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Jane Ellen Cassell is an attorney at The Cassell Law Firm. Her primary focus is on immigration law, and family and divorce litigation. Drawing on her experience in navigating complex immigration matters including deportation and removal proceedings, visas, humanitarian petitions, and waivers of admissibility, Ms. Cassell is an advocate for the immigrant community. She is also an assertive and passionate family law attorney who helps her clients through difficult divorce, child support, custody, and adoption matters with a deliberate aim to achieve the best results for their families. Ms. Cassell is licensed in the state of Tennessee and has also been admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee and the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR). She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Belmont University American Inns of Court, the American Bar Association, and Lawyer’s Association for Women: Marion Griffin Chapter.

Cheryl Panther is a certified public accountant, Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed family mediator, and president/founder of Panther Financial Planning, LLC, a registered investment adviser (Tennessee). She provides creative, outside-the-box analytical skills to the often complex, confusing, and ever-changing financial and taxation issues in divorce cases and settlements. She executes a variety of specialized divorce financial services for clients and attorneys, including education and support as a neutral financial and tax professional in collaborative divorce, divorce mediation, and consulting and testifying in traditional divorce cases. Ms. Panther has presented a variety of training programs for collaborative divorce, mediation, and financial and taxation topics. She serves her practice group, the Middle Tennessee Collaborative Alliance, as president, is a member of the training faculty for the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and serves on several education committees for IACP. She also offers training for collaborative divorce practitioners through the Institute for Family Conflict Resolution, of which she is a principal member.

Lori Thomas Reid is an attorney at Reid Family Law. She is a 1985 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. Ms. Reid has practiced family law for nearly 30 years, including working as a IV-D attorney in the 21st Judicial District of Tennessee from 1994 until 2004. She opened Reid Family Law in 2017, where she focuses her practice on prenuptial agreements, divorce, post-divorce, child support, custody, adoption, grandparent’s rights, and juvenile court cases. She is a Rule 31 Listed Mediator. In January of 2020, Ms. Reid was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission for a two-year term. She received the Professionalism Award from the Williamson County Bar Association in 2010.

Aaron G. Walsh is an attorney at WalshLaw, LLC. He received his law degree in 2003 from the University of South Carolina. While there, he clerked for a local law firm and worked on the student staff of the ABA Real Property, Probate, and Trust Journal. After graduation, Mr. Walsh spent time working in a law firm and as an assistant public defender before settling into private, solo, practice in 2007. His primary focus is family and domestic law, though he continues to defend criminal cases at all levels. Mr. Walsh is admitted to practice in South Carolina and Tennessee.

Megan Williams is a senior litigation attorney with the International Domestic Litigation firm of Cordell and Cordell, PC. She opened the Nashville, Tennessee, location and currently works in the Nashville office serving North Nashville family law clients. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in Political Science from DePaul University and her juris doctorate degree from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2011. In 2015, she was named as the Top Regional Performer with her firm. In 2016, she was named to the National Advocates Top 40 Under 40 list. Ms. Williams is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the Junior League Advocacy Committee, and she is a Board Member with CASA. In her free time, she loves to travel and spend quality time with her teacup yorkie named Benji.

Marisa Lee Combs, special counsel, joined Lewis Thomason in 2009 and is in the Nashville office. Ms. Combs concentrates her practice in professional liability defense of lawyers, architects, engineers, surveyors, appraisers, and other professionals. She has experience assisting professionals in disciplinary matters as well. Ms. Combs also regularly represents businesses with a variety of general service needs, including risk management and growth planning, business organization or succession questions, contracts with customers and vendors, and commercial leases. In addition, she has experience representing the interests of design professionals, contractors, and subcontractors in all aspects of the construction process, including contract negotiations, liens, collections, subpoena responses, and civil litigation. Ms. Combs has a diverse background and extensive courtroom experience, having started her practice on the county square in Robertson County handling a variety of litigation matters in a small firm environment.

David N. Garst is a shareholder in Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office. He is chair of the firm’s Construction Law Practice Group and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors. Mr. Garst practices principally in construction law, focusing on architects and engineers professional liability, construction defect litigation, construction contract law, professional discipline, and commercial litigation. For more than 25 years, Mr. Garst has represented general and specialty contractors, architects, engineers, surveyors, suppliers, and building owners on a variety of construction projects, both locally and regionally. He has substantial experience in the defense of design professionals, and has represented architects and engineers in hundreds of claims, lawsuits, arbitration matters, and disciplinary proceedings. He also has represented numerous general and specialty contractors on construction defect claims, payment disputes, liens, and disciplinary and licensing matters. Mr. Garst is active in many construction industry organizations. He writes and edits for the Tennessee Construction Law Journal and has participated as advocate or neutral in the arbitration of many disputes.

John Craig Howell is an associate in Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office, practicing in the areas of construction, employment law, general civil litigation, and workers’ compensation. He joined the firm in 2013. Mr. Howell graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law. While attending law school, he was a member of the James Clark McReynolds Trial Advocacy Team, class representative for the Student Bar Association, and symposium editor for the Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender & Social Justice. Mr. Howell received certificates of academic excellence in Trial Practice and Criminal Law Seminar. He also worked as an intern in the Department of Justice Office of Legislative Affairs and in the Federal Defender Services office of Eastern Tennessee. Prior to law school, Mr. Howell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Sewanee: The University of the South.

J. Wallace Irvin is an associate in Lewis Thomason’s Nashville office, where he focuses his practice on construction law with an emphasis on the representation of architects and engineers against professional liability allegations. Mr. Irvin also represents contractors in a wide variety of business matters, including contract negotiations, project administration, closeout, construction defect defense and payment disputes, including the assertion and enforcement of mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens and performance and payment bond claims. Additionally, Mr. Irvin advises contractors in administrative matters before the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Tennessee Occupational Health and Safety Administration (TOSHA) and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

Jason M. Pannu is a Lewis Thomason shareholder based in the firm’s Nashville office. He is a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Pannu practices primarily in the areas of complex business and commercial litigation with an emphasis on the construction industry. He also practices in the areas of professional liability, toxic tort and environmental law and employment law disputes. As part of his construction law practice, Mr. Pannu advises architects, engineers, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in connection with large-scale projects, and he regularly appears in State and Federal Courts and in arbitrations on construction defect claims, professional negligence claims, breach of contract claims, and lien and bond claims. Mr. Pannu previously served on the Technology Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Pannu has a background in accounting and finance and has handled professional liability disputes in those areas. Mr. Pannu also advises clients regarding litigation avoidance and assessment. Mr. Pannu is fluent in Cantonese Chinese and French.

Attorney at Butler Snow
Ms. Heusel is an attorney at Butler Snow with 15 years of experience as a professional engineer in both the public and private sectors. With this, she applies a practical mindset to help clients navigate the technical rigors of environmental regulations and find cost-effective solutions to today’s regulatory challenges.

Attorney and Member at Bone McAllester Norton
Ms. Jacobs concentrates her practice in the areas of environmental, regulatory, local government, land use and administrative law. She is an experienced regulatory lawyer and litigator who represents companies, local governments, and not-for-profit organizations in administrative, regulatory, environmental, zoning, land use, and municipal law. Ms. Jacobs has represented clients before administrative boards and at the state, federal, and local levels. Because of Ms. Jacob’s excellent work, clients can focus on their business and not be caught in protracted environmental litigation. She has successfully defended numerous businesses and local governments. Ms. Jacobs serves as the city attorney for Oak Hill.

Attorney and Partner at Butler Snow
Mr. Knight practices in Butler Snow’s Toxic Torts and Environmental Litigation Group. He has represented a wide variety of environmental clients including construction companies, financial institutions, manufacturing facilities, electric utility systems, real estate developers and energy companies. His experience ranges from state enforcement actions to the defense of federal citizen suits to matters of regulatory compliance and environmental remediation and brownfield projects. Throughout his practice, he has focused on issues involving the Clean Water Act, RCRA, CERCLA, ESA, TSCA (PCBs), FTC greenwashing and water allocation matters.

William L. (Bill) Penny has a wide range of environmental legal experience at the federal, state and local levels. He focuses primarily on advice and litigation regarding natural resource law, wetlands, water quality, and mining. He also represents clients in CERCLA litigation, RCRA matters, and brownfield redevelopment. Mr. Penny has represented numerous utilities and individuals in federal and state citizen complaints. He regularly counsels clients on environmental compliance issues and represents businesses in permit appeals, enforcement, and advocacy before federal and state environmental boards and agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Penny was one of the founders and was the first chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Tennessee Bar Association, and in 2013 he was elected chair of ABA’s Section on Environment, Energy & Resources (“SEER”). He was the first general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and served as general counsel for the former Department of Health and Environment for many years. Mr. Penny is rated “AV Preeminent© Peer Review Rating” in Martindale-Hubbell. He is recognized in Chambers USA, since 2010 as tier 1 for environmental law. He was listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2005 for Environmental Litigation and Environmental Law, and was named as “Lawyer of the Year” on four occasions, including 2025. He has been named by Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006 and was listed in the publication in either the top 50 or 100 lawyers in Tennessee numerous times. The Nashville Business Journal named him “Best of the Bar” at least 10 times since 2006. The Nashville Post listed him as “In Charge: Legal” at least eight times.

Professor of Law and the lead land use attorney at the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law
Before coming to WVU, Jesse Richardson was an associate professor at Virginia Tech. His research and experience focuses on land use law and water law. He began his legal career in private practice in his home town of Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Richardson has served on the board of directors of the American Agricultural Law Association where he was both President-Elect and President. Mr. Richardson previously served on the Virginia Water Policy Technical Advisory Committee. He was honored with the 1999 Professional Scholarship Award from the American Agricultural Law Association, the 2004 William E. Wine Award for a history of teaching excellence from Virginia Tech (the highest teaching award granted by the university), and the 2009 University Certificate of Excellence in Outreach.

Of Counsel, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLPMr. Bostic’s practice is primarily devoted to oil and gas law and related fields, such as natural resources, energy, and administrative law. He is board certified in oil, gas and mineral law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and has been so certified continuously since 1997. Mr. Bostic has extensive experience representing clients before the Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas General Land Office on oil and gas matters, and he has wide-ranging transactional experience in oil and gas matters, including oil and gas leasing. His clients routinely include Fortune 500 companies, large and small independent oil companies, non-operating working interest owners, and individual mineral and royalty interest owners. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Bostic had a 14 year career as a petroleum engineer. During his “engineering years,” he worked for Amoco Production Company, a small engineering consulting firm, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, and a new independent oil company focused on producing property acquisitions, which he co-founded. He has maintained his status as a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas and remains active in numerous oil and gas-related organizations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. Mr. Bostic is the immediate past chairman of the Central Texas Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, and he is a past officer of the Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section of the Austin Bar Association (then known as the Travis County Bar Association), as well as of the local chapters of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists.

Founding Partner of Kiefaber & Oliva LLPMr. Kiefaber focuses his practice on oil and gas matters and is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice includes title opinions, division order opinions, joint operating agreements, acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas assets, federal leases, pooling and unitization, environmental and regulatory matters, royalty disputes and related oil and gas matters. Mr. Kiefaber has an extensive background in oil and gas matters and business litigation and routinely advises both publicly-traded Fortune 500 and small, private equity-backed companies on oil and gas matters in environmental litigation, real property disputes, breach of contract matters, and a variety of other business disputes in state and federal courts. Mr. Kiefaber is a regular speaker on issues relating to the current issues faced by the oil and gas industry and has given presentations on a variety of oil and gas-related topics. He is also active in the oil and gas community and currently serves as chair of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen’s Task Force on Oil and Gas Royalty and Lease Maintenance Issues. Mr. Kiefaber is also involved with the Independent Petroleum Association of America and serves on both the Land and Royalty Committee and the Endangered Species Task Force. Mr. Kiefaber was selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2016. He earned his J.D. degree, with honors, from Marquette University Law School and is licensed to practice law in Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Colorado.

Managing Member, Knop Law Firm, PLLCMr. Knop’s practice focuses on the development of oil and gas assets. He is board certified in oil, gas and mineral law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and his experience includes energy contract litigation, acquisitions and divestitures, title work, regulatory matters and corporate counsel work. In early 2016, Mr. Knop became President of Bankers Oil Corporation, a privately-held oil and gas company with working interests in Texas, Kansas and Colorado. He is a member of the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources and the Corporate Counsel Sections of the State Bar of Texas, and the Real Estate Section of the North Dakota Bar. Mr. Knop earned his J.D. degree from Houston College of Law.

The Soliz Law Firm, P.L.L.C.Mr. Soliz, the firm’s owner and founder, is an attorney with over 30 years of legal experience. He is board certified in oil, gas and mineral law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. His practice areas include the following: oil, gas and mineral law; real estate law; corporate, commercial, business and contract law; governmental relations; debtor/creditor issues; litigation and alternative dispute resolution; probate; and estate planning. Mr. Soliz is an adjunct professor, teaching Business Law, Oil and Gas Law and other legal courses at Lone Star College – North Harris. He also currently serves as a member of the Paralegal Program Advisory Committee of San Jacinto College and the Hispanic Advisory Committee for the Chancellor of Lone Star College. He earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.

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.

Lora Gunter, J.D., SR/WA is the Texas director of right of way at Volkert, Inc. Prior to joining Volkert in the fall of 2019, she was the Right of way project delivery director for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), where she oversaw the department’s statewide right of way acquisition portfolio. She implemented the policies and procedures for right of way project delivery activities, including oversight of right of way acquisition manuals. Ms. Gunter oversaw the ROW Division legal group, which was responsible for compliance with and interpretation of federal and state laws, rules, and regulations (including the Uniform Act). Her legal career began in 2001 at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, where she represented TxDOT in eminent domain matters across the state. She has also worked as a right of way attorney for TxDOT and handled various matters involving property acquisition and real property disposition. Ms. Gunter has also worked in the legal private sector representing large public utility companies in condemnation proceedings and other real property matters.

Bryan J. May is an oil and gas attorney at Harris, Finley & Bogle, P.C., with the unique industry expertise of a landman. He has performed all aspects of onshore land work for domestic exploration and production companies and holds the certified professional landman designation from the American Association of Professional Landmen. Mr. May’s clients benefit from his experience managing operated and non-operated oil and gas assets and his experience negotiating oil and gas leases, right of way agreements, water rights agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and production sharing agreements, and conducting acquisition and divestiture due diligence. Mr. May is a member of ADAM Energy Forum, the Fort Worth Association of Professional Landmen, the Energy and Real Estate Sections of the Tarrant County Bar Association, and the Energy Section of the Dallas Bar Association.

Jason B. Myers is a partner in the Dallas office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He is a commercial attorney, author, and speaker skilled in the areas of real estate and finance. His client-driven approach stems from having spent approximately half of his nearly 25-year career as a client himself. His in-house legal and business roles, coupled with his wide-ranging transactional experience, enable Mr. Myers to team with his clients to offer a thoughtful, multi-perspective, problem-solving approach to meeting their business objectives.

Founder at Wilhelm Law Firm
Mr. Wilhelm focuses his practice on oil and gas law and state taxation issues before the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. His oil and gas clients include Fortune 500 oil and gas companies, privately owned oil and gas independents, and sophisticated landowners. Most of the oil and gas practice focuses on real estate (title examination, due diligence, and negotiations) and assisting clients with matters before the General Land Office. In addition to his J.D. degree, Mr. Wilhelm holds a masters degree in Energy and Environmental Law from The Tulane University. He is licensed to practice in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Illinois, and by numerous federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Kenneth A. Wright is the founder and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wright. He has over 38 years of experience protecting the rights of property owners against the exercise of eminent domain. Mr. Wright is board certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is one of the few board-certified attorneys in the state of Texas practicing eminent domain and condemnation law. He has been selected by Woodward/White, Inc. as one of Texas’ Best Lawyers in eminent domain and condemnation law every year from 2008-2020. Mr. Wright is a frequent speaker and lecturer to attorney groups on eminent domain and condemnation law and has contributed to numerous legal publications in the field. He has served as an expert witness, mediator, consultant, and special commissioner in condemnation matters. Mr. Wright served as the chair of the Eminent Domain section of the Center for American and International Law’s Annual Program on Planning, Zoning, and Eminent Domain from 1996-2010 and is a member of the Attorney-Mediators Institute.

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing landowners as well as governmental entities in numerous such lawsuits, involving millions of dollars. Paul has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings, pipeline cases, and highway construction cases. Paul also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. He also has extensive experience handling complex business dissolution and injunction cases. 

Attorney at Braun & Gresham
Ms. Barton takes her compassion and skill to guide land and business owners through many different legal proceedings. Lawsuits can be complicated, but her wide range of experiences allows her to handle disputes at all levels of litigation – from the Justice of the Peace to Federal Court. As a litigator, Ms. Barton balances her clients’ needs and legal realities, while fighting for the best result possible. As a counselor, she analyzes her clients’ situation to craft creative solutions to their troubles. Communication with her clients remains a first-and-foremost priority, addressing their needs and concerns and keeping them up-to-date with the status of their matter.

Mr. Brandys has exclusively represented landowners in eminent domain, inverse condemnation, and related land use matters for over 16 years. He has represented landowners in negotiating settlements, in special commissioners’ hearings, and in jury trials on hundreds of road and highway takings, power line takings, pipeline takings, takings of billboard easements, and other similar takings. Mr. Brandys is a graduate of Knox College and received his J.D. degree from Wake Forest University where he was a member of the Law Review.

Partner at McGinnis Lochridge
Mr. Johnson has a multifaceted water law practice, with an emphasis on matters involving land use, water rights and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). His clients are generally landowners, industries, mineral owners and developers seeking to acquire, safeguard, develop or convey water resources. Formerly, he represented a large municipal water system in a variety of matters, including legislative efforts to create the Edwards Aquifer Authority and to modernize Texas water law. He is a board member of the Center for Water Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law, as well as an adjunct professor at Texas State University teaching water policy.

Attorney & Partner at Dawson & Sodd
Ms. McSpadden has represented landowners in various kinds of condemnation proceedings, including inverse condemnations, takings for Dallas Cowboys football stadium, water rights takings, pipelines, powerlines, highway takings, and takings of convenience stores, restaurants and gas compressor sites. She has been integral to the eminent domain fight against the Texas Rail Project and will continue to help protect landowners from unjust condemnation. Ms. McSpadden received her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, earning a B.S. degree in Agriculture Development in 1998. She graduated from Baylor Law School in 2002.

Attorney at Braun & Gresham
Mr. Reznik’s clients are land and business owners who need to resolve a lawsuit or reduce the likelihood of litigation.  His Texas farm and ranch background, agricultural engineering education, and hardworking lifestyle bring a skilled, creative, understanding and compassionate approach to protecting clients’ rights and resolving conflicts.  Mr. Reznik has handled a variety of disputes, including those involving rural land uses, urban land uses, condemnation, transmission line routing, leases, contracts, estates, contested wills and probate, shareholder’s rights, and deed restrictions, he has represented developers, builders and homeowners.  He received his B.S., M.S. and J.D. degrees from Texas Tech University.

Founder at Wilhelm Law Firm
Mr. Wilhelm focuses his practice on oil and gas law and state taxation issues before the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. His oil and gas clients include Fortune 500 oil and gas companies, privately owned oil and gas independents, and sophisticated landowners. Most of the oil and gas practice focuses on real estate (title examination, due diligence, and negotiations) and assisting clients with matters before the General Land Office. In addition to his J.D. degree, Mr. Wilhelm holds a masters degree in Energy and Environmental Law from The Tulane University. He is licensed to practice in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Illinois, and by numerous federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Attorney with The Chapman FirmMs. Negrete is an associate attorney at The Chapman Firm, PLLC. Her practice focuses on construction litigation, contract drafting and negotiation, and other general transactional aspects of construction law. Jerry spent the past few years of her practice litigating construction disputes and has extensive ties to and experience in the construction industry. She enjoys problem solving, backwards planning, and helping clients achieve their goals.

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.

Attorney with Conley Rose, P.C.Mr. Scott is shareholder of Conley Rose, P.C., and is the managing shareholder of the firm’s Austin office. He counsels clients in all aspects of intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on domestic and foreign patent acquisition, and patent licensing. With broad technical knowledge based in an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Mr. Scott has extensive patenting experience in microprocessor design, microprocessor operation, computer software, computer hardware, switching power supplies, communication systems, fault tolerant computing systems, down hole logging tools (including nuclear, electromagnetic and acoustic), ultrasonic flow measurement, oxygen delivery systems, and respiration support devices

Attorney with GardereMike Seely is a trial lawyer in the Houston office of Gardere who represents clients, both plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of matters including general commercial litigation, oil and gas litigation, professional malpractice, real estate disputes, collection of unpaid invoices and promissory notes, and other business torts. Mr. Seely’s work has included the defense of a registered land surveyor in a lawsuit where the plaintiff alleged that surveyor’s faulty survey cost developer in excess of $1 million in damages. He obtained summary judgment absolving surveyor of all liability. Mr. Seely has been recognized in Texas Rising Stars, a Thomson Reuters business, as published in Texas Monthly (2013). He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Houston Young Lawyers Association.

DuBois Bryant & Campbell, Austin
Mr. Stacy is a partner at DuBois Bryant & Campbell and has over 15 year of experience, and he brings an extensive construction background to his practice as an attorney. Before entering law school, he obtained a degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas and spent several years working in the construction industry on interstate highway, oilfield, water, wastewater and corrections projects in Texas, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico. Mr. Stacy’s practice is divided between drafting and negotiating complex design and construction contracts and litigating disputes that arise in the construction industry.

Attorney with DuBois, Bryant & Campbell, L.L.P.Mr. Sullivan is a partner with DuBois, Bryant & Campbell, LLP, in Austin. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law where he teaches courses on construction law and construction litigation. Prior to entering law school, he was employed as a project manager for Fluor Daniel, Inc., one of the world’s largest engineering/construction corporations. He has worked on various types of construction projects, including high-rise office buildings, high-tech facilities, warehouses, and manufacturing plants located in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a degree in Building Construction. He received his law degree fromSt. Mary’s University School of Law and was the editor-in-chief of the St. Mary’s Law Journal. Each year since 2003, Mr. Sullivan has been included in Woodward & White’s list of The Best Lawyers in America (commercial litigation) and Texas Monthly’s List of Super Lawyers (construction litigation).

Associate Attorney with The Rainwater Firm in Houston
Mr. Cohen has been practicing family law in Texas since graduating from South Texas College of Law in 2011. He joined the Law Office of Robert S. Hoffman, P.L.L.C., in September of 2013 as an associate and spent over four years working on cases with complex property issues and highly contentious child custody matters. During his time with Mr. Hoffman, he sat second chair in jury trials and binding arbitrations. He attended, defended and took numerous depositions, and he represented clients at mediations and ancillary hearings. In February of 2018, Mr. Cohen joined the newly created Rainwater Firm. His strengths include advocating the best interests of children and working on cases with complex property issues and highly contentious child custody matters. Mr. Cohen is a native Houstonian, a seventh-generation Texan, and a second-generation Harris County family law attorney.

Founding Attorney at Ramos Law Group, P.L.L.C.Ms. Ramos is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is recognized and respected throughout the Houston legal community for dedication in effectively representing clients’ rights and interests. She understands the emotional side of divorce and brings a special compassion to each and every case. Ms. Ramos also offers clients knowledgeable and competent legal advice. Her practice is exclusively family law, and she has attended many certification and training courses. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from Park University in 1999, and her JD degree from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshal School of Law, in Houston, in 2002. She has been named to both “Houston’s Top Family Lawyers”, H Texas magazine and “Best Divorce Lawyers in Houston”, Expertise LLC in 2017.

Attorney at LawMs.Tanner has practiced law in the State of Texas for over a decade. She handles all aspects of family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, post-divorce modifications and enforcement, family law-related appeals, mediations, arbitrations and collaborative law. She is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Ms. Tanner earned her J.D. degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

Ms. Wise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with honors, majoring in Psychology, and she earned her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. She was admitted to practice in Texas on February 8, 2001, and has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Ms. Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas, its Family Law Section, its Texas Technology Section, and then the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and its Family Law Section, the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.

Stephanie Bandoske Partner at Bandoske & Butler in San Antonio. Ms. Bandoske is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She offers a wide range of legal services which include all family law matters including divorce, custody and child support.  She has been recognized since 2017 as a Texas Super Lawyer. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and San Antonio Bar Association’s Family Law Section and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. Ms. Bandoske received her J.D. degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.   

Partner at Bandoske Butler Reuter, PLLC in San AntonioMs. Butler practices in family law matters involving spousal and child support obligations and property division, including business interests, pension and profit-sharing entitlements, trusts and investments. She is an active member of the San Antonio Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Board and the Texas Family Law Foundation, and she is a San Antonio Bar Association fellow. Ms. Butler received her B.S. degree from the University of Texas in Austin and her J.D. degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.

Law Office of Rebecca J. Carrillo in San AntonioMs. Carrillo is a Texas board certified attorney in family law. Board certification is a mark of excellence, one that roughly 10 percent of Texas attorneys can claim. Only board certified attorneys in Texas can publicly represent themselves as a specialist in their area of law. As a board certified attorney, Ms. Carrillo has set herself apart as being an attorney with the highest public commitment to the practice of family law in Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Sociology and from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Ms. Carrillo has been practicing family law since November 2009.

Partner with Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht L.L.P. in San AntonioMr. Emory is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His areas of concentration include family law, debt collection and probate. He is a member of the Texas State Bar Association, the State Bar College, and the San Antonio Bar Association’s Family Law Section. Mr. Emory received his undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Administration of Justice from The American University in Washington, D.C. and his J.D. degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.

Owner/Attorney with The Law Office of Agatha L. Rode, PLLC, in San AntonioMs. Rode’s practice is dedicated exclusively to family law. Her representative areas of practice include divorce, child support, child custody, adoption, military divorce, high-asset complex division, property, parents and grandparent’s rights, uncontested divorces, same-sex divorces, collaborative law, protective orders and restraining orders, modifications of prior orders, and probate law. Mrs. Rode is a member of the Aggie Bar Association, the San Antonio Bar Association, and the San Antonio Bar Association Family Law Division. She earned her B.A. degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, her J.D. degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, and her MBA degree from St. Mary’s University.

KoonsFuller Family Law
Ms. Armstrong is a Dallas divorce attorney practicing primarily in Dallas and Collin counties. She routinely helps people find the best solutions for their divorces, child custody actions, modifications of prior custody orders, and collaborative law cases. She also specializes in courtroom advocacy, including hearings, jury and bench trials. Ms. Armstrong is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has successfully argued and tried issues of custody and property division for her clients. Trial advocacy became a passion for Ms. Armstrong while obtaining her Bachelor of Communications degree at Texas A&M University, and continued through her graduation from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, where she was selected for the mock trial team. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Collin County Young Lawyers Association, and is president-elect (2014) for the organization. Ms. Armstrong is also a member of the Curt B. Henderson Inn of Court, along with members of the Collin County judiciary and prominent Collin County family law attorneys, and she is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Ms. Melhart is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Council Member for the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section, serves on the board of directors of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, and is a faculty member with the American Bar Association’s Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute. Ms. Melhart has written articles for the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers on a variety family law issues and presented to a number of family law related organizations throughout the country. She is also a part of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s Paralegal Commission for Family Law which is responsible for writing and grading the board certification exam for family law paralegals.

Ms. Pingenot Key exclusively practices family law. She has been selected for inclusion in Texas Monthly “Rising Stars” each year since 2006. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Pingenot Key was the program director of a supervised visitation facility for families in Austin as well as an elementary school teacher with the non-profit program, Teach for America. She received a B.A. degree in Psychology, with honors, an M.S. degree in Social Work, with honors, and a J.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Pingenot Key is board certified in family law and speaks and writes frequently on issues in family law.

Attorney at Law
Ms. Purvis earned her bachelor of science degree in English from the University of Houston in 1995 and her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in 1998. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in May, 1999. Ms. Purvis practiced family law in Houston with a preeminent family law firm where she gained experience in complex and highly-contested family law cases. She has also authored and co-authored CLE articles, spoken at various CLE events, and served as a planning-committee member for a CLE seminar presented by South Texas College of Law. Ms. Purvis has also worked as a legal and business consultant and research coordinator for corporate entities and volunteered for political campaigns. Ms. Purvis is currently in private practice focusing on family law in Southlake, Texas, and represents clients throughout the greater Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Orsinger, Nelson, Downing and Anderson, LLP
Ms. Baird’s practice is limited solely to family law. She graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2006 and earned her undergraduate degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 2002, where she graduated with a double major in Finance and Economics. Ms. Baird’s background in finance laid the groundwork for her practice which is focused on cases involving complex property divisions. She also handles cases involving difficult child custody matters in divorces, modifications, paternity suits, and enforcements. Ms. Baird was licensed to practice law in Texas in November 2010, and she is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was selected as a Rising Star by Thomas Reuters each year from 2014 to 2018, and she was named as one of the top 50 up-and-coming Women and top 100 up-and-coming Attorneys in Texas in 2017, as published in Texas Monthly magazine. She was also selected to D Magazine’s list of Best Lawyers Under 40 in 2018. Ms. Baird is a member of the Family Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association, the Texas Family Law Foundation, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and its foundation, and the Annette Stewart American Inn of Court.

Yusuf Ross Law, PLLC, San Antonio, TX
Ms. Ross is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has extensive litigation experience in both civil and family law. Her current practice covers all areas of family law litigation, including divorce, child custody, visitation and child support, modification and enforcement of court orders, and property division. Ms. Ross serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Family Law Foundation and is a member of the Texas Family Law Foundation’s Bill Review Committee, reviewing and advising on legislation that impacts family lawyers and families throughout Texas. She has also been named by Super Lawyers as a Texas Rising Star. Ms. Ross earned her B.S. degree in Psychology and Criminology from Florida State University and her J.D. degree from Baylor University School of Law.

Associate attorney at Schlanger Silver LLP in Houston                                                                 
A native Houstonian, Ms. Canales earned her B.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin in December 2012.  After graduating, she attended South Texas College of Law while also working for a small family law firm in Pearland, Texas.  During law school, Ms. Canales gained practice-ready skills in both the Family Law Advanced Clinic and Domestic Violence Clinic. She is a second-generation family law attorney and grew up wanting to help people navigate what is often the most difficult time of their lives. After being admitted to practice law in November 2016, Ms. Canales began her legal career at Burgower Law, LLP in January 2017 and remained there until joining Schlanger Silver LLP in January 2020. She handles a variety of family law matters including adoptions, divorces, child custody disputes, enforcements, marital agreements, and modification actions.

Associate Attorney with The Rainwater Firm in Houston
Mr. Cohen has been practicing family law in Texas since graduating from South Texas College of Law in 2011. He joined the Law Office of Robert S. Hoffman, P.L.L.C., in September of 2013 as an associate and spent over four years working on cases with complex property issues and highly contentious child custody matters. During his time with Mr. Hoffman, he sat second chair in jury trials and binding arbitrations. He attended, defended and took numerous depositions, and he represented clients at mediations and ancillary hearings. In February of 2018, Mr. Cohen joined the newly created Rainwater Firm. His strengths include advocating the best interests of children and working on cases with complex property issues and highly contentious child custody matters. Mr. Cohen is a native Houstonian, a seventh-generation Texan, and a second-generation Harris County family law attorney.

Attorney At Law in Houston
Ms. Kennedy was born and raised in Houston. She graduated from Rice University in 1997. She received her law degree from the University of Kentucky in 2002. She was licensed to practice law in Texas in 2002 and Louisiana in 2005. In 2006, Ms. Kennedy opened her own law office, providing legal advice to a variety of clients. The main areas of her legal practice are family law and immigration. Ms. Kennedy is a certified mediator in general civil and family law. She is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association.

Ms. Lowry represents clients in transition or planning for life changes. Many of these are family law matters, focusing on pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, divorce, adoptions, child custody and support, and modifications of custody and support orders. A portion of her practice is also devoted the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives, as well as assisting clients in probate administration or obtaining guardianship of incapacitated relatives. Ms. Lowry completed her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, and she earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is a 2020 director of the Family Law Section of the Houston Bar Association. Ms. Lowry also contributes her time and talent to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and Fort Bend Lawyers Care, which provide legal services to low-income citizens. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Lowry was a classroom teacher for several years. Her experience and training working with children, as well as her ability to understand their needs, add depth and insight to her work with families going through difficult times.

Ms. Wise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with honors, majoring in Psychology, and she earned her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. She was admitted to practice in Texas on February 8, 2001, and has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Ms. Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas, its Family Law Section, its Texas Technology Section, and then the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and its Family Law Section, the Fort Bend County Bar Association, and Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists.