Merkel Construction Lawyers

A practicing trial attorney for over 40 years, Barry Deacon brings a unique perspective to his personal injury and business litigation cases. He has tried lawsuits as counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants, which has given him the insights and experience needed to protect his clients’ interests and anticipate the other side’s legal strategies. Attorney Deacon has also jointly represented thousands of corn farmers from multiple states against a global biotech company that allowed an unapproved genetically modified corn seed trait to be introduced into a foreign market resulting in US corn exports to that country being rejected and turned away....

Yanine Krohn is an attorney who has been practicing civil litigation in the Greater Houston area for over 8 years. Yanine has successfully represented clients in both jury and bench trials involving various complex litigation matters. Yanine has experience with all phases of litigation, including case evaluation, legal research, case management, discovery, oral depositions, mediations, settlement negotiations, arbitrations, and trial. In addition to her trial work, Yanine has successfully litigated matters before the Texas First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. Despite the varied complexity of issues that may arise, Yanine’s goal is always the same – to navigate clients through their...

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...

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...

Voted Johnson County's #1 lawyer or law firm for 5 years, Scott is a general practice attorney with an emphasis on civil litigation, trial and appeals. He has handled many jury trials and appeals covering areas that include real estate, oil & gas and business transactions. Scott also currently serves as Mayor of Cleburne. In addition to litigation and trial, the attorneys at Cain & Associates handle transactional matters ranging from estate planning and wills to real estate transactions and corporate matters. The firm's areas of practice include real estate, probate, oil & gas, business and contract.

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...

Michael P. “Mike” Metcalf doing business as Metcalf Mediation & Arbitration Services is engaged in the practice of law that centers on the mediation and arbitration of civil disputes. Judge Metcalf has more than 40 years of legal experience that includes service in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp, as a District Attorney, District Judge and trial lawyer. Mike, a trial lawyer, is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law.

Judge Metcalf was a judicial pioneer who recognized the need for litigants to seek a resolution to their case...

Michael Callahan is a trial lawyer who fights for people. He has practiced in the area of personal injury law his entire legal career. Michael specializes in representing victims in serious injury cases, such as those involving spinal cord injury, paralysis, brain injury, loss of limb, burns, and wrongful death. Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989. Upon graduation, he moved to Houston to work as a design and construction engineer. For the next several years, Michael worked for two major engineering/construction firms and was involved in the...

Mr. Slania graduated magna cum laude from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2003. At Saint Louis University, he was a three-year catcher for the baseball team and received the honor of Outstanding Performance from Conference USA. In 2006, he received his Juris Doctorate from University of Houston Law Center, where he was editor of the Houston Law Review and received the designation of Best Law Review Comment about Corporate Law. He is currently licensed to practice law in Texas and Arizona and was recognized in the Texas Super Lawyers List by Thomson Reuters in 2022 and Super...

Frank and his wife chose Dallas to live and begin his law practice as a civil litigator. Upon starting to practice law, he thought it important to support his career by joining legal organizations so he could grow in the practical depth of the profession and nurture his need to meet lawyers with the same passion. Frank G. Giunta found membership in these various legal organizations provided a forum which enabled him to engage with other professionals to discuss and share ideas which ultimately provides resources to better serve his clients and the general community where he lives. ...

Pierce Adkins is one of the top rated Products Liability attorneys in Houston, TX. Mr. Adkins represents clients located throughout the United States and abroad and has successfully litigated a variety of state and federal civil litigation matters throughout his career. Mr. Adkins received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi and his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.

Having graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor's Degree in English and a Doctorate of Law from St. Mary's University Law School, businessmen and women, attorneys, even judges have relied on Mr. Davis' expertise with language and law. He has focused his practice on Real Estate and is currently a Real Estate Broker and Notary Public; formerly Mr. Davis was a Title Fee Office owner/operator, Escrow Officer, Mortgage Broker and Loan Officer.

As Managing Partner for The Cromeens Law Firm, PLLC, Karalynn holds more than 10 years of experience practicing construction, real estate, lien and business law. Within her professional career, Karalynn has successfully filed more than a thousand lawsuits to foreclose or remove mechanic's liens, with 10 to 15 of those being tried to a jury.

Karalynn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Carroll College, before attending the South Texas College of Law, where she received her juris doctorate in 2004. With her extensive experience within the construction and real estate industries, Karalynn goes the extra mile,...

Paul Grinke is Managing Partner of McCathern’s office at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Mr. Grinke has broad experience on a national level, litigating complex commercial and catastrophic event claims from both sides of the docket. He has successfully litigated commercial breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and employment covenant claims. In addition, Mr. Grinke prosecutes and defends claims involving personal injury, wrongful death, and disastrous property damage arising from construction defect, product defect, trucking, and liquor liability.

Mr. Grinke leads McCathern’s Construction Defect, Product Liability and related Fire Litigation practices. He has particular expertise in counseling institutional clients involved in tragic...

Angela M. Hahn manages the Austin office of Doyen Sebesta & Poelma, LLLP. With ten years of Mock Trial experience, Ms. Hahn tried more cases before graduating from law school, than most lawyers do in a lifetime. Now, with fifteen years of real-world experience as a practicing civil trial lawyer, she regularly handles matters involving construction defects, product liability, contract disputes, property damage and general negligence claims. Ms. Hahn focuses on large-loss insurance subrogation claims and has developed a passion for lightning-induced fire losses, especially those involving Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) or Radiant Barriers.

Beyond prosecuting property damage cases, Ms....

Scott D. Smith is a seasoned trial lawyer who has obtained favorable verdicts for clients on both sides of the docket. Mr. Smith has experience in all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts throughout the United States, including resolving a broad array of business and commercial disputes, as well as having extensive experience representing financial advisers and financial institutions in financial services litigation in FINRA and AAA arbitration proceedings. He frequently represents financial advisers and financial institutions in employment disputes, securities enforcement actions, as well as regulatory and compliance matters, and assists his clients...

Business and IP attorney by day, long-time anime enthusiast and PC gamer by night—I get excited about all things "Contracts Litigation"! While obtaining my B.S. in Business Administration, I began my career in the legal field by managing the pro bono volunteer program at Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. There, I handled case intake, drafted simple wills/advanced directives for attorney review, facilitated civil legal clinics, and managed pro bono hotline volunteers. I also served the Florida Bar Foundation Guiding Coalition on Pro Bono Transformation by consulting about policy and program implementation. During my 1L summer, I ventured into the realm...

Frank is an Of Counsel at Cotten Schmidt, L.L.P. and is licensed to practice before all Texas state courts, U.S. District Court Northern District Of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals-Fifth Circuit. He is certified to serve as a mediator and arbitrator, has tried hundreds of cases before both the bench and to juries, and successfully mediated and arbitrated numerous disputes.

His employment before law school in the construction industry and in...

Savannah has over 15 years representing clients in and out of the courtroom. She has handled cases in both state and federal court. Savannah is experienced in contract negotiation, mediations, bench trials, and jury trials.

With the Law Office of Stephen Boyd Moon, LLC you will always feel right at home, knowing you are represented by an experienced attorney - not a paralegal - who will be with you from start to finish. The Law Office of Stephen Boyd Moon, LLC works with its clients by advising, preparing documents and agreements, and counseling its clients. The Law Office of Stephen Boyd Moon, LLC is proud to represent clients in Brazos, Leon, Grimes, Burleson, Washington and Robertson Counties and all across the great State of Texas. The Law Office of Stephen Boyd Moon, LLC utilizes technology...

Austin Smith focuses his practice on litigation and dispute resolution. Austin has experience in handling a wide variety of matters in state and federal court, involving complex commercial and business disputes, fraud, personal injury, and criminal matters including white collar crime. From 2017 to 2018, Austin was honored to serve as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Amos L. Mazzant in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. With Austin has been consistently selected by BestLawyers as “One to Watch” (2020-2022) and Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2021-2022) - a recognition that only 2.5%...

Brantley Saunders is a business and real estate attorney in McKinney, TX, specializing in general business advice and litigation, who has been helping individuals and businesses solve legal issues for over 20 years. His experience in over 25 jury trials helps focus his clients on the important issues to attack. It also allows him to see the issues in advance for business planning and avoiding litigation when possible. Setting out a plan for success in litigation or transactional work is his bread and butter. Real estate, business entities, insurance, personal injury and mediation are his primary areas of focus.

Bill is a native of Dallas who returned to the area after law school. Bill’s main area of practice is in personal injury litigation with many successful trials to his credit. He dedicates himself to serving the citizens of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. His greatest priority is ensuring that each client receives the legal remedy in their best interest.

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...

Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law

The Finman Law Firm focuses on Business legal services, Real Estate, Homeowner's Wrongful Denial Claims, and foreclosure defense litigation. From its inception, the number one goal at the Finman Law Firm has been to focus on the needs of the individual client. We put you first. We understand the stress involved in being part of the legal process and we make it our mission to get you through it safely. The attorneys at The Finman Law Firm have extensive experience in advising and representing businesses and homeowners, and have developed sophisticated legal tools and strategies to assist our clients in...

Stephen Harrison knows construction law. He is a founding partner of a lawfirm that practices exclusively construction law. Stephen is Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been named many times as one of the Super Lawyers of Texas by Texas Monthly magazine, and frequently lectures in construction law seminars, and has taught Construction Law at Texas A&M Law School. Stephen is also a Registered Professional Engineer. He frequently represents parties in construction defect litigation, delay damage claims, construction contract disputes, professional liability cases and construction arbitrations. He graduated with honors from the University...

ABOUT BEN
Dallas-based attorney Benjamin Palatiere is a courtroom veteran with over 10 years of experience helping individuals, families, and businesses in civil disputes.


Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008
Texas State University, magna cum laude, 2005


Licensed/Admitted

Benjamin is admitted to the Texas Bar and licensed to practice in all district and county courts at law throughout the state.


Groups / Clubs

Dallas Young Lawyers Association
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Seasoned attorney, Thomason B. Bush is a graduate of both the Texas Tech University School of Law and Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business. Prior to attending college, Thomason developed a passion for business law while working for his family's various small businesses and seeing their entrepreneurial spirit. It is with that spirit in mind that Thomason founded the Law Offices of Thomason B. Bush, PLLC to assist local businesses with their legal needs.

Thomason B. Bush is licensed by the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts in the Northern...

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...

Judith Meyer is a partner in the Houston office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2017 and focuses her practice on securities litigation, broker litigation, breach of contract matters, business disputes, mediation and arbitration, construction defect litigation, premises liability and toxic tort defense, employment torts, and commercial real estate matters.

Judith is a qualified mediator for general civil disputes under the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Act and has served as a volunteer mediator for the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center.

Judith earned her B.S., magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University in 1979. She earned her J.D. in 1985 from...

Driven by a strong desire to offer high-quality services that make the legal system more accessible to individuals and businesses, Eric Franklin established the law firm of Franklin, Franklin & Associates, serving the Beaumont, Houston, and Wharton, TX areas. He has spent years defending policyholders’ rights following fires, hailstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters. He accepts clients anywhere in Texas. Clients can also connect with him for cases related to: · Business, Commercial, and construction litigation · Car, 18-wheeler, and motorcycle accidents · Any catastrophic...

Robert Fadem is a plaintiff's trial attorney born and raised in Houston, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at University of Colorado at Boulder in 2010. He subsequently graduated from South Texas College of Law in December of 2013 where he was a dean's list student. While in law school at South Texas, Mr. Fadem interned for a prominent commercial litigation firm located in Houston, Texas. Following graduation, Mr. Fadem served as an attorney for Judge Michael Landrum at the 113th Civil District Court where he acquired countless hours of courtroom observation, legal research experience...

William T. "Bill" Sebesta is an experienced and accomplished trial lawyer whose practice emphasizes insurance subrogation. After his initial training in insurance defense and bad faith litigation, he then spent 6-1/2 years with Cozen O’Connor’s Dallas office where he was trained in the art of large loss subrogation. In 2004, Bill returned to his hometown of Houston and continued his subrogation practice at a mid-size firm, focusing on energy-related losses.

In January 2007, Bill and Scot Doyen opened the doors of Doyen Sebesta Ltd. LLP, where Bill is in charge of the firm's subrogation practice group. Bill’s broad experience in subrogation...

I represent individuals and small-to-midsize businesses in a variety of litigation matters, with a primary emphasis on contract and construction disputes.

Thomas H. Smith III was born and raised in Arlington, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002 with a degree in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. He then attended the University of Houston Law Center where he served as an Articles Editor for the Houston Journal of International Law. Tom began working at Roger G. Jain & Associates as a clerk in February 2004. When he graduated from UH Law Center in 2005, he continued here as an attorney, where he has worked through today. He is a trial lawyer, whose insight, analysis, and attention to detail have...

I'm from a small town in the piney woods of Southeast Texas where my Mamaw always told me "Tricia, we are just country folk." She was an elegant woman whose lessons gave me solid roots.
When I grew up, I graduated from Texas A&M University where the Lieutenant Governor of Texas told us that as Texans and as Aggies people around the world know and trust us. I earned my Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. Created to educate returning veterans under...