Christy Amuny is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried over 100 cases to verdict. She received her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas (B.A. 1986) and attended Texas Tech School of Law (J.D. 1990). Christy is a native of Southeast Texas.
Missy K. Atwood has over 20 years of experience in health law and health care related litigation, including medical malpractice defense, and physician anti-trust claims, credentialing lawsuits, and other litigation involving health care…
Mark T. Beaman is an experienced trial attorney and administrative lawyer. He has been with the Firm since 1998. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has…
Stephen has represented individuals and businesses throughout the State of Texas, including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, Waco, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley.
Yanet M. Benitez was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Yanet graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Yanet attended law school at the University of Houston Law Center and received her J.D. in May of 2014. While in law school, Yanet...
Karen R. Bennett, managing principal with the firm, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech University, where she…
Chris Blackerby has successfully tried cases in both federal and state courts across Texas. Chris graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in 1989 with a degree in Philosophy. He received his law degree from the…
Robin represents a wide variety of clients and companies who are based locally, nationally, and internationally, and whose industries include retailers (premises liability, general negligence, premises security, products, DTPA), oil and gas…
Paula H. Blazek, has been Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1990 and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. An…
Gregg R. Brown is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of matters, focusing principally on construction litigation, product liability, long term exposure claims and wrongful death claims, as well as…
Ryan Bueche graduated from Trinity University in 2003, where he earned a B.A. with a dual major in Political Science and Philosophy. Ryan earned his J.D. from Baylor University School of Law in 2008. While in law school, he excelled in moot court…
Thomas M. Bullion III graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. After working for several years as an engineer, he went to law school at the Southern Methodist…
Jennifer Buntz has over 15 years’ experience handling a variety of litigation matters. She regularly represents clients in products liability and personal injury litigation and is part of a team of lawyers that defends numerous national and global clients including heavy truck, motorcycle, automobile, farm and agricultural equipment, vehicle component part and tire manufacturers in state and federal court litigation.
Kaitlin L. Carrillo joined Germer as an associate attorney in 2017. Kaitlin was born and raised in the west Texas town Sweetwater. She graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Texas at Austin.
Mandie received her Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, cum laude,in 2014 where she served as an Issues Editor and Senior Associate for the Louisiana Law Review and was a member of the National Moot Court Team and the South Texas Trial Advocacy Team.
Gary W. Coker, a principal with the firm, is a native of Jasper, Texas. He graduated with highest honors from Lamar University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance. Gary then attended the University of Texas…
Selina A. Contreras was born and raised in Rosenberg, Texas and graduated from the University of St. Thomas with Bachelor of Arts in psychology and minor in political science. Selina attended law school at South Texas College of Law and received her J.D. in May 2016.
C. Cohron “Buddy” Crutchfield, Jr. joined GERMER as a partner in 2005, bringing to the firm over 50 years of legal experience in commercial transactions involving the financing, construction, acquisition and sale of multi-family apartment…
Scott C. Crutchfield is a principal in the firm’s business section, and his practice includes: Representation of developers, lenders and business enterprises in commercial transactions, and in advising clients on the formation,…
Hunter Davidson is a native of Beaumont, Texas. He earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2015 where he was a member of the Phi Delta Phi honor fraternity, receiving the Top Grade Award in Criminal Procedure and…
Julie DeWeese is a summa cum laude graduate of St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing and Rhetoric in 2009.
Steve Dillawn, a principal with the firm, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1979, and worked as a petroleum engineer until 1986. He received his law degree from the University of…
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Fabio Dworschak has lived in the Houston area for nearly his entire adult life. After graduating from Houston Christian High School, Fabio volunteered to join the United States Army as a combat medic. Following nearly four years of service and two combat deployments (Afghanistan and Iraq), Fabio returned to Houston and...
Sonny Eckhart began working for Germer in 2015. Previously, he served as an Assistant Criminal District Attorney for Polk County, Texas, where he worked as a prosecutor and represented the county as its general legal counsel. Sonny has tried a…
R. Chad Geisler graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 with History and English degrees. He received his law degree, cum laude, in 1995 from Texas Tech University Law School. While in law school, Chad was selected as…
Larry Germer is a trial lawyer who has defended clients in major cases in all areas of litigation. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1966, he received his law degree from the…
Charles W. “Charlie” Goehringer, Jr. joined GERMER in 2001. Charlie graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont with a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree in 1980. He received a Masters of Business Administration…
Guy Neil Goodson graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1973, and then attended law school at Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1976. Guy began his…
Richard H. Grafton specializes in products liability, personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, and construction defect litigation. For over 20 years, Rich has defended and tried cases in both federal and state courts throughout the…
Barbara L. Hachenburg, an AV-rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, received her Bachelor of Science in Management degree in 1986 and Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1989 from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. In law school, she…
Jeff is a proud alumnus of both Texas A&M University and The University of Texas. Prior to joining Germer in 2017, he practiced law in San Antonio for 33 years, most of that time with the firm of Prichard, Hawkins and Young.
Maria T. Cantú Hexsel graduated cum laude from Our Lady of the Lake University in 1992, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies. She received her J.D. from Texas Tech University in 1995 and joined the Lubbock firm of Salinas…
James Hicks graduated from Duke University in 2007, where he earned a B.A. in Public Policy Studies and worked as Chief Operations Officer of a food delivery business. He then served for two years as a policy analyst under Mayor Michael…
Rett Holidy has been a principal with the firm since 2003. Rett is a native of Navasota, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and then from Baylor University…
Board Certified in Administrative Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Franklin represents physicians before the Texas Medical Board, where he previously worked as a Staff Attorney. That experience gives Franklin insight into the…
Gregory Howard is a litigation attorney with Germer PLLC. Greg is a proud native Houstonian, with undergraduate and graduate business degrees from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Since…
Sandra C. Howard is a Golden Triangle native who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Lamar University in 1993. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law in…
Jason L. Hughes is a native of Beaumont, Texas. He graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1993. After graduation, Jason started his career as a patrolman, then detective with the…
Sarah C. Jones is a native Houstonian and a University of Houston graduate. Prior to going to law school, Sarah worked for four years in the consumer fraud division of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Mark D. Lambert is a trial attorney with experience litigating across Texas in both state and federal court. He is certified and often appointed by courts as an Attorney Ad Litem. In 1999, he graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a Minor in...
Christopher D. Leavins is a native of Southeast Texas and joined GERMER in 2008. Chris attended Texas A&M University and earned his undergraduate degree in Economics in 2004 where he was recognized as a distinguished student in the…
Kate K. Leverett is a native of Beaumont, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 2009. Kate earned her law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2012 where…
Valerie Lewis is a Beaumont, Texas native. After graduating from Rice University in 2008, she taught English in two high schools in rural France for a year...
Born in Houston, Texas, Valerie Ly graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2004 with a degree in Finance. She then received her J.D. from SMU in 2007. While at SMU, Valerie received First Place at the National Entertainment…
C. Scott Mann, Jr. is a business lawyer with over 25 years of experience in representing developers, lenders and business enterprises in complex real estate transactions, business acquisitions, sales, and in advising clients on the formation,…
Elizabeth Massey ("Lisa") is a native of Naples, Italy. Lisa graduated from Baylor University with a dual major in Political Science and International Relations. Prior to attending law school, Lisa spent several years abroad where she gained experience working for both a multinational corporation and local businesses.
David Merkley joined GERMER in 1996 as an associate upon graduating from law school at Baylor University, and was elected as a principal of the firm at the end of 2002. His practice began from the firm’s home office in Beaumont, and has…
W. Paul Miller graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and a minor in Mathematics. Paul graduated magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law, and also briefly studied law at…
Toby F. Nash is a native of Beaumont, Texas who began his legal career at GERMER in 2005. He graduated magna cum laude from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting in 2002. Toby graduated in…
B. Eliot New has been with the firm since 2007 and has been a principal since 2014. He is a native of Lufkin, Texas who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with BBA and MPA degrees, and who graduated from...
Laura O’Toole was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. She earned her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1991 and has practiced in Austin since 1994. Laura is the co-author of Betting Booze & Brothels, Vice, Corruption and Justice in Jefferson County, Texas from Spindletop to the 1960s published by...
Nadine Ona is a native of Houston and joined GERMER in 2017. After attending the University of St. Thomas for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Nadine earned her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law, where she graduated in 2017 as a member...
John J. Patout Jr. (“Jay”) primarily practices construction, real estate, and development law with an emphasis on complex commercial and residential related matters. Mr. Patout works with clients during all phases of the acquisition...
Chris Pearson is a principal at GERMER in Austin, Texas. Chris has over 25 years of experience as a trial attorney with special emphasis in products liability defense, the defense of manufacturers in suits filed under the Texas…
Mark Ratway joined Germer in September 2017. Mark’s primary practice area is construction litigation, but he also represents clients in real estate and other commercial litigation matters.
Carmen Jo Rejda-Ponce (“CJ”) focuses on a broad range of labor and employment litigation, including, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation, disability accommodation, wage and hour laws, and unemployment benefits…
Justin Allen Rhodes is a native of Vidor, Texas. He graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business in 2011. Justin earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014 where he…
Collin D. Shellenberger is a trial lawyer. He was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, and he is familiar with the courts of Southeast Texas and the surrounding counties. Collin’s practice is primarily focused on litigation…
Larry J. Simmons, Jr., a principal in the firm, has tried dozens of cases as lead attorney in a variety of commercial, employment, civil rights and personal injury lawsuits. Larry is one of only twelve Texas attorneys double Board Certified as a…
J. Mitchell Smith began his legal career with Lynch, Chappell and Alsup, P.C. in Midland, Texas. He moved to Beaumont in 1994 and joined Wells, Peyton, Greenberg and Hunt, L.L.P. In 2001, he joined GERMER and became a principal with…
Kelli B. Smith graduated magna cum laude from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance in 1994. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law in…
G. Robert Sonnier has significant experience representing clients in litigation throughout several states in both state and federal courts with an emphasis in products liability, premises liability, toxic tort, trucking, and general civil…
Roy A. Spezia has focused his practice in the area of products liability for over twenty years. Roy is regional counsel for an automobile manufacturer for all of its products liability matters in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Additionally,…
Paul Byron Starr, a principal with the firm, was born and raised in San Antonio and graduated cum laude from Baylor University in 1995 with a double major in Marketing and Business Statistics. He received his J.D. from Baylor School…
James A. Tatem, senior trial counsel with the firm, is a graduate of the University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1989. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas…
Harrison E. Tatum is a native of Southeast Texas and joined GERMER in 2017. Harrison attended Lamar University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2013. Harrison earned his law degree from...
Adam P. Taylor joined Germer as an associate in 2017. His current principal area of practice is focused on civil litigation in state and federal court, including products liability, personal injury, and premises liability
Marcus Waters ("Marc") is a litigation attorney with Germer, PLLC. Marc received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1998. During his career, he has litigated and tried cases in state and federal courts across Texas.
Jeri P. Wechsler has over 20 years of broad senior level legal experience. She spent more than 10 years as in house counsel to specialty chemical...
Troy A. Williams represents a wide variety of clients and companies who are based locally, nationally, and internationally, and whose industries include retailers (premises liability, general negligence, premises security, products, DTPA), oil and gas…
Ben Zinnecker was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He attended Texas A&M University, where he received a B.A. in Philosophy in 2005. In 2008, Ben earned his J.D. from Baylor University School of Law, where he enjoyed success in pretrial, mock trial, and moot court competitions.
Jenna S. Zwang joined Germer as an associate attorney in 2018. Born and raised in Seattle, she graduated from the University of Southern California before earning her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
GERMER PLLC
550 Fannin, Suite 400
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Ph: 409.654.6700
Fax: 409.835.2115
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GERMER BEAMAN & BROWN PLLC
301 Congress Avenue, Suite 1700
Austin, Texas 78701
Ph: 512.472.0288
Fax: 512.472.0721
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GERMER PLLC
America Tower, 2929 Allen Parkway,
Suite 2900, Houston, TX 77019
Ph: 713.650.1313
Fax: 713.739.7420
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