Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of Chris Bankler, Noah M. Galton, Reagan M. Marble, Zachary McKay, and Zach Zurek to the “Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars” list for 2024.

The “Up-and-Coming 100” list recognizes outstanding attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, and selection is based on who received the highest point totals during the patented multiphase process used to identify the “Texas Rising Stars” of 2024.

Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes only 5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less as “Rising Stars.” To be selected for inclusion, candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including experience, results for their clients, representative clients, honors and awards, special licenses and certifications, their position with the law firm, bar and professional activity, pro bono and community service, scholarly lectures and writings, and their education and employment background. After the patented selection process is complete, results are validated by a third-party organization, resulting in a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys. For more information, visit the Super Lawyers website.

To explore Jackson Walker’s list of 2024 “Texas Rising Stars,” view the announcement.

Meet Chris

Chris Bankler counsels clients through the process of complex business litigation, including general business disputes, fraud claims, breach of fiduciary duty cases, and complex business bankruptcy litigation. Chris has served as litigation counsel in more than 100 cases in state and federal courts, as well as FINRA and AAA arbitrations. He also serves as lead special independent investigator on corporate and accounting issues, with particular focus on examining corporate director and officer fiduciary duties.

In 2024, Chris was recognized among The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White Inc. in the area of Commercial Litigation. He has also been named a “Texas Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers since 2018 and its “Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars” list since 2022.

Chris previously served on the North Texas Food Bank Advisory Council and the Cedars Union Arts Incubators Board of Directors.

Meet Noah

Noah M. Galton concentrates on condemnation/eminent domain and commercial litigation, including real estate litigation, energy litigation, litigating issues surrounding governmental/sovereign immunity, and general business litigation. Noah has prosecuted numerous lawsuits to jury verdict, including in both state and federal court, and has appeared in dozens of administrative hearings. Noah has a truly statewide practice, with experience in over 40 Texas counties.

Noah has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers since 2019, a “Top Attorney” in Eminent Domain by Austin Monthly since 2021, and a Finalist for the Austin Under 40 Award in 2020 and 2023. He has also been named a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. This is the third year in a row that Noah has been named to the “Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars” list.

Outside of his practice, Noah serves on the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Development Committee and previously chaired the Austin Bar Association’s Eminent Domain Section.

Meet Reagan

Reagan M. Marble represents large land and mineral owners, including mineral and royalty funds and, high net worth families, non-operating working interest owners, and investors in energy litigation and transactions throughout Texas and New Mexico. Reagan has been recognized among The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Oil and Gas Law since 2022 and Commercial Litigation in 2024, as a “Texas Rising Star” in the area of Energy & Natural Resources since 2018, and as a “Best S.A. Lawyer” and “Rising Star Lawyer” by San Antonio Scene in 2022. This is the third consecutive year he has ranked among the “Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars.”

Outside of his practice, Reagan serves on the boards of the Young Professionals in Energy – San Antonio and the Landman and Lawyers Clays Shoot. He is a past-board member of the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) and remains active in his family’s multigenerational cattle business.

Meet Zachary

Zachary McKay has extensive experience in untangling lien validity, priority, and value issues with a specific focus on statutory M&M and mineral liens. He has also represented hundreds of secured and unsecured oil and gas industry creditors ranging from small family-owned entities to the largest public companies in the world in all types of bankruptcy and restructuring settings. He has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” in the area of Bankruptcy since 2023.

Zach is a member of the Turnover Management Association, the Houston Association for Young Bankruptcy Lawyers, the State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section, the Houston Bar Association – Bankruptcy Section, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He previously served on the Executive Board of the Arthur L. Moller-David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inn of Court.

Meet Zach

Zach Zurek represents businesses, banks, construction companies, families and individuals, fiduciaries, and healthcare professionals through litigation in both state and federal courts. Zach has also represented clients in FINRA, AHLA, AAA, JWA, JAMS, and private arbitrations. In recognition of his practice, he has been honored as a “Texas Rising Star” for Business Litigation by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers since 2019 and as a “Best S.A. Lawyer” by San Antonio Scene magazine since 2018. He was also invited as a Fellow of both the Texas Bar Foundation and the San Antonio Bar Foundation in 2020. This is his second year to be listed among the “Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars” list.

In addition to his practice, Zach volunteers his time as a Director of the Federal Bar Association, President of the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, and a Barrister of the William S. Sessions American Inns of Court. He received his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

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 more than 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 matters ranging from millions to billions.