Mr. 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). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Attorney at AECOM in Austin
Mr. Cohen is in-house counsel for AECOM’s Design and Consulting Services group. He is business counsel for the Gulf Coast and the lead intellectual property attorney for all of North and South America. As an engineer, Mr. Cohen worked on horizontal and vertical projects ranging from Boston’s “Big Dig” to San Francisco’s Millennium Tower. As an attorney, Mr. Cohen has litigated multi-million dollar construction and intellectual property matters across the country. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Civil and Structural Engineering from Tufts University, a law degree from Boston College Law School, and is a registered patent attorney with the USPTO.

LeBoeuf Law, Dallas
Ms. LeBoeuf is a civil trial lawyer with active experience in both state and federal courts, as well as arbitration. She is also an arbitrator with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Ms. LeBoeuf regularly represents Dallas law firms and individual attorneys in a variety of matters. She has extensive experience in the representation of business owners and companies in complex and multi-party lawsuits concerning such matters as employment discrimination, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, fraud, defamation, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy and other business-related claims. Ms. LeBoeuf especially enjoys trying cases to juries. She regularly speaks to attorneys, engineers and other professionals regarding their ethical obligations; teaches trial and deposition skills to young lawyers; and is a guest lecturer at the University of Texas Naveen Jindal School of Management.
 

Attorney at Dickenson Wright in Austin
Mr. Mason’s practice focuses on patent acquisition in semiconductors, microprocessors and memory, databases and storage, graphics processing, electronic commerce, network equipment and software, and mobile computing and sensor systems. From 2006 to 2007, Mr. Mason served as general counsel of an Internet advertising startup in Austin, Texas. His practice has previously included IP aspects of merger and acquisition transactions, software licensing agreements and research contracts. Mr. Mason is admitted to practice in Texas and before the USPTO. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University (1999) and his J.D. degree from Baylor University (2003).

Attorney at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr in Austin
Mr. Richie is an attorney in the construction and construction litigation sections of Munsch Hardt. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Richie worked as a mechanical engineer and project manager at a prominent consulting engineering firm in Houston, Texas, and then after obtaining his law degree, as general counsel. He is also one of a handful of attorneys in Texas credentialed as a licensed professional engineer and a LEED-accredited professional (AP). He has experience in drafting and negotiating complex design and construction contracts for all types of commercial projects. Mr. Richie has also successfully represented owners (public and private), general contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals in numerous lawsuits and disputes.

Ms. Wade has practiced construction law since becoming licensed in 2015. She has represented public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and design professionals. Ms. Wade’s comprehensive understanding of the construction industry allows her to find efficient strategies to resolve disputes. As a litigator, she is effective and tenacious. Additionally, she has extensive experience with risk assessment, lien and bond claims, project closeouts, and pre-litigation negotiations. Regardless of the type of dispute, project, or client, her end goal is the same—achieve the best result possible. Ms. Wade’s clients value her availability, commitment, innovation, and results-driven attitude. She is an active member in the Austin community. Ms. Wade served on the Board of Adjustment for the City of Austin, hearing property owners’ requests for variances from local ordinances. She was also the Chair of the Austin Construction Law Section from 2022 to 2023. Ms. Wade earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University School of Law.