Public Utility Commission of Texas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and before State and federal courts.

Mr. Nicar’s practice is primarily focused on helping architects, engineers, contractors, and owners resolve construction disputes. His approach to dispute resolution is fueled by a blend of important skills. The first is hands-on courtroom experience—and the willingness to stand by his client’s side until the dispute is resolved—through trial, arbitration, or any appeals. The second is his talent for crafting litigation strategies that seek to short-circuit and resolve construction disputes through meticulous research and preparation. Utilizing this combination, Mr. Nicar guides his clients in a way that is both fearless and smart. He helps get the results his clients need, while seeking to minimize the amount of time, effort, and resources required to get there.