Kempner Lawyers

Ashley obtained her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas, in 2007, where she was a member of the school's Moot Court Team. She earned her bachelor's degree in International Studies with minors in Journalism and History from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas in 2004. Ashley is an experienced litigator with 15+ years of experience in a wide array of litigation matters, including insurance coverage disputes, construction defect issues, products and premises liability claims, personal injury automobile and pedestrian accidents, and Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims. She has defended nationally-known rideshare companies, homeowners and personal...

Board Certified, Civil Trial Advocacy – National Board of Trial Advocacy. Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Selected Top 50 Texas Lawyers, Central Texas Region, Texas Monthly October 2006 Graduated from Baylor University, B.A., 1975. Graduated from Baylor Law School, J.D., 1978. Adjunct Professor, Baylor Law School, teaching personal injury trial law and products liability law for more than 30 years. Contributing Editor, Texas Torts Handbook. Former Co-Editor, Texas General Practice Digest, Torts Section. Former Editor-in-Chief, Texas Trial Lawyer Forum.

My goal is make sure all individuals with legal problems have access to the legal help they need. I offer individuals straight-forward, flat-rate billing options at prices they can afford. No more surprise bills at the end of your representation. If you have a serious legal problem and are worried about having the funds to get help, let me work with you. We can arrange something to make us both happy.

I am not your typical attorney. My journey to the legal field was a strange one. After studying biochemistry and gene therapy, I decided the lab environment wasn't...

Jorge Vela spent seven years as both a federal and state prosecutor. Now, as a criminal defense attorney, he is using his experience to fight for individuals accused of a state or federal crime.

Jorge Vela has experience handling cases involving driving while intoxicated, assault, drug possession, robbery, kidnapping, family violence, sexual assault, and homicide

My law practice resides at the intersection of corporate finance, business law, and technology/IP. I serve as private counsel, advising clients about business strategy & financial opportunities. I frequently sit at the right-hand of company founders, CEOs and investors. My approach is bespoke - requiring me to help clients navigate specific legal issues in the moment while remaining mindful of the broader business landscape. I hold myself to a professional standard, centered around: attention detail, candid advice & running my law firm efficiently. In short, I solve difficult important problems with high-stakes outcomes.

Hamp Skelton grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Princeton University in 1978 and from the University of Texas School of Law in 1981. He and his wife, Karen, have three sons, now all in their mid-20s. Hamp has tried lawsuits in Texas for more than 40 years. He began his career at Vinson & Elkins in Houston in 1981, practicing in its commercial litigation section. He moved back to to Austin in 1986, joining Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. He built a litigation section for that office, serving as partner in charge of litigation. His present...

As a native Texan, Kevin Bennett knows that his state has a reputation for being tough on crime. This can lead to an overwhelming feeling of stress when facing charges in Texas. The criminal justice system is daunting and confusing, and he is determined to guide his clients through it with as little stress as possible by maintaining open communication while aggressively fighting on their behalf. As a student, Kevin Bennett studied at the University of Texas in Austin, earning his bachelor's degree in economics. He then pursued his Juris Doctor from The South Texas College of Law. After...

Thank you for considering our firm for your legal needs. I have decades of experience in handling significant lawsuits for businesses and individuals, including high-stakes disputes regarding extremely important contracts, real estate holdings, trusts, and probate matters. My experience also includes handling cases involving intentional fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. I have also successfully tried or settled numerous significant disputes over construction defects and contractor performance. Many of my clients have prosecuted affirmative claims, while other clients have requested help in defending against claims brought against them. My practice began with an international law firm in Houston where I...

Garrett L. Beach graduated magna cum laude from Abilene Christian University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. In 2016, Garrett graduated from Baylor Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor with a concentration in estate planning. Garrett is an accomplished attorney whose commitment to his clients is unwavering. He takes pride in investing the time and effort required to understand each of his client’s unique needs and goals. With a compassionate and personalized approach, Garrett ensures that his clients receive tailored advice and guidance every step of the way. After...

After 25 years as a corporate attorney and executive, I am very familiar with all aspects of business law and helping businesses grow. In addition, I have been a professional musician for over 30 years and understand exactly the legal challenges that musicians face in the industry. Plus, I've been in the courtroom as well. Ultimately, when diplomacy fails, you have to be ready to fight and I am happy to go up against whoever your adversary may be. However, litigation is expensive and often unnecessary with the right advice. If you are looking for...

Merrilee L. Harmon is a Family Law specialist, Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1985. Merrilee has lived most of her life in Waco. She graduated from Baylor University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in elementary education with a minor in English. Merrilee also received certificates in teaching and in the fields of language and learning disabilities and mental disabilities. Merrilee graduated from Baylor Law School in 1978 with a Juris Doctor degree and concentration in Civil Trial Law. From 1978 to 1981, she practiced Criminal Law as...

After receiving both his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Patrick Hotze went on to be founding partner of Hotze Runkle with Ryan Runkle. Since the beginning of the firm, Patrick and his fellow attorneys have represented thousands of clients not only through Austin, but across the country. Together, they have striven to be the finest law firm Austin has to offer with their expertise in Nursing Home Abuse and Asbestos / Mesothelioma. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, as well as being an active member...

An Austin native from birth, Mr. Melton attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with his B.A. in 1996. He went on to California to attend The University of San Diego School of Law, earning his J.D. in 1999, serving as the Comment Editor of the San Diego Law Review. After graduation he moved back to Austin and received his license to practice law in the State of Texas in 1999. Now, John F. Melton is an experienced Austin-based lawyer who has helped hundreds of Texas workers fight for their legal rights. Since 2008, he has...

As the founder and Managing Partner of Batrice Law Firm, Paul Batrice has spent the past fifteen years fighting on behalf of ordinary people and aggressively pursuing just compensation for injured Texans. Over the course of his career, Paul has helped thousands of people obtain millions of dollars in settlements and judgements. While in law school, Paul was heavily recruited by high-ranking firms in Miami, New York, and Dallas. As a result, he gained experience defending some of the largest companies in the world. His goals in the legal field never aligned with the corporate interests of these companies, however, which...

Niles J. Sneed is a trial lawyer practicing representing victims of catastrophic personal injuries caused by highway accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, motorcycle accidents, on-the-job accidents/explosions, boat and offshore accidents, defective consumer products, and wrongful termination matters. Mr. Sneed is devoted to passionately assisting people in need and continues in his philanthropic endeavors by devoting himself not only to charity and non-profit endeavors throughout Texas. Mr. Niles J. Sneed continues to show his colleagues and community that diligence, discipline, and perseverance are what drives the success we can obtain for our clients.

The Law Office of Robert L. Keates handles a broad spectrum of criminal defense trials and cases, ranging from misdemeanors to felony charges. 100% of our practice is Austin criminal defense in nature, allowing us to focus only on defending you.

Charles McFarland has extensive experience representing property owners whose private property has been taken by the government for public use. His primary area of practice focuses on highway and roadway widening projects that impact retail, commercial, industrial and special use properties. He also has successfully represented clients affected by pipelines, electric transmission lines, flood control, and other public-use projects.

An honors graduate of both the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas School of Law, Charles was a partner at Vinson & Elkins before forming McFarland PLLC, a boutique law firm focusing exclusively on condemnation and eminent domain...

Ms. Mills is an experienced Copyright, Trademark and Business Litigation attorney providing strong representation for small and mid-sized business clients in Federal and Texas State Courts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Ms. Mills is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas and is Generally admitted in the Northern District of Illinois.

Ms. Mills represents Defendants and Plaintiffs in a broad range of business litigation matters, including copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition, business disparagement, misappropriation of trade secrets,...

Philip Robert Brinson is an experienced trial lawyer who possesses unique skills derived from experience outside of the legal fields that have made him not only a trusted advocate for his clients, but also a formidable adversary in the courtroom. Mr. Brinson has extensive legal experience in a variety of practice areas, including hospitality and dram shop, entertainment, premises liability, products liability, professional liability, employment, oil field services, and business and commercial litigation. Mr. Brinson has litigation experience on both sides of the docket in handling infringement actions in copyright and trademark actions in the entertainment and hospitality industries, including...

Robert Keates has clerked for a Federal Judge in the 5th Circuit (Texas, Lousiana), as well as worked for the California Innocence Project. He has argued motions and prepared cases with the Federal Defenders of San Diego, and was employed over five years with the Orange County Public Defender's Office. At that office, Robert was immediately assigned to jury trials, and advanced quickly to handle a large caseload of serious felony and misdemeanor jury trials for both adults and juveniles. In 2008, Robert Keates was awarded the Don Simms Award for 'Trial Attorney of the Year' within the Public...

Jaime Treviño is a trial lawyer with over 20 years of experience in personal injury law. For 13 years he worked as an insurance defense attorney, which means he knows the strategies and tactics insurance companies will use to avoid paying. Serving the Austin and San Antonio areas, Jaime Treviño is passionate about fighting for Texans of all backgrounds and circumstances. He has helped personal injury victims recover tens of millions of dollars in damages from commercial vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, wrongful death, and more. Let us know how we can help you by scheduling your free...

Practicing Criminal Defense in Austin, Texas for 15 years. Richard Segura is a master at tactfully guiding his clients through the complexities of the criminal justice system, while achieving and surpassing the highest ethical standards. In fact, while working as a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Segura teaches future lawyers that an exceptional attorney must constantly strive to attain three goals: competency, courtesy, and integrity.

Except for the time it took to earn both undergraduate and law degrees from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, I have lived in Austin, Texas since the fourth grade. I’m proud to come from a long line of lawyers and public servants. I have spent over 20 years practicing Family Law, including divorce, complex property division, child custody, child support, collaborative law, adoptions, pre and post-nuptial agreements, family violence (Protective Orders), and virtually every aspect of the law affecting families. Since 2006, I have been Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization....

Sam has extensive trial experience in criminal and family law courts throughout Texas. Sam is licensed in State and Federal court. Sam was appointed by the Governor of Texas to the Texas Forensic Science Commission in 2005, where he served as its Presiding Officer until September, 2009. Sam frequently teaches trial advocacy at continuing education events for attorneys. He also served on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Panel for District 9 from 2004 until 2010, when his term expired as Chair of the Panel. Sam presently serves as Vice President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Mary Kate Brown is a dedicated attorney committed to providing exceptional legal representation and advocating for her client's best interests. She earned her undergraduate degree from Concordia University in Austin, Texas. Her passion for the law led her to pursue her Juris Doctor from St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, where she honed her legal analysis and advocacy skills. While at St. Mary’s she served as a Staff Writer and an Executive Board Member for the Law Review. During her studies, she gained valuable experience by interning at the Hays County District Attorney’s Office and the Third Court...

Courtroom attorney with extensive jury trial experience in both civil and criminal cases. Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

I've been practicing criminal law since 2004 after graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law. I started my career as an assistant public defender in the Texas Panhandle, where I learned to try cases of all types. I moved to Austin in 2006 to become a prosecutor at the Travis County District Attorney's Office, where I stayed for 15 years. During that time, I handled child abuse and domestic violence cases, murders, aggravated robberies, DWI, and drug possession cases. If it's a felony offense, I've seen it and worked on it. I left the DA's Office in 2021...

Kell Simon has been practicing in the area of employment law since 1997, exclusively representing employees. In 2007 Mr. Simon moved to Austin, and in July 2014 Mr. Simon opened the Law Offices of Kell A. Simon. Mr. Simon's practice has spanned the full spectrum of employment law, from race, sex, age, national origin, and disability discrimination cases, to sexual harassment, whistleblower, Family and Medical Leave, and minimum wage and overtime cases. Mr. Simon has served as class counsel in several complex, long running class actions brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and...

Lance Kennedy is a former federal and Texas prosecutor serving the criminal defense needs of Central Texas. A seventh-generation Texan, Lance was born in East Texas and raised in Dallas. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, a law degree from Southern Methodist University, and a master’s degree from Harvard University. After completing his education, Lance became a Judge Advocate in the United States Army Reserve. Along with his military service, Lance began his legal career as a Texas prosecutor. As an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney, Lance prosecuted felonies, misdemeanors,...

I was born in Houston. My father was an FBI agent, who later practiced criminal defense law. My mother raised 4 children and was an English teacher. I attended high school in Dallas and college at U. Texas, Austin. After earning my law degree I worked in the appellate section of the Travis County DA's Office followed by private practice in Austin. I then was hired by the McLennan County DA's Office, where I rose to chief felony prosecutor. As of 2019 I have practiced law 35 years. I am a criminal law specialist. I have been a criminal defense...

Welcome. My name is Walter Reaves. I've been a criminal defense lawyer in the Waco Texas area for more than two decades - and specialize in Texas Criminal Appeals at the State and Federal level. If you, or a family member find themselves in need of a very talented criminal defense attorney - or criminal appeals lawyer - please give me a call to discuss your situation. There is no charge for this consultation.

Greg White has been in the appellate courts of Texas for almost 30 years.  He was among the first lawyers to be Board Certified in Civil Appellate law, and he obtained that certification only five years after graduating from law school despite the significant experience required for Board Certification. He argued, and won, his first case before the Texas Supreme Court only 2 years out of law school. Since that argument in 1984, Greg has argued a number of cases before the high court in Texas, before the Fifth Circuit (including an en banc argument before all 16 Judges), and...

I was born and raised in Austin, Texas where my parents set roots from Mexico. I attended the Liberal Arts Academy at the former Johnston High School in East Austin and went on to double major in journalism and government at UT Austin. During my studies at UT, I had the privilege of interning at NBC Mexico/ Telemundo in Mexico City. I also studied abroad in Paris for a semester, where I honed my French language skills. After my undergraduate studies, I worked for a national non-profit organization and later enrolled in law school. Part of my studies took me...

I have been practicing law in Austin since 1977. After many years of a litigation-focused practice I have changed that focus to Estate Planning and Probate. I am no longer maintaining a downtown office, so I frequently meet at clients’ homes or offices or at other places convenient for the client. I am able to offer services for much less than I did in the past. I hope that my clients will continue to consult me about the important issues in their lives. If I unable to personally assist them I will recommend appropriate professionals.

Tom is married since 1971 to...

Kalani Hawks Villafranca practices U.S. immigration law because she believes everyone deserves to feel like they belong in their home and with their families. She loves helping her clients live the life they want to live, wherever they want to live, with the people who matter most to them.

Abogada Kalani has over a decade of experience as an attorney and for several years was the managing attorney for the Texas Here to Stay/Texas No Nos Vamos coalition. She helped bring free legal clinics to communities throughout Texas and provided guidance to thousands of immigrants seeking to renew their DACA...

Alex Shahrestani is the managing partner of Promise Legal PLLC, a law firm dedicated to providing cutting-edge legal solutions for tech startups and emerging businesses. With a background in computer science and law, Alex specializes in intellectual property, data privacy, and startup law, leveraging his technical expertise to deliver innovative, client-focused legal strategies. A thought leader in the tech-legal space, Alex has contributed to key industry conversations through roles at SXSW, EFF-Austin, and the State Bar of Texas. At Promise Legal, he spearheads the integration of technology into legal practice, offering efficient and cost-effective solutions to empower innovators and drive...

Attorney Wes Hazen comes from a working class family and strives to serve as a role model not only within the legal community but more importantly, his local community in South Austin. For many, the assistance of "quality" legal services is often correlated with the pedigree of an attorney, the prestige of the firm they work with, or the sheer experience a particular practitioner may possess. All fine attributes to possess, but not entirely what truly matters in the practice of law. The true measure of greatness in practicing law, I believe, boils down to three relatively simple principles. First...

Tom Carnes is a civil trial lawyer and mediator in Fredericksburg, Texas, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

Tom's practice in business litigation includes a broad range of matters, ranging from contracts, to real estate litigation, to construction disputes, to competitive hiring and trade secret litigation. His family law practice includes, but is not limited to, collaborative divorce matters. His traditional family law practice includes all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, modification, and enforcement.

Tom also serves as a neutral third-party mediator in a broad range of business and family law...