Matthew S. Williams is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young, where he is a member of the Corporate & Real Estate Transactions practice group. Matthew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston.
Education
South Texas College of Law – J.D., cum laude, 2024
Mason L. H. Grayson is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Grayson’s practice covers a wide range of areas from major infrastructure litigation, commercial and residential construction disputes, environmental and natural resource law, energy-related disputes and personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Education
Baylor University School of Law – J.D., 2023
Baylor University – B.A. History, cum laude, 2020
– Dean’s Academic Honor List
Samuel Pendergast is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. His practice primarily focuses on commercial litigation and construction law. Samuel received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston. During law school, Samuel was selected by his peers to serve as the Executive Editor of the South Texas Law Review, where he assisted in the publication of various academic materials written by judges, law professors, and other legal professionals.
Education
South Texas College of Law – J.D., cum laude, 2024
– Executive Editor, South Texas Law Review
– Dean’s Honor List
– Dean’s Merit Scholarship
– Presidential Fellows
Baylor University – B.A., Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation, 2021
– Dean’s Academic Honor List
Recognitions & Distinctions
Dean Elizabeth Dennis Award for Distinguished Service
Raymond Dennison is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. His practice primarily focuses on contract disputes, commercial litigation, and construction law.
He received his J.D. and graduated magna cum laude from South Texas College of Law in 2024, where he was a Presidential Fellow, Dean Scholar, and member of the South Texas Law Review. He was inducted into the Order of the Lytae and received the class’ highest mark in Construction Law, Contracts I, International Business Transactions, Legal Research and Writing I, Mediation Practice, Evidence, and Federal Income Taxation.
During law school, he clerked for the Honorable Beau A. Miller of the Texas 190th District Court and was a judicial intern for the Honorable David S. Morales of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Prior to law school, Raymond was the editor-in-chief of Houston Modern Luxury magazine and taught special education at YES Prep Public Schools.
Education
South Texas College of Law – J.D., magna cum laude, 2024
Reed College – B.A. English, 2009
Recognitions & Distinctions
Magna Cum Laude
Dean’s Honor List
Presidential Fellow
Dean Scholar
Order of the Lytae
CALI Awards for Excellence: Construction Law, Contracts I, International Business Transactions, Legal Research and Writing I, Mediation Practice, Evidence, and Federal Income Taxation.
Judicial Experience
Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Beau A. Miller, Texas 190th District Court
Judicial Intern to the Honorable David S. Morales, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Sarika Strake is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Her practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation and construction law. Sarika received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston in May 2023. Sarika received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in 2020.
Education
South Texas College of Law – J.D., cum laude, 2023
Texas A&M University – B.A. Communications, cum laude, 2020
Recognitions & Distinctions
Dean’s Merit Scholarship – South Texas College of Law
STCL Presidential Fellow – South Texas College of Law
Dean’s List – South Texas College of Law
CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Legal Research & Writing I and II
CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Torts I
CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Criminal Law
Allison is a trial attorney with a broad range of experience in construction, commercial, personal injury, and real estate disputes across Texas. Allison takes a practical approach to litigation evaluating all options in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for her clients, whether that includes a creative settlement, mediation, arbitration, or trial. Allison has represented a wide range of clients including individual property owners, mom and pop shops, and a Fortune 100 company, but regardless of the nature of the client, Allison’s focus remains on understanding and achieving client goals.
Education
Boston University School of Law –J.D., 2007
Dean’s Scholar
Public Interest Law Journal- Note Editor
University of Houston, –B.A. 2010,
Summa cum laude
Membership in the Honors College,
National Merit Scholarship Recipient
Representative Experience
Obtained six-figure judgment, including award of 100% of attorney’s fees in residential construction arbitration.
Successfully voided general warranty due to failure of consideration in Harris County trial and obtained judgment for attorney’s fees.
Successfully defended Temporary Injunction in probate/trust dispute seeking more than $2,000,000 in damages and complete freeze of personal accounts.
Reduced contested attorney’s fees by half in limited issue bench trial in Harris County related to title dispute over deed restrictions on commercial property.
Obtained summary judgment on multiple gross negligence claims, limiting exposure in catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims.
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Damage Control: Understanding and Limiting Damages in Texas, Thompson Coe Webinar – 2019
Virtual Depositions; HYLA Zoom CLE -2021
Community Involvement
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas
Memberships & Affiliations
Houston Bar Association
Texas Bar Foundation
Former Houston Young Lawyers Association Events Committee
Admissions
State Bar of Texas, 2010
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts
United States Courts of Appeals of the 5th Circuit
Greg is a Principal in the Cokinos | Young Houston office with 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer trying catastrophic injury and commercial cases to juries for both companies and individuals. He has taken verdicts across Texas in both State and Federal court.
Education
South Texas College of Law – J.D. 1998
University of Houston – B.A. Economics, 1992
Recognitions & Distinctions
Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Peer Review Rated
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Memberships & Affiliations
American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow)
American Board Of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS) – An organization made of only Board Certified Trial and Appellate Lawyers
International Association Of Defense Counsel (IADC)
Houston Bar Association
Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)
Admissions
State Bar of Texas (1998)
United States District Court: Northern, Southern, Eastern & Western Districts of Texas
United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth & Federal Circuits
Jacqulyn P. Jandrucko is an experienced litigation attorney who thinks outside of the box to achieve excellent results for her clients. She has successfully handled a large swath of cases including: construction defects in both commercial and residential buildings; premises liability; products liability; transportation claims, including trucking, transportation network companies, and dram shop related accidents; insurance coverage; professional liability; catastrophic injury; insurance defense; complex business disputes; and multi-district litigation.
Jacqulyn studied communications at the University of Texas at Austin and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Radio-Television- Film. After working both in front of and behind the camera, she decided to bring her public speaking, interpersonal skills, and presentation abilities to the ardent representation of clients in litigation.
Jacqulyn began her legal career while still attending law school; first as an intern for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and then, as a law clerk for a multi-district and class-action litigation firm. Since earning her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston, Jacqulyn has litigated in every stage of a case from pre-suit demands through trial and appeal. Jacqulyn’s careful preparation and candid guidance of her clients as they navigate the legal process provide successful results.
Education
University of Houston Law Center – J.D., 2009
University of Texas – B.S. Radio-Television-Film, 2003
Representative Experience
Represented general contractor in residential construction dispute securing a settlement for pennies on the dollar after successful pre-trial rulings.
Obtained summary dismissal on behalf of a transportation network company that was affirmed on appeal and set legal standard in Texas.
Represented national insurance company in first party claims of property damage related to hail, hurricane, and other storm damage. Experienced in drafting coverage opinions and defending against allegation of underpaid claims.
Defended manufacturers of various products including compressed air and processing equipment, traffic barriers, skin care, and hair care.
Secured dismissal of wrongful death action claiming negligent security against property owner.
Memberships & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas
Admissions
State Bar of Texas (2009)
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern, & Western Districts of Texas
Ashlay Leger is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Her practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation and construction law. Ashlay received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston where she was selected for the varsity moot court team as both an oral advocate and a brief writer. As an advocate and writer, she competed in the Chicago Bar Association, McGee Civil Rights, Prince Evidence, and Wechsler First Amendment competitions spanning 2021-2022. She was an active member of campus organizations such as the Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society, Women’s Law Society, and the Black Law Student Association for which she served as the social media co-chair. While in school, Ashlay worked in the Legal Writing Center on campus as a Legal Writing Consultant to her peers. She also worked as a research assistant where she assisted a professor in completing a treatise on Texas Trial and Appellate Procedure. Additionally, Ashlay served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Dedra Davis of the 270th Civil District Court.
Education
South Texas College of Law – J.D., 2023
Dean’s List
University of Arizona – B.A. Law, 2020
Recognitions & Distinctions
Association of Corporate Counsel 2022 Scholarship Award Recipient
CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Legal Research & Writing II and Torts II
Judicial Experience
Judicial Intern for the Honorable Judge Dedra Davis, 270th Civil District Court
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Guest Speaker on Appellate Advocacy at Rice University’s Introduction to Law Course (2022)
Legal Ethics in Television and Cinema, Garland Walker American Inn of Court (2023)
Exit Right: How to Leave a Law Firm (Ethical and Disciplinary Considerations), Garland Walker American Inn of Court (2024)
Memberships & Affiliations
Texas Bar Association
Houston Bar Association
Houston Young Lawyer’s Association
Garland Walker American Inn of Court
Houston Lawyer’s Association
The Downtown Group
International Legal Technology Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court: Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
Emma Myles is a litigation attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Emma’s practice broadly encompasses complex commercial disputes with concentrations in bankruptcy and creditor’s rights, construction and energy law, and intellectual property matters. Emma has experience representing a wide range of clients in both state and federal courts across Texas. Her experience further includes representing creditors in federal bankruptcy courts in Delaware, Florida, and Montana. Emma received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. While in law school, Emma served as the Chief Articles Editor for the Houston Business & Tax Law Journal and as the External Vice President of Intellectual Property Student Organization. She also served as a legal writing TA for first-year law students.
Education
University of Houston – J.D., 2023
The College of St. Scholastica – B.A. Marketing and Management, 2017, cum laude
– Minors: French & International Business
Recognitions & Distinctions
2023 State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section Diversity Scholarship Recipient
Recipient of the 2022 – 2023 Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law Co-Directors Award
Judicial Experience
Judicial Intern for the Honorable Alan D. Albright, United States District Court: Western District of Texas, Summer 2022
Publications
“He’s Got Your Eyes”: Enacting a Federal Biometric Data Privacy Statute to Secure Privacy Rights Following the Technological Shift to Digital Platforms, 24 Hous. Bus. & Tax L. J. (2023).
Memberships & Affiliations
Member of the National Order of Scribes – The American Society of Legal Writers (Inducted in 2023)
Member of The Arthur L. Moller–David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inn of Court
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern & Western Districts of Texas
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