Lander B. Baiamonte is an attorney in the San Antonio office of Cokinos | Young. Prior to joining the firm, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, representing federal agencies and employees. During her six and a half years as an AUSA, Lander successfully handled a wide variety of cases from initial complaint to trial and appeal. Her experience includes defending against negligence, employment, administrative, immigration, and FOIA claims; prosecuting affirmative civil rights and civil penalty claims; handling criminal prosecutions; and protecting federal government interests in bankruptcy proceedings. Lander has first and second chair trial experience and has taken cases to verdict in state and federal courts on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. Before her federal service, Lander practiced at a plaintiff’s personal injury firm and served as a municipal prosecutor for the City of Corpus Christi.
Lander earned her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School, where she was a Senior Staff Editor for the Journal of Legislation, served three terms as her class representative to the Student Bar Association, and was recognized as a Top Ten Litigator. While in law school, she served as a Legal Fellow to U.S. Representative Filemon Vela on Capitol Hill, analyzing and drafting legislation affecting small businesses nationwide. After graduation, she clerked for the Honorable Nelva Gonzales Ramos of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In 2021, she was elected a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the legal profession and her commitment to the community.
Education
Notre Dame Law School – J.D., 2015
University of Texas at Austin – B.S. Communication Studies and B.A. English, both with Honors, 2012
Recognitions & Distinctions
Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
Leadership Corpus Christi, Class 53
American Heart Association Woman of Impact, 2023
Judicial Experience
Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Nelva Gonzales Ramos, S.D.T.X. (2015–2016)
Judicial Intern to the Honorable Nelva Gonzales Ramos, S.D.T.X. (2014)
Representative Experience
Negotiated favorable settlement terms in numerous lawsuits involving personal injury and related claims
Litigated as second chair on a wrongful death suit, resulting in a $32.1 million jury verdict
Obtained Fifth Circuit affirmance of a favorable defensive ruling in an employment discrimination suit
Litigated as first chair in a negligence suit wherein the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff below what the client had offered at mediation
Represented various creditor clients’ interests in bankruptcy proceedings
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Visiting Professor, Notre Dame Law School, Intensive Trial Advocacy- Fall 2021; Spring 2020
Memberships & Affiliations
Texas Bar Association
Texas Women Lawyers
Texas Exes
Texas Young Lawyers Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Community Involvement
Junior League of Corpus Christi, Board of Directors
Coastal Bend Women Lawyers Association, Board of Directors
An experienced and results-driven litigator, Justin focuses on high-stakes commercial and construction litigation for businesses and individuals across Texas. With an extensive background in government, private, and nonprofit positions, he brings a unique perspective to complex legal disputes involving intricate litigation and transaction issues. Justin thrives in high-pressure cases, utilizing a strategic, aggressive approach to achieve efficient and favorable outcomes for clients. Whether dealing with construction defects, title disputes, or general commercial matters, he is dedicated to providing clients with bold and effective representation.
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law – J.D., 2023
Pepperdine University – B.A. Sport Business Administration, 2020
Memberships & Affiliations
Federalist Society
Texas Young Lawyers Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States Courts of Appeals of the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court: Western District of Texas
Community Involvement
Go Rodeo Roundup Committee Member, San Antonio Rodeo
Amanda Ornelas Arreguin earned her BBA in Business Management from May’s Business School at Texas A&M University in 2017. She then attended St. Mary’s University School of Law, graduating in 2020. During law school, Amanda was actively involved in the Hispanic Law Student Association, the Women’s Law Association, and the Society of Oil and Gas Law Students. She has represented clients across South Texas in various areas of law, including real estate, oil and gas, estate planning, landlord/tenant disputes, and commercial litigation.
Education
St. Mary University School of Law – J.D., 2020
Texas A&M University, May’s Business School – BBA Business Management, 2017
Recognitions & Distinctions
Scene in S.A. Magazine Rising Star (2023)
Representative Experience
Real Estate – Transactional and Litigation
Estate Planning and Probate
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Commercial Litigation
Memberships & Affiliations
San Antonio Bar Association
Bexar County Women’s Bar Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas (2020)
United States District Court: Western District of Texas (2022)
Marshall Swanson is a San Antonio native and commercial litigation associate in the San Antonio office of Cokinos | Young. Since 2015, Marshall’s practice has focused on complex civil, general business, and construction litigation. Marshall’s experience covers a variety of areas including mechanic’s liens, contract and payment disputes, partnership litigation, personal injury defense, post-judgment collections, formation of business entities, and industry contract negotiations for businesses in the construction and maritime sectors.
Education
University of Houston – J.D., 2015
Texas State University – B.A. History & Political Science, 2012
Memberships & Affiliations
Texas Bar Association
San Antonio Bar Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas 2015
United States District Courts: Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
Community Involvement
Jewish Community Center of San Antonio, Board of Directors
Jade Misenhimer is a commercial litigation associate in the San Antonio office of Cokinos | Young. Jade has experience analyzing complex commercial construction defect issues, as well as both prosecuting and defending residential construction defect claims. Jade has had great success in settling nonpayment disputes and works diligently to get clients efficient results. Jade graduated cum laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law. During law school, Jade served as an Associate Editor for The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race and Social Justice, in which she was also published. Jade also competed on St. Mary’s National Moot Court Team, where she and her team won the Mack Kidd Administrative Law Moot Court Competition and she was named Best Oralist. Jade also won various brief writing awards in her time on the team. During law school, Jade also served as President of the Juvenile Jurisprudence Association, a Peer Court program that focuses on reformative justice for underprivileged teens through constructive sentencing.
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law – J.D., cum laude, 2023
Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi – B.A. Political Science, 2019
Recognitions & Distinctions
Graduated Cum Laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Mack Kidd Administrative Law Moot Court Competition, Champion (2021)
Mack Kidd Administrative Law Moot Court Competition, Best Oralist (2021)
National Online Moot Court Competition, Best Runner-Up Brief (2022)
Judicial Experience
Judicial Intern to the Honorable David S. Morales, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Presenter, Texas Construction Law: Advanced Issues and Answers – Determining Who is Insured Under Commercial General Liability Policies, National Business Institute, July 24, 2024
Presenter, Texas Construction Law: Advanced Issues and Answers – Coverage for Construction Defects Under CGL Policies, National Business Institute, July 24, 2024
Publications
Innocent Until Proven Incompetent, 25 Scholar: St. Mary’s L. Rev. on Rac. & Soc. Just. 197 (2023).
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
Western District of Texas
Community Involvement
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Go Rodeo Committee Volunteer
Rachel Moreau-Davila has extensive experience in representing clients across state and federal courts in Texas and Colorado, including government agency practice, with many years of trial litigation experience.
Prior to joining Cokinos | Young, Rachel practiced in corporate immigration, representing companies and individuals before government agencies. She advised large, multinational companies in business and investment immigration matters such as employment visas (H-1B, H-2B, TN, E-2, L-1, J-1), consular processing, permanent residency (including PERM Labor Certification, Multi-National for Managers/Executives), and naturalization. Provide strategic international employment solutions for international and domestic companies in various industries. Advise on all business visas such as H-1B, L-1A/L-1B, TN, Advise on business investment visas E-1/E-2; Advise on all immigration-related workplace compliance matters with the U.S. Department of Labor; Research and write formal legal memoranda and federal court pleadings on complex governmental regulatory issues; Represent corporations in talent acquisition and entire employment visa process (including H-1Bs, L-1As & L-1Bs, Es, E-2s, TNs). Represent companies in immigration employment matters with the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as represent clients in litigation against the U.S. Department of State.
Additionally, Rachel has lived and worked abroad, including working directly with leading international human rights attorney Jia Ping, the Chief Executive Director and Founder of China Global Fund Watch Initiative. She has conducted extensive legal research in the international law field, specifically referencing Non-Government Organizations worldwide (NGO’s). She has collaborated in the past on drug reform policy for China and has met with international leaders in the NGO community in China.
Rachel has also lived internationally for many years and has met with international leaders both politically and in the NGO community in Mexico, and is fluent in Spanish and French.
Rachel is licensed to practice law in State and Federal courts in Texas and Federal court in Colorado. She is based in San Antonio, Texas.
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law – J.D., 2014
University of the Incarnate Word – B.A. Psychology of Organizational Development, Summa Cum Laude, 2005
Recognitions & Distinctions
Alumnus of Gerry Spence National Trial Lawyers College
Elected Honorary Member of Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society
Institute on World Legal Problems at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, 2012; with Distinguished Jurist: United States Supreme Court Justice Antonio Scalia
Institute on Chinese Law and Business at Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 2013
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2026): Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
E2 Business Visa & Entrepreneur Investments webinar – October 2021
Principal Speaker for MCLE Conference for SABLA, Introduction to Immigration Concepts – July 2022
Memberships & Affiliation
Member of the American Bar Association
Member of the Federal Bar Association
Member of San Antonio Black Lawyers Association
Member of Texas Bar College
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Courts: Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States District Court: District of Colorado
Community Involvement
THRU Project Nonprofit Organization, Former Board Member and Committee chair
San Antonio Bar Association, Community Justice Program’s Veterans Clinic, volunteer
Johnathan Bailey is a former name and founding partner in the firm Bailey & Bailey, P.C., where, over 25 years of practice, he built a reputation for knowledge and excellence in representation of construction, service, IT, and manufacturing companies seeking to do business with the numerous agencies of the federal government and the State of Texas. Now, Johnathan has brought those 25 years of knowledge and experience to Cokinos | Young.
Johnathan has litigated more than 250 bid protests involving billions of dollars in federal contracts before the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the United States Court of Federal Claims. Johnathan has also prepared, negotiated, and litigated hundreds of Contract Disputes Act claims with dozens of federal contracting agencies and litigated before all existing (and previously existing) Boards of Contract Appeals and the FAA’s Office of Dispute Resolution.
Coming from a small firm environment, Johnathan has extensive experience in representation of small business federal contractors, especially socio-economic programs administered by the US Small Business Administration, including the 8(a) Business Development, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, and HUBZone programs.
The wide range of challenges faced by federal contractors has also given Johnathan many years of experience in a range of federal contracting matters, including Department of Labor (Service Contract Act and Davis-Bacon Act) compliance, suspension and debarment proceedings, and qui tam litigation under the federal False Claims Act.
Education
St. Mary’s University – J.D., 1996
University of Texas at Austin – B.A. Government, 1991
Recognitions & Distinctions
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (2026): Construction Law
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
First Organizer and Presenter, FBA National Government Contracts Symposium 2014
Presenter, SBT 2021 Annual CLE for Board Certified Construction Lawyers
Memberships & Affiliations
Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
Federal Bar Association Public Contracts Law Section
San Antonio Bar Association Construction Law Section
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States Court of Federal Claims
United States District Courts: Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States District Court: Northern District of Florida
United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Federal Circuits
Kristin Zachman is a government contracts lawyer and litigator with over a decade of experience providing legal advice and representation to commercial businesses operating in the federal procurement arena. Kristin counsels government contractors on Small Business Administration certification programs and compliance including the SDVOSB, WOSB, 8(a), and HubZone programs, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian programs, and the All Small Mentor Protégé program. She provides guidance on solicitation reviews as well as representation on bid protests before GAO and the United States Court of Federal Claims. Kristin is adept at handling Request for Equitable Adjustment (REA), Contract Dispute Act (CDA) claims, and appeals. She also handles ancillary matters such as Miller Act claims between prime and subcontractors and EEOC, DOL, and NLRB proceedings.
Education
Baylor University School of Law – J.D., 2011
Trinity University – B.A., 2008
Recognitions & Distinctions
Named as Rising Star in Government Contracts by Thomson Reuters (2021 & 2022)
Representative Experience
Successfully represented protesters before GAO resulting in re-evaluation of proposals and award of attorney fees.
Successfully defended client’s $7 million contract award from protest by unsuccessful offeror before GAO and thereafter the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Successfully defended client’s $100 million aircraft refueling contract from protest by unsuccessful offeror before GAO.
Areas of Industry Represented in Protests and Government Contract Disputes: Healthcare Services, IT Services, Food Vendor and Cafeteria Service, Waste Disposal, Aircraft Refueling, Aircraft Washing, Base Operations Services, Custodial and O&M for Federal Buildings, Grounds Maintenance, Ambulance Services, Design-Build Construction, Construction and Construction Repairs.
Memberships & Affiliations
State Bar of Texas
San Antonio Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Courts: Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States Court of Federal Claims
Practice Before
United States Comptroller General (GAO)
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals
Small Business Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals
Federal Aviation Administration Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition
Christopher Burwell is a Principal at the San Antonio office of Cokinos | Young. Since 2009, Christopher has represented general contractors and subcontractors with respect to commercial, private, and public works, both at the state and federal levels. Christopher’s practice particularly focuses on drafting, filing, and defending construction claims against public entities as well as private commercial entities, and preparation of mechanic’s and materialmen’s liens on a public and private commercial project level. Christopher continually advises and educates clients as well as assists in filing and prosecuting claims against private and public payment and performance bonds at the state and federal levels. Finally, a good portion of Christopher’s work focuses on review, comment, and interpretation of public and private commercial contracts, pre- and post- procurement and commencement. Christopher has been board-certified in Texas Construction law since 2016 and has held office for the Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association. As a son of a public school teacher and farmer, Christopher uses his experience and small town upbringing to provide a hardening, resilient, analytical, yet common-sense approach to his practice and his clients’ everyday legal issues.
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law – J.D., 2009
Syracuse University at Utica – B.A. Government & Politics, magna cum laude, 2006
Recognitions and Distinctions
Past chair of the San Antonio Bar Association Construction Section
Memberships and Affiliations
Texas Bar Association, Member
San Antonio Bar Association, Construction Section (past chair)
Board Certified by the Texas Legal Board of Specialization in Construction Law (inaugural year)
American Bar Association, Member
Federal Bar Association, Member
Texas Construction Law Association, Member
Texas Young Lawyers’ Association, Member
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Courts: Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
Board Certified by the Texas Legal Board of Specialization in Construction Law (inaugural year)
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Federal Circuits
Matthew J. Longoria is an attorney with both trial and transactional experience. Prior to joining Cokinos | Young, Matthew was a municipal attorney representing governmental entities where he provided legal guidance on a wide range of issues, including complex land use and zoning decisions, personnel and employment matters, and water and wastewater utility disputes. In his municipal prosecution practice, Matthew was lead attorney on more than two dozen jury and bench trials that resulted in successful verdicts.
A San Antonio native, Matthew has a diverse background and experience in both creative and legal fields, making him adept at addressing a variety of legal issues. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2008 and his Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2016. Additionally, he studied intellectual property law at Beihang University in Beijing, China, with a focus on emerging Chinese copyright and trademark law.
Education
St. Mary’s University School of Law – J.D., 2016
University of California – B.A. Film and Digital Media, Production, 2008
Recognitions & Distinctions
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2025–2026): Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Alamo Area Council of Governments – Newly Elected Officials Workshop (June 2021)
– Balancing Enforcement with Compliance in Municipal Court
Alamo Area Council of Governments – Workshop for Planning and Zoning Commissioners and Elected Officials (April 2021)
– Special Zoning Tools: Special Use Permits, Conditional Use Permits, Planned Development Districts
Alamo Area Council of Governments – Newly Elected Officials Workshop (December 2020)
– A Roadmap of CARES Act Relief Funds
Alamo Area Council of Governments – Newly Elected Officials Workshop (July 2020)
– Navigating Religious-Based Zoning Protests
Memberships & Affiliations
Texas State Bar
– Litigation Section
– Government Law Section
– Administrative and Public Law Section
San Antonio Bar Association
Texas Young Lawyers Association
Texas City Attorney Association
San Antonio Young Lawyers Association
Admissions
State Bar of Texas
United States District Court: Western District of Texas
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