Top best L Lawyers in Austin | 6151 available

Rain is often described as a Texas State Judo Champion with an Ivy League education.  She lives in Austin with her husband, Rottie, and three (normally) well-behaved children.

Rachel L. Messer is assertive, but remains down to earth. She is a truly brave advocate for her clients. She is ambitious and hardworking. She communicates well with others, is professional, can be relied upon to undertake time sensitive tasks. Attorney Messer has experience in family, criminal, and civil litigation.

Put simply, my job is to protect you from potential risk; from those who would otherwise take advantage of your legal rights; and to make sure your family has what they need to be taken care of, should anything ever happen to you. My interest in the law started with my own landlord failing to make repairs. I went without an AC unit for three weeks in the middle of August in Texas, and it was upwards of 116 degrees inside of my apartment. An attorney helped me back then, and my A/C was replaced the same day I delivered her letter to my landlord. From that point on I have been passionate about fighting for the rights of other people like me.     You work hard to provide for yourself and your family, and it’s important to know that you can protect the life you have created, both by defending it now, and planning for your estate after you pass away. I sincerely want to help you navigate all of life’s events, whether they were foreseen, or are a complete surprise. I am an estate and business planning attorney, as well as a civil litigator. I dedicate all of my attention to ensuring that:1) your goals are realized, whether they are personal, family or business related;2) your risk and expenses are minimized; 3) your access to legal help is convenient, leveraging technology to make meeting easier; and4) you have peace of mind.     All of my clients receive personal attention, 24/7 access to case information and updates, clear communication, and timely assistance. While case outcomes cannot be predetermined by any attorney, all of my clients will attest to their complete satisfaction with my legal services, and excellent work-product for estate planning. The thing I hear most often is that my clients appreciate that I truly listen, and am a source of positive motivation to help them take the next step in achieving their current and future goals.Call me today at if you have a current or future legal need you need to address!

Proud UT Longhorn alum, animal lover, politico, and film & TV buff.  Advocate for consumers, and others who've gotten the shaft from the powers that be.

Professionally, Trek has been practicing law as a litigator since graduating from the University of Texas School of Law with honors in 1994. Trek's career began at a reputable criminal defense boutique. Trek worked on a wide range of criminal matters ranging from capital murder to complex "white collar" fraud cases. Trek switched to the civil side of the docket in 1998 when he went to work for Clark, Thomas & Winters in its product liability section. There, Trek represented major domestic and foreign automobile, tire, and other product manufacturers in personal injury claims brought throughout Texas and elsewhere. In 2002, Trek joined Winstead PC where he handled a wide variety of civil litigation and defended several employers against workplace injury claims, including two Fortune 50 retailers. In April 2015, Trek founded Doyle Seelbach PLLC. Trek regularly defends "nonsubscriber" employers in negligence personal injury claims brought by injured employees throughout Texas.

Prior to attending law school, I earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas.  For over fifteen years, I worked as a licensed mental health therapist in schools serving children who qualified for special education due to emotional and behavioral disabilities.  I went to law school knowing that I would be able to use the knowledge I had as a counselor and educational consultant to help children and families.   I attended the evening program at Seattle University School of Law, and continued to work full-time as a mental health specialist for Kent School District.. I am excited to serve children and families who need the assistance of an educational attorney. I really enjoy helping families navigate the complexities of the schools and special education because the results are practical and I get to see children succeed. I worked as a consultant for public schools for many years, so my experience is grounded in an understanding of the culture of schools as well as knowledge about the law. Parents often feel outnumbered and misunderstood. I help my clients who are facing discipline, special education, or other school-related issues and would benefit from legal counsel.. Most recently, I was the program attorney for Family Law CASA of King County. Family Law CASA is a non-profit that provides court-appointed, volunteer guardian ad litem services in low-income family law cases.  The role of the agency is to protect the needs of children in family law disputes.  My role at the agency was to represent both the program and the volunteer assigned to the case in court.  Often during divorce proceedings, the needs of the children are easily diluted in the face of the better articulated needs of their parents.  My job was to ensure that the focus of the case remained on the best interests of those children.  As part of that process, I encouraged parents, even in dire situations, to better see and acknowledge the needs and interests of their children. My experience in court and at family law mediations gives me the practical understanding of how to effectively represent clients in the divorce process.  This experience guides my work with my clients, allowing me to translate the often foreign legal process into understandable steps.  I listen to what my clients say about what they need, and about their fears and concerns.  I work with them to develop a plan to navigate the legal process in order to create a positive outcome for themselves and their families.  My goal is to provide my clients with thorough information and preparation and to help them to feel knowledgeable and empowered, so that the often painful process of moving out of a marriage or partnership is made easier and more successful.

Practicing family law gives Austin divorce attorney Jillian French the opportunity to help people through a very difficult time. She is able to help people do what they can’t do themselves.. “The average person does not understand the legal jargon related to family law, no matter how much research they do on Google,” Ms. French said. “They need someone who can go to bat for what is important to them. Family law deals with someone’s entire life and should be treated with the upmost importance.”. Ms. French prides herself on being a good listener and problem solver. She will do whatever she can to help her clients reach their goals, but she makes sure they are realistic about what to expect during their case.. “I’m very honest with my clients about the likelihood of winning a certain argument,” she said. “I think it is important to manage client expectations.”. By communicating clearly and openly with her clients, Ms. French ensures she is prepared to provide the best representation possible.. “I tell my potential clients that I am someone who will listen to their concerns and look for any argument I can, that is allowed by the current statutory and case law, to fight for their interests,” she said. “I also listen to any of their concerns about budget and/or going to court to determine how to best handle their case.”

Powerhouse Attorney with Proven Results. Doug O’Connell is well known across Texas as one of the very finest criminal defense attorneys in the state. He has a well-earned reputation as a fierce advocate and unrelenting attorney who fights for his clients. Doug is also nationally recognized for his work defending military service members and law enforcement officers.. Doug has practiced criminal law for over 30 years in central Texas and has extensive experience both as a state and federal prosecutor as well as a criminal defense attorney. He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer each year for the last five years. National and international media outlets regularly cover Doug’s cases.. “My entire career was on the line, and I’m forever thankful I turned to Doug for help. Doug beat the government prosecutors so bad they gave up on the second day of trial.” – former client.. People trust Doug to handle their most difficult legal challenges. As a criminal defense attorney Doug has represented politicians, military generals, national media personalities, senior government officials, other high-profile individuals, as well as regular citizens who need a powerful advocate in their corner. Often other Attorneys turn to Doug when they need criminal law representation.. Doug is especially proud of his reputation as the “go-to” attorney for law enforcement officers. The cops are in the courthouse every day, they know which attorneys really fight for their clients. There is no higher endorsement for a criminal defense attorney than when police officers turn to Doug for criminal law help.. While primarily a criminal law attorney, Doug also forcefully prosecutes select civil lawsuits on behalf of clients wronged or threatened by powerful interest or bullies. Typically, these clients never thought they would ever sue someone, but are forced to fight back and turn to Doug for assistance.. In addition to his Criminal Defense practice, Doug represents Veterans and Military Service Members in a variety of tough situations, including Military Justice issues. He regularly defends Service Members across the country who face collateral consequences in their military careers due to criminal or civil charges.. Doug is the youngest of six children and attended college on a ROTC scholarship. After several years of Active Duty at Fort Hood, Texas (now Fort Cavazos), Doug became a Reserve Officer and attended law school. He graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law and was licensed as an Attorney in 1994.. Doug began his legal career in Austin, Texas, as a Misdemeanor Prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney’s Office. Later Doug served as a Felony Prosecutor with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, before moving to the United States Attorney’s office in Austin where he was the Special Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting federal crimes.. Over the years, Doug prosecuted countless cases including DWI, Assault, Robbery, Burglary, Theft, Sexual Assault, Felony in Possession of a Firearm, Controlled Substances, Murder and Capital Murder. He has tried over 100 Jury Trials and an incalculable number of Bench Trials. Doug is confident that his years as a Prosecutor give him an advantage when defending citizens; he’s able to identify, evaluate, and exploit potential weaknesses in the government’s case.. As a Criminal Defense Attorney, Doug has represented clients accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses in State and Federal Courts, and has aggressively fought for clients in jury trials including Driving While Intoxicated, Assault, Manslaughter, Sexual Assault and Murder. Often Doug’s clients are people who’ve never been in trouble with the law and need advice and counsel on how to protect their rights.. Doug also represents corporations and small businesses, often within the defense industry. He has a wealth of experience dealing with issues such as grand jury subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and federal “target letters.” He has particular expertise in investigating cases and negotiating with prosecutors or other government officials to mitigate potential liability and exposure. Due to his work representing defense contractors, Doug holds a US Government Top Secret Security Clearance, with further access to Sensitive Compartmentalized Information.. Special Forces Colonel (Green Beret). After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Doug returned to Active Duty with the United States Army. He deployed to Iraq with U.S. Army’s 10th Special Forces Group and Afghanistan with the U.S. Special Operations Command. In addition, Doug served in Washington, D.C., New York, and other locations with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and served on the FBI’s Manhattan, NY based Joint Terrorism Task Force focused on terrorism-related cases arising out of the Middle East, Africa and Europe.During his military career, Doug earned two master’s degrees, one in Homeland Security from the Naval Post Graduate School and the other in National Security / Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Prior to his military retirement, Doug commanded a theater-level Special Operations Unit in the Texas Army National Guard focused on enhancing the counter terrorism capacity of African Countries facing threats from Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other violent extremist groups.After 30 years of active and reserve duty, Doug retired from the military in 2017 at the rank of Colonel. Doug uses mission-focus, strategic analysis, and his extensive experience to benefit his clients ideally before they find themselves in federal and state court. He also is frequently called on to consult on complex, multi-jurisdictional cases where veterans or service members face criminal or civil charges with significant career and family implications.. Community Involvement. Doug makes it a point to give back to his community. He has served as a Commissioner for the City of Austin’s Veterans Commission, a Vestry member of his Episcopal Church, a Past Director of the Texas Lyceum and as a Board Member of the local Boy Scouts Council. Doug also served as a Board Member and Chair of the Veteran’s program Songwriting with Soldiers. Doug helps run an annual Veterans Fly Fishing Program at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Please contact me for a no-charge initial consultation regarding any matters or questions involving State of Texas regulatory agencies.. My specialty is in environmental and water law, but as a Board certified Administrative Law attorney (certified in 1989 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Administrative Law) I can handle matters involving a wide variety of Texas stage agencies.. I am very easy to work with and very responsive to clients' needs.. When not practicing law, I enjoy playing golf, going to sporting events, reading, and working in Church activities.

Plaintiff's personal injury trial lawyer with exceptional results. 13 years of practice, 13 trials, all verdicts for plaintiff's. We work hard, fight hard, and we win. We have offices in San Francisco and Austin, Texas. Visit our website for more information.

Philip Friday has practiced law in Austin, Texas, since 1970. He was in the first class of lawyers to be certified as a Family Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Certification in 1975. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court;  and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas.

Philip "Mick" Wilson's unique educational and legal background permits a fresh take on many legal cases, particularly family law matters. His history as an advocate for mothers', fathers', and children's rights and his prior membership to the Board of Court-Appointed Family Advocates for Children, demonstrates his dedication to doing right by your family. His associates and support staff share his willingness to help you.

Pete Reid is an honors graduate of the University of Edinburgh School of Law. He was also selected for a one year international scholarship at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas.. Pete was admitted to the New York Bar in 2005 and worked exclusively in New York City until 2010 where he focused on trial work and commercial litigation, specifically, real estate litigation, contract disputes, and sports law.. In 2010, Pete Reid returned to Austin, Texas and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas. Shortly thereafter, he established ‘Pete Reid Law, PLLC’, a law practice specializing in business litigation, real estate litigation, and sports law. Mr. Reid continues to represent clients in both New York and Austin.. However, the approach of Pete Reid Law is not simply to “represent” our clients but rather we aim to be their warriors. We commit to learning everything that is uniquely important to each client, and to work creatively and tirelessly on their behalf.. In 2014, Pete Reid wrote and produced the first Pete Reid Law TV commercial which subsequently won the award for outstanding achievement in Internet advertising in the Web Marketing Association’s 13th annual Internet Advertising Competition.. In 2017, Mr. Reid was elected Chair of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the Austin Bar Association.. Mr Reid is also an accredited mediator in Texas and an Associate Member of The Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet in Scotland.

Paul is an insurance coverage mediator, with a national practice.  His practice focuses on disputes over insurance coverage, claims handling and risk transfer, including cases where background coverage issues are preventing settlement.  Policyholder and carrier counsel alike have approached him to mediate or adjudicate their cases.  Although he is based in Austin, Texas, mediations and arbitrations are held at any place in the US convenient to counsel and parties.. As a mediator, Paul has mediated coverage disputes around the country and has been honored with induction as a "Distinguished Fellow" of the International Academy of Mediators and as a member of the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals.  In his home state, he is a "Credentialed Distinguished Mediator" of the Texas Mediator Credentialing Assn.. Paul knows the substantive area he mediates.  He has held national leadership positions in the state and national coverage bar, including service as Vice-Chair of the ABA Litigation Section's Insurance Coverage Committee.  He is currently a co-chair (neutral rep) of the Committee's ADR Subcommittee.  Paul is a frequent speaker at legal and risk management seminars throughout the U.S., including the ABA and RIMS.  And he is the author of "Coverage Mediations:  Are they really that different?” (Coverage, ABA Jan-Feb 2011).. Paul has repeatedly been named a “Super Lawyer®," with a primary practice area of Alternative Dispute Resolution.  He has also earned a spot in the prestigious "Best Lawyers in America®" in Insurance Law, an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and a "10.0" "Superb" from .. As a former trial lawyer, Paul has tried coverage and bad faith cases to verdicts (both seeking and opposing coverage).  He has served as lead counsel in all federal districts in Texas and in eight other districts from California to DC.  Now, as a neutral and as a lawyer, he has had signficant experience with a wide range of policies and insurance/risk transfer issues, ranging from large commercial first party losses to complex coverage and allocation issues arising from liability policies.. More information about Paul is below.  For Paul's full biography and fee information, as well as a copy of his published article on Coverage Mediations, please visit his website: .

Paul Colley, Jr. was first licensed to practice law in Texas in 1981. He has focused his entire career on personal injury trial law and has literally handled thousands of cases over the year. He represents injured Texans in a wide range of cases to include: car accident cases; trucking accident cases; negligence, medical malpractice, products liability, contruction accidents, oil field accidents, and many others. He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients.. Mr. Colley typically handles cases of this type on a 'contingent fee' basis, which means that the client pays nothing unless he makes recovery for them.. Mr. Colley is recognized by his peers as an 'AV' Rated lawyer in Martindale-Hubbell's national legal directory. He has also been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which admits ONLY lawyers who have proven themselves to be among the top attorneys in the country with respect to trial experience and ability.. Mr. Colley is ready to put his years of experience to work for you.

Patton VanVeckhoven is the Managing Partner of VanVeckhoven Law Firm, PC, a boutique law firm in Austin, TX, focused on real estate and energy transactions.

Patrick Stellitano is a Registered Patent Attorney practicing in the area of patent prosecution in support of the Firm’s Electrical and Computer Technology Practice Group. Patrick has over 20 years of patent experience encompassing all aspects of Patent Law, including drafting and prosecuting patent applications, both foreign and domestic; patent portfolio management for medium-sized and small companies; drafting patent license agreements; performing infringement and validity studies, drafting patent legal opinions; litigation support including briefing and discovery, briefing and arguing patent appeals to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, post grant patent practice including Inter Partes Review.. Patrick also has seven years of industry experience as an electrical engineer with Texas Instruments, Lockheed and The Raytheon Company, working on stealth technology, antennas and radar signal processing. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy.. Patrick received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with honor and his Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he was inducted into the Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He received his J.D., cum laude, at the University of Houston. In addition to being registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, he is admitted to practice in all Courts of the State of Texas, is admitted in the United States District Courts in the Northern and Western Districts of Texas, and is admitted in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C.

Patent & Trademark attorney with substantial in-house management and outside counsel legal experience. Focus on domestic and international patent and trademark procurement, licensing, due diligence, opinions, and counseling.Registered US Patent & Trademark Attorney since 1988, Reg. No. 32952. Member of the Board of Directors, 2012-18, President 2015-17National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP). AIPLA (Patent Law Committee, Chemical Practice Committee, Trademark Committee). Specialties:. Energy (conventional and renewable). Oil & gas exploration, completion, and production tools. Artificial lift. Fracing, frac-hit avoidance. Separations technology. Adhesives. Abrasives (coated, nonwoven, bonded, diamond). Combustion technology. Glass and glass production. Catalytic polymerization and catalysts, polyolefins (polyethylene, polypropylene). Elastomers. Materials science. Medical devices. Computer-aided cinematography. Trademarks (common law and registered). Trade secrets. Design patents (covering ornamental shape of objects)

Parker Polan is a co-founder of Briggle & Polan, PLLC and a seasoned Austin personal injury attorney. He regularly assists clients with tough cases and complex litigation involving car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, products liability, insurance claims, and more. He also handles commercial litigation, business disputes, and wrongful death cases for clients throughout the state of Texas. Parker has helped the firm as a whole in securing millions of dollars for victims of negligence.Parker Polan has been selected for inclusion in the Texas Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list every year from 2014 to 2017. He has earned a reputation, both amongst his peers and clients of the firm, as a compassionate and skilled trial attorney. His goal is to secure the maximum compensation his clients are owed so that they can begin the process of rebuilding their lives. Call Briggle & Polan, PLLC for a free consultation.

Paige Castañeda focuses on the business and transactional needs of growing companies. She represents entrepreneurs, investors, public and private companies and individuals in a wide variety of industries. Her experience spans the healthcare, technology, energy, real estate, sports/fitness and financial services sectors.. Paige’s practice encompasses mergers and acquisitions, public and private debt and equity securities offerings, formation and dissolution of entities, corporate governance and general business contracts. Paige fluently speaks, writes and reads Spanish and has lived and traveled extensively in Latin America.. Paige spent two years in Winstead's Houston office before returning to the Austin office in July 2015.

Over the years, Austin criminal defense lawyer, Eric Lim, has tried many criminal jury trials in Austin, Texas.  He has experience working both as criminal defense attorney and as a firm attorney.  With an outstanding education graduating Magna Cum Laude from The University of Texas McCombs School of Business and holding a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law, Eric Lim has the knowledge to protect your rights. In fact, Eric Lim’s past experience at Hewlett Packard, The International Law Firm of Fulbright & Jaworski (now Norton, Rose, Fulbright), and Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart gives him a breadth of experience to handle Austin criminal defense cases. Eric Lim has dedicated his career to representing clients who have been accused, investigated, or charged with state or federal crimes.

Over my career, I have worked at a well-regarded corporate law firm, for a state attorney general, and as a judicial law clerk.. I was privileged to begin my career with a one-year clerkship at the Texas Supreme Court, which is Texas's highest court for civil cases. Law clerks help the Court evaluate which of the roughly one thousand petitions filed each year should be granted and also help the Justices write their ultimate opinions.. After that, I worked as a litigator for Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a prominent New York law firm. While at Wachtell, I worked on a variety of high-stakes commercial disputes. The cases involved complex questions of contract law, insurance coverage, business torts, securities fraud, bankruptcy, antitrust law, and federal regulatory investigations. I was a member of the trial team in IBP, Inc. v. Tyson Foods, a landmark merger case in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and I also worked on the property-insurance lawsuit filed to help rebuild the World Trade Center. Because of my background in technology, I enjoyed my cases involving internet domain names, trademark law, and copyright.. In 2003, I returned to Texas to serve in the Office of Solicitor in the Texas Office of the Attorney General, which handles the State’s most significant appellate cases and offers younger attorneys the chance to step up as lead counsel on their own docket of cases -- an opportunity rare in large firms. As an Assistant Solicitor General, I personally argued before the Texas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and several Texas state appellate courts, and I also filed written briefs in the United States Supreme Court.. In the Texas Supreme Court, my argued cases included Reata Construction Co. v. City of Dallas, an important case about sovereign immunity in contract cases; NCAA v. Yeo, a case about the due process rights afforded to student athletes; and Texas A&M University v. Koseoglu, a case about suing state officials for breach of a settlement agreement.. In the Fifth Circuit, I was lead counsel for the State of Texas in Allstate v. Abbott, in which Allstate hired former solicitor general Kenneth Starr to attack a state law that limits its expansion into the auto-repair business. I also served as lead counsel in Equal Access for El Paso v. Hawkins, a structural challenge to the Texas Medicaid system.. While at OSG, I also served as the Lead Assistant SG on the Texas redistricting cases arising out of the 2003 congressional map.  I had primary responsibility for coordinating the trial court briefing (at trial and both remand proceedings), as well as merits briefing before the United States Supreme Court in Barrientos v. Texas, No. 03-756 (which was summarily affirmed) and in LULAC v. Perry, No. 05-204 (which was affirmed on all districts but one).. At the end of 2007, I took the next step in my career by starting my own appellate practice in Austin.

Our firm's motto is "Smart Families Plan Ahead." We strongly believe that a well thought plan which is implemented and maintained properly will create peace and calmness during life and make transitions through generations smooth and cost efficient. Attorney Julia Nickerson is a second generation estate planning attorney.. Before starting her own law firm, Ms. Nickerson practiced law for ten years at a large law firm where she learned creative ways to legally save wealthy clients large amounts of money in taxes. She represented clients in multi-million dollar litigation before the United States District Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She also taught law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Indiana School of Law.. When Ms. Nickerson gave birth to her first child, she almost died. This life-changing event made her realize as a mother and attorney how important it is for every family to have a legal plan.. Ms. Nickerson has also been deeply affected witnessing the struggles her brother and sister-in-law go through raising their autistic son. Julia has become passionate about helping families with special needs children plan ahead legally.. Many of Nickerson Law Group's clients have taxable estates, are business owners and real estate owners. Ms. Nickerson uses the Laureate process for Wealth Strategies and is skilled in techniques which allow clients to envision and realize their estate planning potential of securing assets for their families, creating legacies and reducing tax exposure.. We look forward to speaking with you and assisting you and your family plan ahead.

Our firm represents executives and physicians for their work-related problems, both legal and strategic. We specialize in handling non-competes, executive and physician contracts, Texas Medical Board defense, and negotiations both going into and exiting positions.. Barbara Gardner is board-certified in labor and employment graduated Number 1 in her law school class. With 20+ years experience in the field, including many trials and appeals, she will go to bat for you.

Our firm is devoted to helping individuals get back on track. My practice is focused exclusively on family law and family law mediation. The firm's approach to family law is mediation or collaboration first, litigation when necessary.  We are upfront about the costs associated with family law cases and will keep you informed throughout the course of your case.