Early Lawyers

Jack Ternan's practice includes extensive experience in commercial litigation, business litigation, arbitration, appeals and appellate, corporate litigation, real estate litigation, breach of contract, open government litigation, partnership / business divorce disputes, and other civil litigation. Mr. Ternan also has experience in advising businesses and individuals on how to resolve or settle disputes without litigation. Jack Ternan grew up in Plano, Texas, where he currently resides with his wife and sons. Prior to starting the Ternan Law Firm, Mr. Ternan was a partner at Bickel & Brewer, now known as Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. He has been...

Sarah's goal is to help clients navigate family law matters as seamlessly as possible. An advocate for constructive and solution-focused approaches, including Collaborative Divorce, Sarah uses creativity and problem-solving to preserve relationships and resolve family discord without unnecessary cost and conflict.

Attorney GARY F. CHURAK has been providing quality legal representation on criminal matters including but not limited to DWI, domestic violence, theft, drug possession, sex crimes and assaults since 1982. The Law Offices of GARY F. CHURAK is a small firm offering personal attention to each and every client's case. Attorney GARY CHURAK understands that being charged with a criminal offense is stressful not only for the client but also for the family. He is there to offer his experience and knowledge of the law to assist the client through this trying time. Attorney GARY...

Cody Cofer is a master of the courtroom. His trial skills have helped thousands of clients get justice. He has been practicing criminal law for more than 16 years. Along the way, he worked as a prosecutor and a federal public defender. His defense style is characterized by imagination and ferocity. As a result of his experience and reputation, he serves as a law professor and is booked throughout Texas to speak to other criminal law attorneys. His cases have been featured on 20/20, Dateline, Snapped, and many other legal news and entertainment programs. He has obtained dismissals from prosecutors, “No...

Attorney Janet McCullar is a highly experienced Austin divorce attorney. Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998, she has the expert knowledge needed to resolve even the most complex divorce matters. We at the Law Office of Janet McCullar, P.C. are proud to be led by an attorney of her caliber. With a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating, which is a perfect score, she has a reputation for going above and beyond to exceed the expectations of the men and women she represents. Her efforts to provide high-quality services have not gone unnoticed. She...

I have been Board Certified since 1988. Each year I exceed my continuing legal education requirements by not only attending the state required courses, but I also teach Trial Advocacy and Procedural Law at Texas Tech School of Law as an adjunct professor every summer. I have been selected by a Peer Review Organization and have been awarded the designation of Best Lawyers in America for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from Texas Tech University School of Law. President of the Texas Tech Law School Foundation....

Baylor University (BA 1978) South Texas College of Law (JD 1982) State Bar of Texas (Admitted in 1983) New York State Bar (Admitted in 2005) Supreme Court of Texas - Briefing Attorney (1983-1984) Vice President - Harris County Bar Association (1984-1985) Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer (Since 1988) TOP 100 - The National Trial Lawyers (2018, 2019 & 2020) Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Since 1988) Texas Bar Foundation (Member since 1996) Awarded the Steven J Sharp Public Service Award 2001 (National Award) United States Patent Holder Baylor University - Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Autism (2013) David P. Willis has gained a national reputation as a...

Attorney Sean Flynn has been practising law since 2010, focusing on consumer bankruptcy in Austin and San Antonio. Before practicing law in Austin, he earned a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of North Texas and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, where he served as an editor on The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Journal on Minority Issues. His student comment regarding absentee voting was published in The Scholars’ 2009 edition. Sean is a member of the State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section’s Young Lawyers Committee and is an associate member...

I love helping people! For me, it is a great honor to serve as a trusted advisor to my clients. Through years of listening and learning, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that when people seek an attorney to help them, they want someone who will listen, understand their problem and give them sensible, practical advice, based on a thorough understanding of the law. I have found that listening and understanding is foundational to delivering the right solution. I gave up wearing ties years ago. Mostly because I really don’t like wearing them. But also, because when a client...

John W. Carlson has been a licensed attorney since May 2000, and opened his own office in March 2001. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. While the firm's focus is estate planning, guardianships, probate and trusts, Mr. Carlson is also proficient in other areas, such as business organizations, real estate, and adoptions. The firm frequently works on real estate matters and assists clients with setting up and running various kinds of businesses. The firm also frequently represent clients in civil lawsuits.

"S. Rafe Foreman is the 2021 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented each year at the prestigious Educating Advocacy Teachers conference held at Stetson University School of Law. Rafe, a partner in Hutchison & Foreman PLLC, has been representing people who have been wrongfully accused, discriminated against, and/or physically and emotionally injured, since 1988. He is a trial lawyer, consultant and professor,...

Sean A. McConnell is a partner of Winckler, Harvey, & McConnell LLP and focuses on medical malpractice and general negligence cases.

Nicole M. Conger is an Employee Rights Attorney who represents clients across Texas who are subjected to illegal treatment with their current or former employers. Nicole received her law degree Magna Cum Laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2011 where she was an Associate Editor for the St. Mary’s Law Journal, member of the Board of Advocates, as well as, clerking for the Honorable Emilio M. Garza on the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Nicole’s practice focuses on labor disputes against large and small companies in various Texas and Federal jurisdictions. She has successfully represented...

Blake Hedgecock works hard to help fix real estate problems. Mr. Hedgecock represents lenders and borrowers, landowners, developers, landlords and tenants, private equity and public finance. Blake understands real estate finance and analysis, holds advanced degrees in real estate, and has unrivaled experience in solving complex real property issues and challenges facing his clients.

Veronica Chavez Law has been a Shareholder and Director with Brackett & Ellis, P.C. since 2014, focusing her practice on complex commercial real estate transactions and financial institution representation. Veronica has worked in the legal industry since 1995, working at some of the top law firms in the region as well as serving as general counsel for a corporation. She is licensed to practice law in all state courts in Texas and Colorado. Veronica has over 25 years of experience handling an array of transactional work for businesses and individuals. She has represented clients in financial transactions, real estate transactions, and...

For over two decades, Robert "Tim" Tate has dedicated himself to providing competent and trustworthy representation for victims of injuries throughout the state of Texas. Chosen by D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas, Tim is known for maximizing his clients' cases. Tim's mission in every case is to get the defendant's insurance company to pay top dollar for his client's medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Tim Tate is licensed as an Attorney at Law by the Supreme Court of Texas. Additionally, Tim is a member of the American Association for Justice and the...

Audrey Hatcher is an associate attorney at Varghese Summersett, a premier criminal defense firm in North Texas. Audrey focuses on state and federal criminal defense. She helps clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges, including intoxication-related offenses, drug crimes, sex cases, white-collar crimes, thefts, and assaults. Audrey is committed to providing clients with the best possible representation and achieving exceptional results.

Stephanie Sabelhaus is a senior associate at Varghese Summersett Family Law Group, where she is dedicated to helping clients through some of the most challenging times in their lives. Stephanie has vast experience handling all aspects of family law, including high-conflict divorce, child custody disputes, and complex property divisions. Varghese Summersett Family Law Group serves clients in Fort Worth, Arlington, and the surrounding areas.

Robert Huseman is a partner at Varghese Summersett, a top criminal defense firm based in downtown Fort Worth. Prior to becoming a defense attorney, Robert served as a prosecutor for the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office for 18 years. Before that, he was an experienced Houston homicide detective who investigated more than 200 murders. All told, he has more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice system - knowledge and skills that he now uses to aggressively defend people accused of crimes.

Jonathan Sooriash Esq. LL.M. represents taxpayers to resolve and settle their tax debt with the IRS and State Tax Departments. J. David Tax Law LLC assists both individuals and businesses in becoming compliant with the IRS as well as with the departments of revenue for all 50 states. They prepare and file any missing tax returns for their clients, help them achieve optimal solutions to their tax debt, and help them manage their financial lives. They can help with the following: IRS Audit Defense, Tax Appeals, Payroll Tax Issues, Installment Agreements, Currently Non Collectible, Penalty Abatement, Innocent Spouse, Wage Garnishments,...

I am a dynamic keynote speaker, workshop leader, and high-performance coach dedicated to helping professionals take bold, strategic actions to lead their lives without waiting for permission. I am also the author of the upcoming book, "Fierce Agency TM," and the founder of The Legal Athlete, a company committed to assisting lawyers and high achievers in bridging the gap between their potential and their performance, aligning their lives with their most ambitious goals. My talks are known for their transformative impact, rooted in mental performance mastery, sports psychology, and neuroscience. I teach lawyers and leaders to adopt the mindset and execution...

Kathryn “Katie” Heflin is an associate at Varghese Summersett, where she aggressively defends clients accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses in North Texas. Before joining the criminal defense firm, Katie served more than six years as a prosecutor at the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, where she handled hundreds of cases and had more than 30 jury trials. She now uses that experience and insight to aggressively defend clients accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses. Katie has handled just about every kind of case, ranging from DWI to capital murder. She is tough, tenacious and devoted to achieving the...

About David Todd David Todd always has rooted for the underdog. He went to law school to help the little guy get a fair shake against the big and the powerful. David has been a trial lawyer since 1989. He began his legal career successfully settling or taking to trial many criminal, family law and personal injury cases. Since changing his focus to Texas landowners in eminent domain condemnation, his trial experience and willingness to take cases to court have been key to obtaining excellent results for hundreds of landowners.  David specializes in defending commercial, industrial, special-use and large-tract rural landowners against...

Austin, Texas based criminal defense lawyer, E. G. "Gerry" Morris, has since 1977 represented individuals accused of state and federal crimes, both in trial and on appeal. He is Board Certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been elected by other criminal defense attorneys to leadership positions in both state and national organizations. He served as president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association during the 1997-98 term and is also Past President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The legal community as a whole has, through peer rating, given him...

Jeffrey is a third generation trial lawyer who brings diverse experiences and a unique perspective to complex legal issues. He leads Cofer & Connelly’s civil litigation practice with a focus on Family Law and Personal Injury cases.  Jeffrey begins each case with amicable diplomacy, but understands the litmus test of a great lawyer is trial skill – no settlement, dismissal, or successful case resolution is possible unless the other side knows you are prepared to take a case to trial, and win it.  With this understanding in mind, Jeffrey has successfully tried cases to a jury in multiple states,...

My legal practice has moved from boardrooms to courtrooms. I started my career working for several national law firms representing companies in high-stakes contract negotiations, multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions, and complex regulatory disputes. However, in 2023, I realized I wanted to represent people, not private companies, through my legal practice. I’ve found my true calling at Cofer & Connelly representing folks facing criminal allegations and regulatory charges in Texas courts and in front of state agencies. My experience in high-pressure negotiations and knack for strategic risk evaluation are well suited when working across from state and federal prosecutors during all stages of...

Kevin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School where he was elected into the prestigious Order of the Coif. After law school, Kevin worked for the law firm of Latham & Watkins in their Midtown Manhattan offices, where he was trained by some of the best lawyers in the world in the fields of complex commercial litigation and negotiation. Kevin founded the Law Office of Oprea & Weber in 2014 with his law partner, and spouse, Karen Oprea. Kevin’s practice is focused on family law, including premarital and postmarital agreements, collaborative divorce, mediated divorce, divorces...

Kevin and his wife Elaine have been married for over 20 years and have 3 children. Kevin opened his own law office immediately out of law school and began handling personal injury cases. In his first civil jury trial, Kevin won a million dollar verdict against Ethicon in San Angelo, Texas. That verdict is still a record for Tom Green County. That early success gave Kevin the opportunity to work on many other significant cases, and he has been lead counsel in many multi-million dollar civil cases. Kevin has tried many cases involving injuries in meat packing plants, auto and truck wrecks,...

Experienced and recognized Austin attorney James (“Jimmy”) Evans has practiced law since 1995, and since 2010 has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. At his law firm, Evans Family Law Group, Jimmy handles a full range of family law cases, including divorce, agreed and uncontested divorce, divorce and custody litigation, child custody, child support, adoption, mediation and collaborative law, and grandparents’ rights (to name a few). For Jimmy, the preparation, pains, and persistence that each case demands of him is small when compared to the reward: a legal outcome that, with a minimum...

As a seasoned attorney currently practicing in the areas of family law and probate, my goal is to tenaciously fight for my clients while always taking time to provide compassionate communication and exceptional client service. As a litigator, I am involved in every step of a client's case - from intake to final trial. During a case, I take the time to listen to and know my clients, because I know that clear and regular communication is one of the most important pieces of practicing law.

More than 30 years of combined experience as a Texas Prosecutor, Texas Narcotics Officer, and State & Federal Criminal Defense Attorney.

Kris Algert is one of the most experienced Collaborative Family Lawyers in Austin and has been named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Collaborative Law in the Austin area in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020. She is a Master Credentialed Collaborative Professional by Collaborative Divorce Texas, is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and is known for her constructive and respectful problem-solving approach to helping clients move forward with confidence after divorce.

I have a solid background in litigating both criminal and civil cases across various state and federal courts in the United States. My approach to litigation is marked by a relentless determination, which I also apply to criminal appeals. From my own experiences and those of my clients, I understand the complexities and challenges that arise when navigating the intricate court systems, which often prioritize efficiency over truth. The process can be daunting, with the layers of local, state, and federal procedures, compounded by the fear and anxiety of facing an uncertain future. In such times, maintaining clear and open communication...

Gregory Cagle is is one of the founding partners of Cagle Pugh.

Gregory concentrates his law practice in civil and complex litigation involving real estate, nonprofit and for-profit corporations, business disputes, construction defects, and residential and commercial community associations. Gregory has extensive litigation experience and has served as lead trial attorney in hundreds of trials in front of judges and juries.

Gregory also has extensive experience in representing community associations as general counsel on all aspects of issues involved in the operation and governance of association-governed communities, including management issues, compliance with federal and state laws, interpretation of...

Cenkus Law helps quickly growing and medium-sized businesses with all of their legal needs in Austin, Houston and throughout Texas. Services include forming partnerships, corporations and LLCs, founders’ agreements, partner and founder disputes, raising capital, mergers and acquisitions, contract review and general outside counsel services.

Licensed to Practice in: State of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Areas of Practice (non-exhaustive): General civil litigation and business law, Texas turnover receivership, bankruptcy (representing debtors, creditors and trustees), debt collection (both debtor and creditor-side), insurance litigation, construction/real estate transactions and litigation, landlord/tenant litigation, and entity formation. Texas Turnover Receiverships (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ch. 31). Texasa Civ. Prac. &...

Melina is the founding partner of Flores, PLLC. She provides general counsel advice and represents clients on corporate and transactional matters, including commercial contracts, corporate governance issues, cross-border matters, and corporate immigration law. Her representations span a variety of sectors including the industrial, construction, building materials, manufacturing, cement, real property, and hazardous waste disposal sectors. She is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Mexico and has substantial experience practicing in both jurisdictions. Prior to founding Flores, PLLC, Melina served as Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary for several international public and private...

REAL | RELIABLE | CREATIVE | PRACTICAL
A founding member of Phillips Golden LLP, Steve is a tax and business attorney in Austin, Texas, USA. He has been continuously Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994.

His and his firm's passion is to engage and collaborate with domestic and international entrepreneurs and investors to help them identify, grow, enjoy, and monetize their real and intangible assets, ideas, and resources here and abroad.

Prior engagements...

I have been actively involved in fighting for the rights of Texas citizens for over 30 years. I have been actively involved in the Texas Trial Lawyers Association since 2000. I have served as a Board of Director since 2003, Vice President of Membership from 2010 to 2012, and President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association in 2014. I also serve as a Director of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association since 2007, and I am a member of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association. I also serve on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice. I...