Attorney Intel is pleased to announce The Top 50 Attorneys of Houston for 2023. Located near the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the 5th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. by population. Houston’s rise began as a trading center – and later, the discovery of oil resources further fueled its growth. The city has subsequently diversified its economic landscape. With multiple Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Houston, the area offers a variety of growing industries, including energy, life science, manufacturing, logistics, aerospace, and others. As a result, this thriving international city stands as an attractive destination for legal professionals to thrive in their careers.
Working in a wide range of fields, the men and women highlighted this year provide legal leadership to some of the most recognizable brands in the world. This includes companies such as United Airlines, ExxonMobil, Shell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Aramco, just to name a few. These exceptional legal practitioners have set themselves apart from peers with their relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and unmatched expertise.
This year's honorees include Luke Burns, a Partner at the esteemed international law firm Reed Smith. Over the past few years, Burns has played a pivotal role in transactions totaling billions of dollars in the upstream sector, spanning the Permian Basin, the Marcellus/Utica, the Gulf of Mexico, and various other regions.
Next on our list is Brady Edwards, who holds the position of Partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius. Edwards made significant contributions to the firm when he inaugurated its Houston office back in 2007 and served as its Managing Partner until 2014. Under his leadership, the office flourished from a modest four-lawyer litigation hub into its present stature, boasting around 75 lawyers. Lastly, we have Noelle Reed, a Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates. Equipped with a Harvard Law degree, Reed has adeptly represented clients in acquisition-related cases with a total transaction value exceeding $100 billion.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Attorneys of Houston for 2023.
1. Jeffrey Gollomp
General Counsel North America Commodities and Citigroup Energy Inc., Citi
Jeffrey Gollomp is the General Counsel in North America Commodities and Citigroup Energy at Citi. He first joined the company in 2018. Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
Previously, Gollomp served as counsel at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Before that, he was acting general counsel at G2X Energy, Inc. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an attorney. Gollomp earned a JD from Emory University School of Law and an undergraduate degree in government from William & Mary.
2. Karen Cochran
General Counsel, Projects, Technology & IP, Shell
Karen Cochran is the General Counsel in Projects, Technology & IP at Shell, a global energy company with around 87,000 employees in more than 70 countries. They work together to power progress through more and cleaner energy solutions. They serve more than 30 million customers at almost 46,000 retail service stations every day. Their strategy is to accelerate the transition of their business to net-zero emissions, purposefully and profitably.
Cochran began her career in 1993. Before joining Shell, she was an associate general counsel and chief of IP counsel at DuPont. Before that, she served as a senior patent director at AstraZeneca. Earlier in her career, she worked with Rhone-Poulenc Rorer as a chemist. Cochran graduated from Delaware Law School with a JD and from Temple University with an undergraduate degree in chemistry.
3. Jack Najarian
Attorney, Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Jack Najarian began his professional career 11 years ago. Today, he is an attorney at Chamberlain Hrdlicka, a diversified business law firm with offices in Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia and San Antonio. The firm represents both public and private companies, as well as individuals and family-owned businesses across the nation. The firm offers counsel in appellate law, bankruptcy, commercial and probate litigation, construction law, intellectual property, international and immigration law, labor and employment, and real estate, among many other areas.
Najarian got his start in 2012 as an associate at Todd, Barron, Thomason, & Hudman P.C. From there, he went on to Carriage Services, before eventually rising to attorney at Liskow & Lewis, his most recent position prior to joining Chamberlain Hrdlicka. Najarian graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law with a JD and from the University of Houston Honors College with an undergraduate degree in economics and political science.
4. Layne Kruse
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Layne Kruse is a trial partner for antitrust and other complex business litigation at Norton Rose Fulbright. Kruse is the former Head of Antitrust and Competition, United States at Norton Rose Fulbright, which provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg.
Kruse previously served on the Global Supervisory Board. He concentrates on antitrust and business litigation, government investigations and regulatory matters, international disputes and other business problems. He has represented clients in petroleum production and marketing, health care, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, insurance, publishing, consumer products, transportation and other industries. Kruse earned a JD from Yale Law School, an MS in international relations from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and an undergraduate degree in economics from Texas A&M University.
5. James Garrett
Partner, Latham & Watkins
James Garrett is a Partner at Latham & Watkins’ Houston office – and a member of the firm’s Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions Practices. Latham & Watkins is a global law firm with more than 3,000 lawyers in its offices located in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The firm has internationally recognized practices in a wide spectrum of transactional, litigation, corporate and regulatory areas. Garrett’s principal areas of practice are private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital.
He counsels private equity and venture capital investors and their portfolio companies, as well as entrepreneurs, and public and private companies in connection with corporate and transactional matters – including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, growth equity and private financing transactions, joint ventures, and corporate reorganizations, as well as on general corporate matters. Garrett currently serves as a Director at Interfaith CarePartners and as a Director at the Texas Hearing Institute. Garrett graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with a JD and from Baylor University with an undergraduate degree in finance and economics.
6. Penny Yang
General Counsel in Global Integrated Supply Chain, Compliance and Digital Transformation in PMT, Honeywell
Penny Yang began her professional career 22 years ago. Today, she is the General Counsel in Global Integrated Supply Chain, Compliance and Digital Transformation in PMT at Honeywell, a Fortune 100 company that invents and manufactures technologies to address tough challenges linked to global macrotrends such as safety, security, and energy. With approximately 110,000 employees worldwide, including more than 19,000 engineers and scientists, they have an unrelenting focus on quality, delivery, value, and technology in everything they make and do.
Yang got her start in 2001 as a legal assistant at China Fuxing Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd. From there, she went on to Coudert Brothers, LLP, Beijing Office, before eventually rising to associate general counsel in global supply chain at Weatherford, her most recent position prior to joining Honeywell. Yang graduated from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law with an LLM and from Minzu University of China with an undergraduate degree in international economic law and English.
7. William Parish
Partner, White & Case
William Parish is a Partner at White & Case. He first joined the company in 2019. White & Case is an international law firm that serves companies, governments and financial institutions. Their long history as a global firm means they are uniquely placed to help their clients resolve their most complex legal challenges wherever they are. Parish, who is fluent in Spanish, has extensive experience in the energy and infrastructure and real estate sectors in the US and Latin America – and in cross-border transactions across Latin America.
He has advised local and multinational companies, private equity and other investment funds, financial institutions and family offices in cross-border transactions across a broad range of sectors in Latin America and the US for more than twenty-seven years. Previously, Parish was a partner in corporate, M&A, and private equity at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Before that, he served as a partner in energy M&A and private equity at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Earlier in his career, he worked with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae as an associate. Parish earned a JD from the University of Houston Law Center and an undergraduate degree in Spanish language and literature from The University of Texas at Austin.
8. Nicolas Roa
General Counsel, Global Contracts, Schlumberger
Nicolas Roa is the General Counsel in Global Contracts at Schlumberger, a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, they work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition. Roa began his career in 1999.
He is an experienced General Counsel with a demonstrated history of working in the energy industry across different geographies. Roa is skilled in negotiations, management and positive influence. He has been successful in building diverse and motivated outperforming teams. He graduated from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia – with executive education from Yale School of Management and Georgetown University. Before joining Schlumberger, Roa was a legal and contracts manager in South America North at M-I SWACO. Before that, he served as a legal counsel at Bioenergy S.A. Earlier in his career, Roa worked with FIDUIFI S.A. as a legal assistant.
9. Stella Pulman
Deputy General Counsel, TotalEnergies
Stella Pulman began her professional career 19 years ago. Today, she is the Deputy General Counsel at TotalEnergies, a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Their more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in nearly 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.
Pulman got her start in 2004 as an associate at Holley Driggs. From there, she went on to Baker Botts, before eventually rising to counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, her most recent position prior to joining Total. Pulman graduated from Tulane University with a JD and from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with an undergraduate degree in political science and government.
10. Jack Massey
Partner, Eversheds Sutherland
Jack Massey is the Partner of Eversheds Sutherland. He first joined the company in 2012. As a global top 10 law practice, Eversheds Sutherland provides legal services to a global client base ranging from small and mid-sized businesses to the largest multinationals, acting for 77 of the Fortune 100, 68 of the FTSE 100 and 129 of the Fortune 200. With more than 3,000 lawyers, Eversheds Sutherland operates in over 70 offices in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Notably, Massey handles business disputes, regulatory actions and internal investigations for his clients. He has brought and defended cases in state and federal court, in multidistrict litigation, and before domestic and international arbitration panels.
A significant portion of Massey’s practice is focused on the energy industry, where he represents exploration and production companies, offshore drilling contractors, oilfield services firms, refiners and trading companies. Previously, Massey was a partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. Before that, he served as an associate at Baker Botts, LLP. Earlier in his career, he worked with Verner, Liipfer, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand, LLP as a legislative consultant. Massey earned a JD from The University of Texas School of Law and an undergraduate degree in international politics from Georgetown University.
11. Ali Athar
Senior Counsel, Aramco
Ali Athar is the Senior Counsel at Aramco, a company that provides the highest level of cost-effective and timely services to Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They provide a wide range of services from the AOC headquarters in The Hague and from their satellite offices in Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, China, and the United Kingdom. Athar has 17 years of experience. He is an experienced corporate attorney with a demonstrated history of working in government contracting, aerospace, defense, and oil & energy.
Notably, Athar is skilled in negotiation, compliance, contracts, arbitration, and audits. Before joining Aramco, Athar was a senior counsel at Baker Hughes. Before that, he served as an attorney at Boeing. Earlier in his career, he worked with Private Legal Practice as an attorney at law. Athar graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law with a JD and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in political science and government.
12. Jeff Wittig
Senior Counsel in Finance & Fleet, United Airlines
Jeff Wittig began his professional career 26 years ago. Today, he is the Senior Counsel in Finance and Fleet at United Airlines, which operates an average of 5,341 flights a day to more than 360 airports across six continents. In 2012, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has made large-scale investments in its fleet.
In 2013, United will continue to modernize its fleet by taking delivery of more than two dozen new Boeing aircraft. The company expanded its industry-leading global route network in 2012, launching nine new international and 18 new domestic routes. Notably, Wittig got his start in 1997 as a sr. attorney at Continental Airlines. Wittig graduated from the University of Houston with a JD and an LLM in international law, and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in government.
13. Gabriel Salinas
Partner, Mayer Brown
Gabriel Salinas is a Partner in Mayer Brown's Houston office and a member of the Global Energy group. Mayer Brown is uniquely positioned to advise the world’s leading companies and financial institutions on their most complex deals and disputes. With extensive reach across four continents, they are the only integrated law firm in the world with approximately 200 lawyers in each of the world’s three largest financial centers—New York, London and Hong Kong—the backbone of the global economy. As a dual-licensed and bilingual attorney, Salinas has strong experience in transactions and projects in Latin America. He has broad experience in M&A and joint ventures, project development and financing, with a strong focus on the energy transition, infrastructure, renewables, and power industries.
Prior to joining the firm, Salinas was the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Avant Energy, a renewable and energy infrastructure developer and portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings LLC. Salinas has significant experience in advising companies in the development of green hydrogen and carbon capture projects in North and Latin America. Salinas graduated from Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey with a JD, from Harvard Law School with an LLM and from Elmhurst College with an undergraduate degree.
14. Andrew Gilchrist
General Counsel, ExxonMobil
Andrew Gilchrist is the General Counsel at ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded energy and petrochemical companies in the world. The corporation’s primary businesses – Upstream, Product Solutions and Low Carbon Solutions – provide products that enable modern life, including energy, chemicals, lubricants, and lower-emissions technologies and services.
Gilchrist has 29 years of experience. Before joining ExxonMobil, he was an associate at Harrison Bettis McFarland LLP. Before that, he served as an associate attorney at Tekell Book Matthews & Limmer. Gilchrist graduated from Southern Methodist University with a JD and from Rice University with an undergraduate degree in business and commerce.
15. Daniel Belhumeur
General Counsel, Tellurian
Daniel Belhumeur joined Tellurian in October 2016 and serves as General Counsel. Tellurian intends to create value for shareholders by building a low-cost, global natural gas business, profitably delivering natural gas to customers worldwide. Based in Houston, Texas, Tellurian is developing a portfolio of natural gas production, LNG marketing and trading, and infrastructure that includes an ~ 27.6 mtpa LNG export facility and an associated pipeline. Previously, Belhumeur served at Cheniere Energy, Inc. as Vice President, Tax and General Tax Counsel, Tax Director and Domestic Tax Counsel.
Belhumeur began his career in public accounting after he received his bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from Texas A&M University. He then went on to obtain his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law and his LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center. Belhumeur is currently affiliated with the American Bar Association and the Houston Bar Association. He also serves on the Board of Governors at the University of Kansas School of Law.
16. Drushya Sridhar
Senior Counsel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Drushya Sridhar is the Senior Counsel at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She first joined the company in 2019 as corporate legal counsel. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service.
With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. Previously, Sridhar was an associate at PwC. Sridhar earned an LLM from Stanford Law School and an undergraduate degree in law from the Symbiosis Law School, Pune.
17. Angela Richards
Partner, Sidley Austin
Angela Richards is a Partner at Sidley Austin, an elite global law firm with nearly $3 billion in revenue powered by lawyers who practice at the highest level of the profession. Backed by 150+ years of trailblazing heritage, they deliver superior service to a high-caliber group of market leaders worldwide, while placing a premium on collaboration and diversity. Their firm boasts a roster of more than 2,300 lawyers who wield deep experience in litigation, transactional and regulatory matters spanning over 50 legal disciplines and industries. Richards has 19 years of experience.
Her practice includes experience in various federal income tax matters with an emphasis on domestic business transaction planning. Richards has significant experience advising public and private companies, private equity funds and portfolio companies, and boards of directors and special committees of public companies on a wide range of transactions. She has also served as tax counsel to both issuers and underwriters in connection with numerous MLP initial public and follow-on offerings. Before joining Sidley Austin, she was a partner at Andrews Kurth Kenyon. Richards graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with a JD and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
18. Matthew Cohen
Senior Counsel in Integrated Supply & Trading, BP America
Matthew Cohen began his professional career 31 years ago. Today, he is the Senior Counsel in Integrated Supply and Trading at BP America. BP’s purpose is to reimagine energy for people and our planet. It has set out an ambition to be a net zero company by 2050, or sooner and help the world get to net zero, and a strategy for delivering on that ambition. They believe the world wants and needs a better and more balanced energy system that delivers secure, affordable and lower-carbon energy.
Cohen got his start in 1992 as a staff accountant at Rodman & Rodman, P.C. CPAs. From there, he went on to Robert F. Pagano & Associates, before eventually rising to counsel at Bingham McCutchen, his most recent position prior to joining BP America Inc. Cohen graduated from Boston University School of Law with a JD and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
19. William Meyn
General Counsel, Americas Worley
William Meyn is the General Counsel at America's Worley, a leading global provider of professional services in the energy, chemicals and resources sectors. They partner with their customers to address their most critical challenges at every stage of their projects: from initial concepts to sustaining and enhancing their assets. And they provide smarter, bolder solutions while delivering on their own sustainability commitments. There are 51,000 bright minds across 46 countries all driven by a common purpose: delivering a more sustainable world.
Meyn first joined the company in 2019. Previously, he was an associate general counsel at Jacobs. Before that, he served as an assistant general counsel at Willbros. Earlier in his career, he worked with Cruver, Robbins & Fu as an associate. Meyn earned a JD from The University of Texas School of Law and an undergraduate degree in history from The University of Texas at Austin.
20. Brady Edwards
Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Brady Edwards is a Partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius. From their offices in strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, their more than 2,200 lawyers and legal professionals work with clients ranging from established, global Fortune 100 companies to enterprising startups. Edwards focuses his practice on the defense of serial and mass tort litigation, with a particular emphasis on designing and implementing coordinated national defense strategies for companies embroiled in asbestos litigation. Edwards currently leads the national representations of more than 20 corporate asbestos defendants.
In 2007, Edwards opened the firm’s Houston office and served as its Managing Partner through 2014. During this time, the office grew from a four-lawyer litigation outpost to its current size of approximately 75 lawyers. From 2009 to 2015, Edwards served as the firm-wide operations partner for the litigation practice. From 2013 to 2018, he served as a member of the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee. Following law school, Edwards served as a law clerk to Judge Richard A. Schell of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He graduated from Baylor University School of Law with a JD and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree.
21. Hugo Teste
General Counsel, Vopak
Hugo Teste began his professional career 23 years ago. Today, he is the General Counsel at Vopak, the world’s leading independent tank storage company. They store vital products with care. Products for everyday life. The energy that allows people to cook, heat or cool their homes and for transportation. They have a track record of over 400 years in navigating change and are continuously investing in innovation.
Teste got his start in 2000 as a legal assistant clerk at Baker Botts LLP. From there, he went on to Mayer Brown, before eventually rising to senior counsel II at CB&I, his most recent position prior to joining Vopak. Teste graduated from The University of Texas School of Law with a JD and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in business and corporate communications.
22. Noelle Reed
Partner, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates
Noelle Reed is a Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, a law firm that delivers the highest quality advice and novel solutions to legal challenges, enabling clients to achieve their business goals. They are known for the innovative and creative thinking they rely on to handle the most complex transactions, litigation/controversy issues, and regulatory matters, as well as the open, collaborative relationships they build with clients. Reed first joined the company in 2007. She was a trial attorney with the Department of Justice’s Terrorism and Violent Crime Division and an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of Texas. Reed’s practice includes representing corporations and individuals in a variety of complex civil and criminal litigation matters.
Reed represents clients as plaintiffs and defendants and has served as lead trial counsel in more than 30 jury trials and arbitrations. She has represented clients in acquisition-related cases involving more than 100 billion dollars in transaction value. During her tenure as a prosecutor, she also served as a trial advocacy instructor at the National Trial Advocacy Center, which provides litigation training to all federal prosecutors, and as an instructor at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary. Reed earned a JD from Harvard Law School and an undergraduate degree in political science, and international relations from Boston University.
23. Nancy Bostic
Partner, Holland & Knight
Nancy Bostic is a Partner in the corporate/securities section of Holland & Knight, a global law firm with nearly 2,000 lawyers and other professionals in 34 offices throughout the world. Holland & Knight provides representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Notably, Bostic represents privately-held and public companies and private equity funds in investments, capitalizations, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions and dispositions of assets and equity securities and change of control transactions. Bostic’s transactions range in value from venture capital size to in the billions. She also has extensive experience negotiating complex partnership structures.
Over her career, Bostic has counseled companies, private equity funds and management teams in transactions valued in excess of $10 billion. Her clients focus in the industry sectors of oil and gas, oilfield services, industrial, environmental and waste services, and manufacturing of chemicals and products. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Bostic was the practice group leader of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity for a Texas-based law firm. Bostic graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law with a JD and from New York University School of Law with an LLM in taxation.
24. Kenneth Moursund
Senior Counsel, ConocoPhillips
Kenneth Moursund began his professional career 26 years ago. Today, he is the Senior Counsel at ConocoPhillips, one of the world’s leading exploration and production companies based on both production and reserves, with a globally diversified asset portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConocoPhillips had operations and activities in 13 countries, $90 billion of total assets, and approximately 9,700 employees at June 30, 2023.
Moursund got his start in 1997 as a briefing attorney at Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals. From there, he went on to McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P., before eventually rising to senior counsel at Occidental Petroleum Corporation, his most recent position prior to joining ConocoPhillips. Moursund graduated from The University of Texas with a JD and an undergraduate degree in history and anthropology.
25. Jessica Steinmann
General Counsel & Director of Litigation, America First Policy Institute
Jessica Hart Steinmann is the General Counsel and Director of Litigation at America First Policy Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan research institute. The organization was created following the end of the Trump Administration to promote the America First policy agenda of the administration. In her role, Hart Steinmann oversees the legal operations for the organization and brings litigation that furthers the American way of life and protects our Constitution. Previously, Hart Steinmann served as a presidential appointee and senior official for the Trump Administration at the Department of Justice (DOJ). She was appointed by President Trump as the Director for the Office of Victims of Crime at the DOJ, where she oversaw nearly $9 billion.
Hart Steinmann has also served as the Intergovernmental and Public Liaison for the DOJ, worked for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas House, and the Harris County Republican Party. She started her career as a commercial litigation attorney at Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP in Houston. Hart Steinmann earned a JD from Baylor Law School. She attended undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin, where she double majored in finance and business, with a minor in government.
26. Nancy Truong
General Counsel, Stewart Title
Nancy Truong is the General Counsel at Stewart Title, a global real estate services company that offers products and services through their direct operations, network of Stewart Trusted Providers™ and family of companies. Truong is a highly motivated and reliable newly licensed Texas attorney with seven years of experience in both defense and plaintiff litigation work.
Before joining Stewart Title, Truong was an associate attorney at HooverSlovacek LLP. Before that, she served as an associate attorney at Hunt Law Firm, PLLC. Earlier in her career, she worked with Nguyen & Chen, LLP as a law clerk and legal assistant. Truong graduated from South Texas College of Law Houston with a JD and from the University of Houston with an undergraduate degree in communication, media studies, and business marketing.
27. Luke Burns
Partner, Reed Smith
Luke Burns began his professional career 12 years ago. Today, he is a Partner at Reed Smith, an international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Their team of 3,000 people (including more than 1,700 lawyers) operate across 31 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Notably, Burns has over a decade of experience representing energy companies and other clients in upstream acquisitions and divestitures (onshore and offshore), joint development arrangements (farmouts, “drillco” agreements, etc.), and on various aspects of hydrogen and LNG projects.
In the upstream space in the last few years, Burns has been involved in billions of dollars of transactions in the Permian Basin, the Marcellus/Utica, the Gulf of Mexico, and elsewhere. In the hydrogen space, Burns has advised utilities and other clients on the construction of hydrogen projects and the divestiture of hydrogen project assets. With respect to LNG matters, Burns has advised clients on long-term sale and purchase agreements, regasification projects, liquefaction projects, and feed gas supply arrangements. Recently, he has advised energy tech clients on projects using natural gas to power cryptocurrency mining operations. Burns graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School with a JD and from the University of Richmond with an undergraduate degree.
28. Greg Wehrer
Managing Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Greg Wehrer is a Managing Partner at Squire Patton Boggs. He first joined the company in 1997 as a partner. Squire Patton Boggs is a full-service global law firm providing insight at the point where law, business and government meet, giving you a voice, supporting your ambitions and achieving successful outcomes. Their global team of over 1500 lawyers across 44 offices in 21 countries is ready to support you – wherever law, business and government interact.
Wehrer brings more than 20 years of experience representing clients in complex commercial disputes, with a focus on the energy, healthcare and construction industries. Apart from practicing law, Wehrer serves as Board President of Main Street Theater, a nonprofit providing art and childhood education to the Houston community. Wehrer earned a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School and an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Bowling Green State University.
29. Linda Primrose
General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & General Manager, US and Canada Legal Department, Mitsui & Co.
Linda Primrose is the General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and General Manager in US and Canada Legal Department at Mitsui & Co., a global trading and investment company with a diversified business portfolio that spans approximately 63 countries and regions.. Mitsui has about 5,600 employees and deploys talent around the globe to identify, develop, and grow businesses in collaboration with a global network of trusted partners. Mitsui has built a strong and diverse core business portfolio covering the Mineral and Metal Resources, Energy, Machinery and Infrastructure, and Chemicals industries.
Primrose began her career in 1996. She is a trusted, strategic advisor for a wide range of legal, transactional, and professional issues in the U.S. and Canada, including corporate governance, contracts and commercial issues, labor and employment, litigation and other dispute resolution, M&A, environmental, intellectual property, privacy and data protection, regulatory, and compliance matters. Before joining Mitsui, Primrose was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Before that, she served as an environmental scientist at BEM Systems, Inc. Primrose graduated from Fordham University School of Law with a JD and from Rutgers University with an undergraduate degree in environmental science.
30. Fraser Wayne
Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Fraser Wayne is a Partner in BCLP’s Energy, Environment and Infrastructure and Technology Practice Groups. With over 1,275 lawyers in 30 offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, BCLP is a fully integrated global law firm that provides clients with connected legal advice, wherever and whenever they need it. Wayne’s practice focuses on acquisitions, divestitures, strategic joint ventures and project development involving renewable and non-renewable energy assets. He is also a frequent author and presenter on energy trends, developments and concepts.
Wayne has been a lead attorney on some of the largest U.S. onshore asset-level oil and gas transactions over the past five years – and he continues to build on this practice with transactional work in the upstream and midstream oil and gas space. Fraser has experience across North America and is qualified to practice law in Alberta (Canada), Colorado, and Texas. Wayne graduated from the University of Houston with a JD and from The University of British Columbia with an undergraduate degree in business administration and management.
31. Greg Nelson
Senior Counsel, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Greg Nelson is a Senior Counsel in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the Firm’s Tax Practice Group. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. With more than 1,800 lawyers, spanning 20 offices and dozens of practice areas, they operate as a unified whole. Nelson
concentrates his practice on federal income taxation, with particular emphasis on the tax issues that relate to corporations and partnerships in the energy sector. Nelson regularly counsels clients regarding tax issues related to private equity transactions and publicly traded partnerships.
He also works on the tax-efficient structuring of corporate mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, including taxable sales and tax-free reorganizations. Nelson received his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1981. In 1978, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from George Washington University, where he was a member of Eta Sigma Phi and Phi Eta Sigma. Nelson is admitted to practice in Texas, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States Tax Court.
32. Bill Helfand
Senior Partner, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
Bill Helfand is a Senior Partner in the Houston and Salt Lake City offices of Lewis Brisbois – and serves as a vice-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice. Established in 1979, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP is a national, full-service law firm with more than 1,600 attorneys and 54 offices in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Notably, Helfand’s practice covers all types of litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. Based on his demonstrated problem-solving approach, both private and public entity clients of all types reach out to Helfand to handle their most difficult legal problems.
Having been called upon to handle cases of all types, including labor and employment, commercial litigation, civil rights, and public entity professional liability defense in over 175 jury trials and arbitrations, Helfand has achieved remarkable success for many clients. Helfand’s labor and employment law practice focuses on the defense of both public and private employers throughout Texas and the United States. Helfand also has substantial experience handling a variety of appeals and cases and he is responsible for hundreds of reported appellate and supreme court decisions, many of which are significant decisions on important legal issues under both the state and federal law. Helfand graduated from Tulane University College of Law with a JD and from Tulane University College of Arts and Sciences with an undergraduate degree.
33. Tiana Dunn
Senior Counsel, Jackson Walker
Tiana Dunn is the Senior Counsel at Jackson Walker. Founded in 1887, Jackson Walker continues to advance the world of business by helping companies of all sizes navigate today’s increasingly complex, interconnected legal landscape. With almost 500 attorneys, the Firm represents Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, major financial institutions, insurance companies, and a wide range of public companies and private businesses around the globe. Dunn’s practice is devoted to assisting clients with all facets of commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, development, financing, leasing, and management of retail, office, industrial, medical, and mixed use projects.
With extensive experience in retail leasing, Dunn has led the negotiation, preparation, and drafting of major tenant leases for a portfolio of 12 million square feet of retail space. Dunn got her start in 2010 as a partner in Commercial Real Estate and Estate Planning at Walters Dunn, PLLC. From there, she went on to Andrews Myers, P.C., before eventually rising to associate counsel at Fidelis Realty Partners, her most recent position prior to joining Jackson Walker. Dunn graduated from South Texas College of Law with a JD and from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree.
34. Jonathan Ayre
Partner, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
Jonathan Ayre is a Partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. He first joined the company in 2016. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a global law firm focused on serving the Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure and Finance sectors. Leading companies and new entrants call on their teams in 25+ markets worldwide for forward-looking, pragmatic advice on transactions, litigation and compliance matters. Notably, Ayre represents clients across the energy spectrum. This includes: oil and gas, renewable power, and chemical industry companies and their investors in acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, project development, financing and restructuring transactions.
Ayre’s recent experience includes representing note purchasers in securitizations of operated and non-operated oil and gas wellbore working interests with an aggregate value exceeding $2 billion. In addition to representing the note purchasers on the initial securitization of non-operated working interests, he has closed the first transactions that included operated working interests, overriding royalty interests, portfolios of primarily BLM leases, portfolios including tribal lands, and midstream gathering systems, and the first joint 144A / 4(a)(2) offering. Ayre earned a JD from The University of Texas School of Law and an undergraduate degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin.
35. Jeffery Malonson
Partner, Weil Gotshal & Manges
Jeffery Malonson is a Partner in Weil’s Private Equity practice and is based in Houston. Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for the past 90 years. With approximately 1,100 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in establishing a geographic footprint that has allowed the Firm to partner with clients wherever they do business. Malonson advises private equity sponsors in their most important strategic transactions, including: mergers and acquisitions, private capital solutions (structured equity investments), and capital markets transactions. He also advised public companies regarding SEC compliance, reporting and disclosure, as well as corporate governance and compliance.
Malonson works with colleagues across the Weil platform to provide market-leading transactional advice. His crossover experience in multiple, core transactional disciplines (private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets), coupled with his more than 20-years structuring and executing complex transactions and strategic investments, provide a formidable platform from which to lead and execute a wide range of bespoke, market-leading growth opportunities and public and private capital solutions across all industries and sectors. Malonson graduated from SMU Dedman School of Law with a JD and from Texas Christian University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
36. Kate Bowen
General Counsel, Texas Oncology
Kate Bowen is General Counsel at Texas Oncology, where she is responsible for all legal matters impacting the practice – including contracts, input on regulatory compliance, supporting public policy initiatives, and litigation matters. Bowen is board certified in health law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Founded in 1986, Texas Oncology is a pioneer in high quality community-based cancer care. Texas Oncology is an independent oncology practice with more than 530 physicians and 280 locations across Texas and southeastern Oklahoma.
Bowen received her BS in international economics from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and her law degree from Southern Methodist University Law School, now the Dedman School of Law, in Dallas, Texas. Prior to law school, she worked in a variety of administrative roles at hospitals in Texas and Florida. Bowen began her legal career in private practice at Jenkens & Gilchrist, in their health law section, followed by in-house positions with Tenet Healthcare and Aetna. In 2001, she became lead regulatory counsel at The US Oncology Network and joined Texas Oncology in 2018.
37. Kim Cagle
Partner, King & Spalding
Kim Cagle is a Partner at King & Spalding. She first joined the company in 2018. King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 1,300 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. Notably, Cagle focuses on leveraged finance, with a particular emphasis on the energy industry.
Cagle has extensive experience in various types of financings, including syndicated acquisition financings, asset-based lending, and first lien/second lien structures. In addition, her practice spans financing transactions across a broad range of industries, including health care, transportation, and manufacturing. She has structured, documented and negotiated complex financial products such as cross-border/multi-currency credit facilities, volumetric production payments, and leveraged cross-border leases and synthetic leases. Cagle graduated from SMU Dedman School of Law with a JD in law and from Southern Methodist University with an undergraduate degree in Spanish, political science, and Ibero-American studies.
38. Will Burns
Partner, Paul Hastings
Will Burns is a Partner in the Securities and Capital Markets practice at Paul Hastings – and is based in the firm's Houston office. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world's most innovative global law firms. His practice focuses on securities law and corporate finance matters, including public and private securities offerings and similar financings, as well as related investment activities.
Burns has considerable experience with exploration and production companies, midstream businesses, oil field services companies, and master limited partnerships. Burns regularly advises public company clients on corporate governance issues and securities law disclosure and compliance issues. Before joining Paul Hastings, Burns was an associate at Vinson and Elkins. Burns graduated from The University of Texas School of Law with a JD and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in finance.
39. Joey Hance
General Counsel, Asset Living
Joey Hance began his professional career 17 years ago. Today, he is the General Counsel at Asset Living. Founded in 1986, Asset Living is a true third-party property management firm with decades of experience delivering exceptional value to partners across the nation. With over 36 years of experience, Asset Living's growing portfolio includes a multitude of properties across the country that span the multi-family, single-family home rentals, affordable housing, build-to-rent, active adult, and student housing divisions. Hance leads Asset Living’s legal team, which oversees the company’s legal and risk functions – including handling legal disputes, leasing materials, insurance procurement, contract negotiations, M&A, and operational support.
Prior to Asset Living, Hance spent four years in private practice as a commercial litigator in Houston. He has worked in the property management industry for over ten years, gaining a breadth of expertise in the variety of legal issues pertinent to the industry. At Asset Living, his goals include: efficiently managing open legal matters, working with clients and their counsel to resolve legal issues, managing the company’s client-exclusive insurance program, supporting the company’s M&A initiatives, and providing the best possible support and guidance to the company’s executive and operations teams. Hance graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Management. He also earned JD and MBA degrees from Baylor University.
40. Merritt Westcott
Partner, McGuireWoods
Merritt Westcott is a Partner at McGuireWoods. She first joined the company in 2022. McGuireWoods is one of the world's leading law firms. With 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide, McGuireWoods' continuing success comes down to one simple fact: The firm listens to its clients. Westcott is a first-chair patent litigator who represents clients in a wide variety of technologies and industry sectors, with a concentration in biotechnology. For more than 20 years, clients have relied on her ability to explain complex scientific and technical issues while also focusing on their business objectives.
Westcott has litigated biotech patent disputes involving genetically engineered crops and food products, monoclonal antibodies, blood cell controls, clinical medical products and devices, and traditional and biosimilar pharmaceuticals under the Hatch-Waxman Act and the BPCIA. She has also litigated complex patent disputes involving oil and gas exploration technology, mass storage systems, telecommunications, computer software, cloud-based CPaaS platforms, methods of manufacturing, food processing, geofencing technology, and steel sheet piling systems. Westcott earned a JD from the University of Houston Law Center, an MS in molecular biology from The University of Texas at Austin, and an undergraduate degree in biology from The Texas Christian University.
41. Eric Munoz
Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Eric Munoz is a Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld with more than ten years of experience, specializing in corporate finance. Akin is a global law firm with more than 900 lawyers and advisors who pride themselves on dedication to their clients and their communities. With offices worldwide, they partner with clients from both established industries and cutting-edge markets to deliver creative solutions to business-critical issues, helping them seize opportunities and anticipate challenges.
Most of Munoz’s practice involves helping their clients to obtain financing through capital and credit markets, negotiate debt instruments, comply with the various terms and conditions of their debt instruments and analyze significant transactions. He has also represented several clients in acquisitions and dispositions of assets, securities transactions and commercial transactions. Before joining Akin Gump, Munoz had the privilege of serving as a federal judicial clerk in the Southern District of Texas. Munoz has a BA in economics from Stanford University and a JD from the University of Houston Law Center.
42. Jennifer Hardy
Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Jennifer Hardy is a Partner in the Business Reorganization & Restructuring Department at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in Houston. Willkie is an elite international law firm of approximately 1,200 lawyers located in 13 offices in six countries. For more than 130 years, they have represented companies across a wide spectrum of businesses and industries. The firm is composed of attorneys who are recognized as some of the world's foremost practitioners in their respective areas. Notably, Hardy advises and represents clients with respect to all aspects of financial distress across a wide array of sectors, with an emphasis on the energy sector.
Hardy has represented debtors, financial institutions, independent directors and strategic purchasers, among others, in connection with chapter 11 reorganizations and liquidations, including significant experience in both prenegotiated and prepackaged chapter 11 proceedings. Hardy also advises clients regarding other insolvency matters including workouts, foreclosures and out of court restructurings. Hardy frequently appears in court to advocate on behalf of clients in chapter 11 matters. Hardy graduated from New York University School of Law with a JD and from The University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree.
43. Thomas Sankey
Managing Partner-Houston, Duane Morris
Thomas W. Sankey is the Chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group’s Intellectual Property Litigation division and the Managing Partner of the firm's Houston office – as well as Duane Morris' Texas operations. He is also a member of the firm's Partners Board and served on the firm's Strategic Planning Committee. From a partnership of four Philadelphia attorneys in 1904, Duane Morris has grown to be among the 100 largest in the world. Notably, Sankey has extensive commercial and intellectual property trial experience. He is board certified in Civil Trial Law by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Sankey is a seasoned commercial trial lawyer with over 35 years of experience handling a wide variety of high-stakes disputes for defendants and plaintiffs, including many Fortune 500 companies. He has tried more than 50 cases to verdict in trials or arbitration proceedings and has led hundreds more as lead counsel that have resolved successfully for his clients before trial. Sankey has successfully handled appeals before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court as well as Texas Appeals Courts and the Texas Supreme Court. Sankey is a 1986 graduate of South Texas College of Law, where he was assistant technical editor of the South Texas Law Journal, and a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee.
44. Nestor Rosin
Senior Partner, Foster
Nestor Rosin is a Partner at Foster LLP in their Houston office. Foster is a leading global immigration law firm dedicated to helping employers and individuals obtain nonimmigrant and immigrant work visas and permanent resident options worldwide. Notably, Rosin is recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Texas Super Lawyers. His practice is focused primarily on corporate immigration matters such as employee mobility issues, corporate compliance, and policy review and implementation. He is also experienced in immigration litigation, naturalization, consular processing, and family based sponsorship.
Rosin graduated from Texas Tech Law School and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston. Rosin regularly speaks and presents on immigration law matters to various audiences. He is a member of the firm’s Executive and Management Committees helping to establish policies for corporate management and oversight, making decisions on major company issues. Rosin is board-certified in Immigration & Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is licensed to practice in the State of Texas as well as an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
45. Julie Caggiano
General Counsel, Envoy Mortgage
Julie Caggiano is the General Counsel at Envoy Mortgage. Founded in 1997, Envoy Mortgage is an independently owned national mortgage lender headquartered in Houston, Texas, dedicated to serving retail originators exclusively to allow them to serve their customers and grow their businesses. As the chief legal advisor to the senior management team, Caggiano drives the strategic evolution of the legal function and internal compliance process at Envoy. Caggiano has worked for Envoy since 2010 and provides expert legal support regarding regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, human resources and corporate and security advisement.
Caggiano began her career in the mortgage industry. She was a partner at the law firm of Hughes Watters Askanase. Her robust legal career allowed her to secure previous positions as SVP and Associate General Counsel for Sterling Bank and Aegis Mortgage Corporation. Caggiano is a graduate of the University of Miami and the University of Houston. She was named one of Houston’s Top 50 Women in Law by the National Diversity Council. She is also a member of many organizations, including: the Consumer Financial Services Committee of the American Bar Association Business Law Section, Treasurer of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers and the National and Texas Mortgage Bankers Associations. Caggiano is also President of the Board of Directors for the Eye Care for Kids Foundation and VP of the Board of Houston Delta Gamma Foundation.
46. Gerald Nemec
General Counsel in North America, EDF Trading
Gerald Nemec is the General Counsel in North America at EDF Trading. He first joined the company in 2015. EDF Trading is a leader in the international wholesale energy markets. They manage a portfolio of assets which gives them the ability to source, supply, transport, store, blend and convert physical commodities around the world. These capabilities enable them to deliver essential asset optimisation services, risk management and wholesale market access to the EDF Group and their third-party customers, helping them to realize the value inherent in their asset portfolios.
Previously, Nemec was a senior legal counsel at Mercuria Energy America. Before that, he served as an executive director and assistant general counsel at JP Morgan. Earlier in his career, he worked with Enron North America as a senior counsel. Nemec earned a JD from the University of Houston Law Center and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
47. Jeffrey Bergman
Managing Partner, Osha Bergman Watanabe & Burton
Jeffrey Bergman serves as the Managing Partner of Osha Bergman Watanabe & Burton’s Houston office. OBWB is a full-service intellectual property law firm with a global reach. Bergman has over 23 years of experience. He is frequently recognized among his peers as a leader in the field of intellectual property law. Bergman’s practice encompasses all aspects of intellectual property law, including domestic and foreign patent prosecution and maintenance, IP counseling, licensing, IP litigation, and validity and infringement opinions. He specializes in the fields of chemistry, materials science, and mechanical engineering, with an emphasis in oilfield technologies, specialty chemicals, polymers, and nanotechnology.
Bergman has prepared and successfully prosecuted hundreds of U.S. patent applications in a wide variety of fields. He has successfully appealed numerous patent applications before the U.S. Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. He has also served as lead counsel in Federal Circuit appeals, as well as handling reexamination proceedings, reissue proceedings, and Inter Partes Review Proceedings. He has given numerous talks throughout Europe and Asia to clients and law firms to facilitate their understanding of the U.S. patent system. Bergman graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with a JD in IP law, from Cornell University with an MS in chemistry, and from William & Mary with an undergraduate degree in chemistry.
48. John Zavitsanos
Managing Partner, Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing
John Zavitsanos is the Managing Partner at Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing. Their more than 50 lawyers have been in a trial nearly every month since 2016, despite courthouse closures because of Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19. Zavitsanos is a highly regarded trial lawyer who loves trying cases and loves winning. He has achieved success for a multitude of clients – both defendants and plaintiffs, from big energy companies to lone whistleblowers battling the odds.
Zavitsanos has tried almost 100 cases to verdict in litigation that runs the gamut: financial services, oil and gas, construction, complex commercial disputes, director and officer liability, non-compete and trade-secret disputes, real estate development, and defamation/business disparagement. He is the primary author of O’Connor’s Texas Rules * Civil Trials 2018-2023, the premiere civil trial rules guide for Texas lawyers and judges. Zavitsanos got his start in 1987 as an associate at Baker Botts LLP. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD and from Loyola University Chicago with an undergraduate degree in philosophy.
49. John Williams
Managing Partner, Williams Hart Law Firm
John Williams is the Managing Partner at Williams Hart Law Firm, a Houston-based personal injury law firm. Hard work and tenacity are attributes that helped Williams achieve his success, and these are qualities that he has fostered within the team of attorneys and staff at Williams Hart & Boundas since 1983. Williams’ record of success has received substantial recognition, and rightfully so. However, by far, his most significant win in the courtroom is the 1995 landmark battle against Big Tobacco in which he represented the State of Texas. That victory in this landmark case resulted in the largest settlement in United States history, reaching a total of $17.3 billion.
Williams’ fighting spirit began to thrive long before this historic win. A native Houstonian and son of working-class parents, he was a standout football player at Pasadena High School. He entered Baylor University on a football scholarship, graduating cum laude with a bachelor’s in Business in 1976. He then entered Baylor School of Law, serving as editor-in-chief of the Baylor Law Review and passing the Texas State Bar exam 15 days before graduating first in his class. Decades later, he would significantly contribute to the Baylor community by funding a new on-campus football stadium alongside the Brazos River.
50. Rodney Drinnon
Managing Partner, McCathern PLLC
Rodney Drinnon is the Managing Partner at McCathern PLLC, which provides high-quality legal services to clients across the nation with a broad range of practice group specializations. Each of the firm's leaders brings large-firm experience and business acumen to a smaller-firm environment of agility and efficiency. Drinnon began his career in 1999. He has served as the lead trial lawyer on matters ranging from antitrust actions, contested corporate control disputes, director and officer liability, contract disputes, employment matters, insurance coverage questions, and oil and gas litigation. Drinnon is admitted to practice in Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. He has successfully tried cases in over ten jurisdictions throughout the country.
Before joining McCathern PLLC, Drinnon was a founding member at Drinnon Wright PLLC. Before that, he served as an associate at Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern & Wise, P.C. Earlier in his career, he worked with Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease LLP as an attorney. Drinnon graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law with a JD and from Indiana University Bloomington with an undergraduate degree in political science and speech communication.
