Columbus Lawyers

Featured in the June 2008 issue of H Texas Magazine, Attorney Robert L. Woods has earned the respect of the Houston community. After retiring as a Lieutenant from the Houston Police Department, he founded Woods Law Firm, P.C.,, a professional corporation committed to providing experienced investigation and aggressive representation. A graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, he holds a degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston University and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in all county and district courts of Texas, the Texas Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court...

Law practice specializing in business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, contract drafting, licensing, commercial leases, construction, real estate, business planning, entity formation, compliance issues, and litigation oversight. Additionally, I provide estate planning services.

Dan Kirby received his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1991 and has been practicing law for 29 years. A veteran of many family law cases, he brings a seasoned perspective on many complex issues that families face, including in the areas of child custody, divorce, property dispute, and more. Mr. Kirby is also a Certified Mediator who is highly skilled at resolving cases efficiently and effectively. He is widely recognized as a dedicated advocate by his peers and clients and has a well-earned reputation for his ability to deliver exceptional counsel.

John graduated with his Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. He has experience handling a wide range of cases involving business and corporate law, estate planning, insurance litigation, personal injury litigation, and product defects. John is an experienced legal advocate who has a strong record of case successes. As an accomplished attorney, he has earned inclusion in the list of SuperLawyers, a distinction that only 5% of lawyers receive every year. John is admitted to practice in various federal and appeals courts all across Texas.

A no-nonsense technician; a grinder’s mentality. Mr. McCorquodale handles trials and appeals. Sandy has been bringing his unique combination of experience, skill, humor, and attitude to clients in Texas for more than 40 years with a core belief that a straightforward, honest analysis and execution will always trump over tough talk and empty promises. He represents clients throughout Texas in lawsuits involving personal injuries, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, financial disputes, insurance coverage, lawyers’ professional liability, accounting malpractice, contract claims, employment claims, hurricane claims, workers’ compensation claims, explosion claims, fraud and misrepresentation, fiduciary liability under ERISA, securities fraud, directors’ and officers’...

Mr. McCarthy concentrates primarily on first-party litigation but has also represented clients in a variety of business and commercial matters and litigation.

Prior to joining Doyen Sebesta & Poelma, LLLP, Mr. McCarthy practiced commercial litigation, qui tam litigation, and white-collar defense at Berg and Androphy. He then worked for a boutique firm focusing mainly on health care liability defense.

Mr. McCarthy earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from The University of Texas. After graduating, he spent several years running a successful restaurant in the Austin area. He then attended South Texas College of Law Houston where he graduated cum laude in...

Mark Wham is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has been handling complex personal injury cases for 36 years. Mark specializes in catastrophic injury cases, including 18-wheeler collisions, auto accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, products liability, premises liability and medical negligence. Mark has been Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law since 1994. Fewer than 3% of Texas attorneys have earned this certification. Mark is well regarded by his peers. He is rated AV-Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell’s Attorney Peer Rating® review. This is the highest possible rating as to both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards....

Jason E. Payne is a highly accomplished personal injury lawyer and founder of Payne Law Firm. With an office in Charlotte, North Carolina, Payne Law Firm provides comprehensive personal injury representation to victims of serious accidents. Attorney Payne is a native of Port Arthur, Texas and earned his legal degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2002. He has largely focused his legal practice on personal injury litigation and has also represented numerous Fortune 500 clients in various legal proceedings. In addition to his legal practice, he has served as a consultant to numerous small businesses and elected...

Jonathan has worked in the legal industry for over 10 years. In addition to his current work, he previously represented clients in matters involving insurance coverage and insurance defense. His time spent defending insurance companies provided him with unique insight into how carriers evaluate claims. He uses this experience to his clients’ advantage when insurance companies refuse to pay his clients the compensation they are due. Since joining the plaintiffs’ bar, Jonathan has successfully obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of hundreds of injured clients and the surviving loved ones of wrongful death victims. Jonathan graduated from...

Jamison’s practice focuses on Commercial Transactions & Litigation, Tax, and Asset Protection. Jamison has handled numerous commercial contract enforcement and collections cases, resulting in dozens of successful judgments, settlements, and awards. While working with H&R Block, Jamison advised hundreds of business clients on a wide array of tax matters and has represented his own clients in IRS controversy matters such as Audits, Offshore Voluntary Disclosures (OVDP), and Offers in Compromise. His experience in Tax and IRS controversy, contract disputes, and collections provides him with the ability to advise clients on asset protection strategies, entity formation, and wills and trusts.

Jamison graduated...

I focus my practice on tax and tax controversy matters. My background includes serving as an attorney for the IRS, which has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of various tax issues. I have experience in preparing and reviewing a range of legal documents, including memoranda, letters, discovery materials, motions, and briefs. I offer informed guidance on intricate legal matters such as transfer-pricing, fuel credits and excise taxes, conservation easements, and deductions for worthless partnership interests. I assist businesses in navigating the complexities of tax litigation, audits, and corporate transactions. Leveraging my experience from the IRS, I provide strategic advice on...

Travis Westbrook is an attorney in The Woodlands, Texas. He focuses his practice on estate planning, intellectual property, and business law. He is admitted to practice in Texas and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He received a B.S. from Texas A&M University in College Station and a J.D. from Baylor Law School in Waco.

Antonio Gastélum is a partner at MEG International Counsel, PC, and until recently, the principal of an independent Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), exclusively dedicated to international estate, business, and financial planning. Antonio is a law graduate of the Universidad de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He obtained his master's degree in Comparative Law and Business Planning from the University of San Diego School of Law, as well as his Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College of Financial Services.

Antonio Gastélum is a licensed attorney in Mexico and Texas, but not in California. In Texas, he leads the firm’s...

With nearly 30 years of complex commercial litigation experience, Robert R. Burford has distinguished himself as an aggressive and successful attorney for his clients. Mr. Burford has handled business disputes of nearly every variety for both plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Burford has skillfully handled nearly every type of high-stakes business disputes including litigation involving fiduciary duties, securities fraud, mergers and acquisitions, Director’s and Officers’ liability, legal malpractice, oil and gas matters, partnership disputes, intellectual property disputes, theft of trade secrets, healthcare related matters and complex contractual disputes. Mr. Burford graduated from the University of Houston in 1981...

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...

Mr. Showman has handled numerous complex commercial matters and securities class actions (for both plaintiffs and defendants).  He has represented both claimants and respondents in FINRA securities arbitrations.  He has also represented clients in FINRA investigations and has conducted internal corporate investigations.  He has lectured on securities litigation at NYU and Fordham University.  Mr. Showman is also an arbitrator for FINRA customer and employee arbitrations.

I am dedicated to assisting our clients, striving tirelessly every day to help them reach their objectives and overcome obstacles with assurance. My practice is centered on casualty and mass tort litigation matters. I have handled corporate governance issues, worked on trademark applications, and drafted operating agreements.

I take great pleasure in serving as both a legal counselor and business advisor to our clients. My experience in health care, tax, and insurance litigation enables me to effectively understand and address the business objectives of my clients. I focus my practice on casualty and mass tort litigation matters, while also bringing a wealth of experience in health care, tax, and insurance litigation. My professional journey includes representing health care institutions in liability litigation and Texas Board of Nursing matters. I provide legal guidance on compliance, risk management, and regulatory matters, including HIPPA, Medicare, and Medicaid requirements. I am familiar with...

Esteban Leccese is an experienced attorney admitted in civil-law and common-law jurisdictions, specialized in handling complex international litigation and arbitration, including commercial and investment claims under the rules of major international arbitration institutions such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and ad hoc arbitrations under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules.

Esteban’s relevant matters include high-profile cases involving a broad range of industries, such as the energy, oil and gas, mining, airlines, construction and infrastructure under different applicable laws. He also advises clients on strategic...

Joe Vinas is a Houston-based attorney who has focused his practice on criminal law for over 15 years. Beginning his career at the Harris County DA’s Office in 2002, Joe handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from small misdemeanors up to capital murder cases. In 2009, Joe Vinas became a felony chief prosecutor and handled all capital murder cases and cases involving child fatalities and supervised two other felony prosecutors. In 2010, Joe began to instruct various criminal law subjects at the Houston Police Academy. In three years of teaching, Joe instructed over 500 future police...

Ms. Melendez is committed to listening to each client's story, evaluating it, and proposing and executing practical steps to meet client goals. The cornerstone to a successful attorney-client relationship, in Ms. Melendez’s opinion, is creating clear lines of communication to help build trust between her and her clients. Ms. Melendez has always known she wanted to become a lawyer. At every key juncture in her life, when asked what she wanted to do with her future, she always responded that she wanted to become an attorney. However, as she neared the end of her undergraduate career at Texas A&M University,...

Empowering Clients with Experienced Guidance in Divorce and Family Law Julie Rosete, an exceptional divorce and family law attorney whose passion for justice and unwavering dedication sets her apart. With over 15 years of experience and finely honed litigation skills, Julie returns to the Ramos Law Group, PLLC family, bringing a renewed commitment to serving her clients' needs. Julie's legal journey began at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her degree in 2000. She continued her pursuit of excellence at Boston University School of Law, graduating in 2005 as a distinguished G. Joseph Tauro Scholar. Recognizing her potential, she completed...

Brit N. Mitchell is a Texas trial lawyer practicing representing victims of catastrophic personal injuries caused by highway accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, on-the-job accidents/explosions, boat and offshore accidents, defective consumer products, and prescription drugs. Ms. Mitchell has devoted his entire career to passionately assisting people in need and continues in her community outreach endeavors by devoting herself not only to the people of Houston but to those throughout the United States, with an additional focus in California. Ms. Brit Mitchell continues to show her colleagues and community that diligence, discipline, and perseverance are what drive success for...

Francisco G. Medina, founder of the Law Offices of Francisco G. Medina, is a respected personal injury trial lawyer based in Houston, Texas. He has practiced law for 39 years and has extensive experience representing injured victims and families who have lost a loved one due to another person’s or company’s negligence.

In 1977, Franc graduated from the University of Houston, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. In 1980, he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law (Austin), where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree.

Franc is a former Assistant District Attorney for...

A desire to help people in difficult situations has been the driving focus of Chloe Sease’s career hopes, from the moment she stepped onto the campus at Baylor University in 2009. That desire to help others initially led her into the field of biochemistry where she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in 2013. As she considered her career hopes, Chloe did what lawyers do, and that dig beneath the surface of the facts to get the real truth. She saw that her interest in science and medicine were really reflections of a deep desire to help other people. Chloe contemplated whether...

James Nguyen is a dedicated advocate pursuing justice for his clients. His practice primarily focuses on personal injury matters including automobile accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, premises liability, workplace injuries, and wrongful death. James’ practice also includes commercial litigation, landlord/tenant, and real estate litigation matters. Whether helping a policyholder recover insurance proceeds to repair their property, helping an injured person, or settling a dispute between a landlord and a tenant, James prides himself in advocating for his clients in the pursuit to bring them a fair and just result. Prior to his transition into representation of injured people and underpaid policyholders, James practiced...

Kyle Knizner is a versatile lawyer who always strives to achieve the best result for his clients. His practice focuses on a variety of personal injury matters including automobile accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, premises liability, workplace injuries, and wrongful death. Growing up in a family of lawyers, he learned early on that lawyers can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others. With diligent preparation, focused execution, and unrelenting attention to detail, Kyle has secured millions for injured Texans across the state. After earning his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, Kyle attended South Texas College of Law Houston where he...

Sara Hashmi, PharmD, JD has unique skillset for medical malpractice cases, with her over fifteen years of experience as a pharmacist with a top international retail pharmacy, including several years of managerial experience. This experience, combined with her background in defending medical malpractice cases, provides her a comprehensive perspective on medical and pharmaceutical negligence cases. She has recently expanded her practice to all injury cases, where her medical background will well-serve those clients who are injured as a result of the negligence of another company or individual. Continue reading her full biography: https://www.sorrelslaw.com/team/sara-hashmi-pharmd-jd/

Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Kirbyville, Texas, Jasper County—Xavier M. Bennett combines his education and experience as an electrical engineer, with his passionate desire to help his clients. He has been described as a tough, meticulous, relentless and caring litigator. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants (along with their insurance companies) at other top Texas firms, where he trained with some of the best in the business. He is also a licensed patent attorney after having passed the patent bar, a test that is very challenging for all who take it. Xavier obtained his undergraduate degree in Electrical...

I regularly represent business partners who are embroiled in shareholder and partner disputes. I also represent clients regarding the enforceability of non-solicitation, confidentiality, and non-compete provisions found in employment contracts and purchase/sale agreements. I represent a broad spectrum of clients found in the oil and gas, financial services, real estate sales and services, lending, commercial freight forwarding, commercial manufacturing and distribution, telecommunications, insurance, and construction industries. Specialties Shareholder and partner disputes; enforceability of non-solicitation, confidentiality, and non-compete provisions, breach of commercial contracts. Represents clients in the following industries: Oil and gas, real estate sales and services, lending, commercial freight...

Family Law attorney. Mediator. Practice in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery County, Texas. Spanish-Speaking attorney.

Neal Davis is a top-rated, criminal defense attorney located in Houston, Texas, handling State and federal cases across Texas and the United States. For nearly 20 years, he has defended clients in all types of matters, including arguing before the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals and appearing as lead counsel in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case. His clients come from all walks of life and personal situations, and face all kinds of charges. He handles criminal matters from the investigation phase through appeal. Before opening his law firm, Neal worked as a lawyer for more than ten years with...

Seerden spent several years at the beginning of his career working on their side of the legal fence, as an attorney in a large law firm defending insurance companies. So, he knows how they operate.

Seerden joined that large firm in Houston after receiving his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 1998 and gained valuable trial experience there. However, he soon discovered he was on the wrong side.

“In general, I was representing corporations and preventing individuals from getting something they were entitled to,” he says. “Even though I was winning, it wasn’t always a good feeling. My job was...

At the David A. Breston Law Office in Houston, we have represented over 3000 clients in the field of criminal defense. From DWI to drug crimes and white collar crime, regardless of the offense, we believe that everyone deserves fair representation. Contact our office today for a free consultation and see how we can protect your rights.