Best Lawyers | Lawyers of the Year | Ones to Watch
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas. For over three decades, recognition in Best Lawyers has been regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, since an attorney cannot pay to be listed.
In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
A special congratulations to the attorneys named Lawyers of the Year for 2025:
Congratulations to the following attorneys named among the Best Lawyers in America for 2025:
The year shown next to an attorney’s name marks the first time they were recognized as Best Lawyers.
Austin
- Ali Abazari (2022) – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Environmental Law
- Stacy Allen (2022) – Commercial Litigation
- Jim Alsup (2009) – Real Estate Law
- Brad Anderson (2024) – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Sue Ayers (2025) – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Michael Baldwin (2022) – Trusts and Estates
- John Beckworth (2003) – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – First Amendment; Oil and Gas Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Craig Bennett (2024) – Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Marilyn Montano Brown (2023) – Commercial Litigation; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Chuck Campbell (2008) – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Katie Carmona (2025) – Commercial Litigation
- Lorin Combs (2022) – Real Estate Law
- Wade Cooper (2007) – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy
- Raman Dewan (2014) – Patent Law; Trademark Law
- Leonard Dougal (2007) – Energy Regulatory Law; Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental; Natural Resources Law; Water Law
- Matt Dow (2012) – Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Lenora DuBose (2022) – Real Estate Law
- Alicia Duleba (2023) – Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Jennifer Freel (2022) – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Noah Galton (2025) – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Henry Gilmore (2024) – Real Estate Law
- Arthur Gollwitzer (2014) – Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Meghan Griffiths (2019) – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law
- Sam Hildebrand (2006) – Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
- Taylor Holcomb (2022) – Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental
- Brandon Janes (2012) – Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Aldean Kainz (2021) – Commercial Litigation
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Dallas
Fort Worth
- Jarrod Cone (2025) – Real Estate Law
- Jeffrey Gilmore (2025) – Commercial Litigation
- Jeffrey Grable (2023) – Energy Law; Oil and Gas Law
- Albon Head (2005) – Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Litigation – Construction; Railroad Law
- Joel Heydenburk (2021) – Real Estate Law
- Gary Ingram (2006) – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
- William Jenkins (2024) – Commercial Litigation
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Houston
San Antonio
- Karl Baker (2019) – Real Estate Law
- Stephen Calhoun (2022) – Commercial Litigation
- Stephanie Chandler (2017) – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Venture Capital Law
- Mark Comuzzie (2020) – Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
- Amanda Crouch (2025) – Commercial Litigation
- Brandon Durrett (2025) – Energy Law
- Rick Garza (2019) – Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Erica Benites Giese (2025) – Criminal Defense: General Practice; Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Jeff Harvey (2021) – Arbitration; Insurance Law; Litigation – Insurance
- Peter Hosey (2019) – Energy Law; Oil and Gas Law
- Steve Jacobs (2005) – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities Regulation
- Ann Leafstedt (2024) – Corporate Law
- Julia Mann (2018) – Commercial Litigation
- Shari Mao (2025) – Corporate Law
- Reagan Marble (2022) – Commercial Litigation; Energy Law; Oil and Gas Law
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- James McDonough (2006) – Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Finance Law; Commercial Transactions / UCC Law; Corporate Law; Real Estate Law
- William McDonough (2021) – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Mark Miller (2025) – Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Marshall Miller (2021) – Corporate Law
- Jed Morrison (2006) – Health Care Law
- Scott Rose (2010) – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy
- Robert Soza (2021) – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Environmental
- Matt Swantner (2022) – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Insurance
- Patrick Tobin (2005) – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Venture Capital Law
- John Wittenberg, Jr. (2006) – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
- Zach Zurek (2024) – Commercial Litigation.
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The Firm proudly congratulates the following attorneys named among the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list for 2025:
The year shown next to an attorney’s name marks the first time they were recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Austin
Dallas
Fort Worth
- Allison Allman (2021) – Appellate Practice; Litigation – Real Estate
- Lauren Azopardi (2024) – Labor and Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Nathan McCune (2023) – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
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Houston
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- Emily Flynn Meraia (2024) – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Christian Ryholt (2025) – Trusts and Estates
- Bethany Pickett Shah (2025) – Appellate Practice
- Jocelyn Slater (2021) – Commercial Litigation; Elder Law; Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
- Jackie Staple (2021) – Education Law; Labor and Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Courtney Wade (2024) – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law; Energy Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Shannon Wright (2024) – Appellate Practice
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San Antonio
Meet JW
Since Jackson Walker’s founding in 1887, our attorneys have represented some of the most influential companies and business leaders in the world. Today, we remain firmly rooted in Texas while serving clients around the globe. With over 500 attorneys, we are the largest firm in Texas and have been recognized by Law360 as a “Texas Powerhouse” and an “elite law firm” that regularly provides counsel to industry-leading clients on highly complex transactions ranging from millions to billions.
William S. Dahlstrom
John B. Holden, Jr.
John V. Jansonius
Alfred M. Meyerson
Cynthia Brotman Nelson
Sarah Patel Pacheco
James Pledger
Robert F. Ruckman
James D. Struble