Ashlay C. Leger

Biography

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 Houston – 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)

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Texas Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Young Lawyer’s Association
  • Garland Walker American Inn of Court

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court: Southern District of Texas

Emma P. Myles

Biography

Emma Myles is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Emma’s practice primarily focuses on construction, commercial, and intellectual property law litigation. Emma received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in May 2023. While in law school, Emma was the Chief Articles Editor for the Houston Business & Tax Law Journal as well as a legal writing TA. She also served as the External Vice President of Intellectual Property Student Organization. As an undergraduate at The College of St. Scholastica, Emma double-majored in Marketing and Management with a double-minor in French and International Business.

Education

  • University of Houston, J.D., 2023
  • The College of St. Scholastica, B.A. in Marketing and Management, 2017

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

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

  • Inducted into the National Order of Scribes for excellence in legal writing
  • 2022-2023 Honorable Nancy F. Atlas Intellectual Property Inn of Court Pupil

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas

Reagan H. “Tres” Gibbs, III

Biography

Tres Gibbs focuses his litigation practice on complex business and construction disputes as well as bankruptcy matters and creditors’ rights. Tres has represented plaintiffs and defendants in state, federal, and bankruptcy court across Texas and in other states. Tres takes pride in understanding his clients’ business and personal needs, in addition to their legal ones, and develops practical and efficient solutions to meet them. Tres’s experience covers a wide variety of disputes in the construction, real estate, energy, financial, and corporate sectors.

Education

  • Texas Tech School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2012
  • Texas A&M University, B.S., 2006

Recognitions & Distinctions

  • Named “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers (2021)
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” (2021-2024)
  • Named a “Top Lawyer” by Houstonia Magazine (2018-2022)

Representative Experience

  • Successfully defended client in adversary proceeding in District of Colorado Bankruptcy Court against Trustee’s claim for turnover of property related to Debtor’s pre-petition fraudulent transfer of vintage 1965 Shelby Cobra; Prevailed on counterclaim for declaration that client’s equitable title defeated trustee’s legal title to Cobra.
  • Obtained relief from automatic stay on behalf of bank client in hotly contested single real estate Chapter 11 bankruptcy case against opposition from multiple secured creditors, which allowed client to foreclose on property and recover in full.
  • Successfully resolved complex interpleader action involving competing claims to over $3.5 million in disputed funds brought by nearly fifteen parties based in the factoring industry. Case involved claims of UCC priority, tortious interference, and breach of contract.
  • Prevailed at bench trial and obtained six figure award for client in dueling breach of contract claims; defeated opposing claims and won nearly six figure judgment.
  • Successfully resolved partnership dispute for client/member of spirit branding company and distributor against claims of fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets.
  • Obtained take nothing judgment for client following bench trial on behalf of national vehicle service center against claims that client violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of client applying to probate will and be named independent executor in hotly contested will contest.
  • Prevailed on Application for Attorneys’ Fees and obtained nearly $100,000 award for client in hotly contested guardianship proceeding.

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • Houston Bar Association

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Texas
  • United States District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado

Maurice W. Sayeh

Biography

Maurice is a versatile litigator who represents clients in a wide and diverse range of matters including commercial disputes, product liability and mass torts, wrongful death, and appellate matters. He routinely represents individual and corporate clients before federal and state courts throughout the country. He has successfully represented clients in “bet-the-company” litigation and trials. In addition, Maurice has experience representing clients outside the courtroom through alternative dispute resolution.

Education

  • St. John’s University School of Law, J.D., 2017
  • St. John’s University, B.S., Public Relations, 2012

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of New Jersey
  • State Bar of New York
  • United States District Court: Northern, Southern & Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court: Western District of New York
  • United States District Court: District of New Jersey
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth & Second Circuits

Community Involvement

  • President, St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association, Alumni of Color Chapter
  • Director, St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association
  • Co-Chair, New York County Lawyer Association’s Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity
  • Mentor, Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program

Kristen A. Wheeler

Biography

Kristen Wheeler is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Her practice primarily focuses on construction law and commercial litigation, representing residential, commercial, and industrial construction clients. She also has experience in employment related disputes, including non-competition and trade secret issues.

Kristen received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2022. While in law school, she served on the executive boards for the UH Law Center’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Team and the International Law Society. She also worked as a judicial intern for U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr. and for former Judge Gregg Costa for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Additionally, she interned with the Texas Attorney General’s office in the Consumer Protection Division.

Prior to law school, Kristen was a 4th grade ESL teacher in Spring Branch ISD for two years while serving as a Teach for America Corps member.

Education

  • University of Houston Law Center – J.D., 2022
    – Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy
    – Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, Executive Board
    – International Law Society, Executive Board
  • Texas A&M University – B.A., Political Science, 2017

Speaking Engagements & Presentations

  • HR Houston General Meeting: Texas’s Enhanced Sexual Harassment Laws: Nearly One Year Later

Publications

  • An Adequate Shift from Inpatient Care or a Kick to the Curb: The Need to Shift Hospitals’ Discharge Criteria from Hospital-Focused to Patient-Driven, HOUS. J. HEALTH L. & POL’Y 1 (2023).

Judicial Experience

  • Judicial Intern to the Honorable Ewing Werlein, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Judicial Intern to the Former Judge Gregg Costa, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court: Southern District of Texas
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Community Involvement

  • Bellaire Ducks Unlimited – Present Chairman
  • Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest – Contestant Supervisor
  • St. Thomas’ Episcopal Young Alumni Board

M. Jake Peters

Biography

Jake Peters is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. Jake’s practice primarily focuses on construction law and commercial litigation. Jake received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in May 2022. While in law school, Jake served as Vice President of the Corporate and Tax Law Society for two years and was a member of the Consumer and Commercial Law Journal. As an undergraduate at the University of Texas, Jake majored in Economics and earned a Business Foundations Certificate from the Texas McCombs School of Business.

Education

  • University of Houston – J.D., 2022
  • University of Texas at Austin – B.A. Economics, 2018

Judicial Experience

  • Judicial Intern for the Honorable Jeffrey V. Brown, United States District Court, Southern District of Texas

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas

Jude K.A. des Bordes

Biography

Jude des Bordes is an attorney in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young.  His practice focuses primarily on personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial litigation.  Jude received his J.D. with honors from South Texas College of Law Houston where he was selected for the varsity moot court team, competing in the National Energy & Sustainability and National Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court competitions in 2018.  He was an active member of campus organizations including the Black Law Student Association and the Oil & Gas Law Society for which he served as the Student Outreach Coordinator.  While in school, Jude served as intern for the Honorable Reed O’Connor of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Education

  • South Texas College of Law Houston – J.D., cum laude, 2019
    – Presidential Fellow
    – Dean’s List
  • University of Houston – B.S. Biology, 2016

Recognitions & Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2024- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • The National Black Lawyers – 2023 Top 40 Under 40
  • CALI Award for Academic Excellence in Legal Research & Writing, Professional Responsibility, and Family Law

Publications

  • Jude des Bordes, Lightning Oil: The Erosion of Mineral Estate Rights, 2 Harry L. Reed Inst. of Oil & Gas Energy Newsletter 3 (2018)

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Houston Young Lawyers Association

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court: Southern & Western Districts of Texas

Randall L. Brim

Biography

Randy grew up in Los Angeles, Dallas and Tyler, but has lived in Houston since 1984 after moving here to attend law school. During his first 15 years of practice, Randy worked principally as a litigator and as an appellate lawyer, handling both federal and state court appeals, including arguments before the Supreme Court of Texas and briefing to the Supreme Court of the United States. Since then, he has transitioned to focus primarily on corporate, transactional and real estate work, although he remains actively involved in litigation, appellate law, construction law, employment law and other matters.

Randy has two children, Connor and Kendall. He has spent many years working with several lacrosse-related organizations and coaching girls high school lacrosse. Randy is also past Captain with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Education

  • South Texas College of Law – J.D., 1987
    – South Texas Law Review
  • Texas Christian University – B.B.A., 1982

Speaking Engagements & Presentations

  • Speaker, Insurance Bad Faith Claims Handling Seminars

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Houston Bar Association, Member

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas (1987)
  • United States District Court: Southern District of Texas

Community Involvement

  • U.S. Lacrosse (Houston Chapter), Executive Committee
  • T.C.U. National Alumni Association, Past Director
  • T.C.U. Young Alumni Association (Houston Chapter), Past President
  • The Woodlands Girls Lacrosse Association, Past President
  • Division Coordinator, Coach, FFPS Soccer, Past Commissioner
  • Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1772, Eagle Scout Advisor, Past Scoutmaster, Past Troop Committee Chairman

David A. Brooks

Biography

David is a native Houstonian and graduate of Bellaire High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston and his law degree from South Texas College of Law. David works as a transactional real estate attorney with a focus on the telecommunications industry, including the acquisition of easements and leases, title review, and risk assessment related to telecommunications tower sites. David also has significant experience representing clients in connection with the acquisition, development, and disposition of property as well as the negotiation of commercial and retail leases.

Education

  • South Texas College of Law – J.D., magna cum laude, 2014
    – Recipient of the Dean Elizabeth Dennis Award for Distinguished Service
    – Recipient of CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Contracts I; Torts II; and Wills, Trusts & Estates
    – Recipient of Dean’s Merit Scholarship
    – South Texas Law Review, Member
  • The University of Houston – B.A., 2010

Recognitions & Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2024- Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate Law

Representative Experience

  • Extensive representation of a telecommunications client in connection with the acquisition and extension of property interests in cell tower sites
  • Represented clients in negotiations for the purchase and sale of improved and unimproved commercial properties
  • Represented landowner clients in the negotiation of leases for solar farms and wind farms for the generation of clean energy
  • Represented a client in acquiring and redeveloping city-designated historic property
  • Assisted with the development of multi-family and single-family residential projects
  • Represents commercial landlords and tenants in the negotiation of commercial office leases and retail leases
  • Preparation of covenants, conditions, and restrictions for retail centers and lease forms for office and retail leases
  • Miscellaneous work related to real estate transactions of all kinds, including the formation of entities and negotiation of financing

Publications

  • Depository Trust Company and the Omnibus Proxy: Shareholder Voting in the Era of Share Immobilization, 56 S. Tex. L. Rev. 205 (2014)

Memberships and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas, Member
  • Houston Bar Association, Member
  • Young Lawyers Association, Member

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas (2014)

Serena A. Kramer

Biography

Serena was born in Memphis but has lived in Houston most of her life.  She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Houston and her law degree from South Texas College of Law.  She has two boys with her husband, Evan, a Plainview native.  Serena joined Singleton Cooksey in 1992, working principally as a litigator and appellate lawyer.  After leaving in 2001 to become a full-time stay-at-home mom, she returned to the firm in 2007, as a transactional real estate attorney with an emphasis on title and survey review, title curative work, buyer and seller due diligence, including for multifamily purchase and sale transactions.  Serena’s practice has also included risk assessments, communications tower-related easements and leases, acquisitions of communications towers, individually and as part of a portfolio, and commercial leasing.   In addition to her legal practice, Serena served as a volunteer in various capacities at her children’s elementary, middle and high schools over the years, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and with BSA Troop 30, and she is actively involved as a volunteer with the West Point Parents’ Club of Greater Houston, serving as the co-chair of the Texas Tamale Tailgate at West Point in 2021.

Education

  • South Texas College of Law – J.D., cum laude, 1990
    – South Texas Law Review, Asst. Editor
    – Order of the Lytae
    – Texas Trial Lawyers Association Law Review Writing Award (1988)
    – Corpus Juris Secundum Award (Scholastic Excellence in Constitutional Law, Federal Procedure, and Texas Post-Trial and Appellate Procedure)
  • The University of Houston – B.S., 1987

Publications

  • Author, The Eleventh Amendment Should Not Protect States from Liability Suits in Federal Court Under CERCLA and SARA, 20 State Bar of Texas Environmental Law Section Law Journal 74 (1990)

Memberships and Affiliations

  • State Bar of Texas, Member

Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas (1990)
  • United States District Court: Southern District of Texas
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Community Involvement

  • West Point Parents’ Club of Greater Houston (Volunteer and 2021 Co-Chair of the Texas Tamale Tailgate at West Point)

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