In total, 60 Gray Reed attorneys were selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America's 2026 ranking, including one attorney who was named "Lawyer of the Year," and 18 named "Ones to Watch," a category recognizing attorneys who are earlier in their careers (typically five-nine years).
Gray Reed attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers in America include:
- Barry Adkins - Corporate Law, Tax Law
- Jay Aldis – Labor and Employment Litigation, Labor Law (Management), Employment Law (Management)
- Amy Allen – Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, Family Law Mediation
- Darrell Armer – Healthcare Law
- Daryl Bailey – Commercial Litigation
- Jill Bindler – Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law, Intellectual Property Litigation
- Mike Bishop – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Jason Brookner – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Insurance Law, Bankruptcy Litigation
- Darin Brooks – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Insurance Litigation
- Austin Carlson – Tax Law
- Amber Carson - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Bill Chaney – Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Plaintiffs)
- Stephen Cooney – Real Estate Law
- Brian Cororve – Trusts and Estates
- Ruth Ann Daniels – Labor and Employment Litigation, Labor Law (Management), Employment Law (Management)
- Chris Davis – White-Collar Defense, Securities Litigation, Securities Regulation
- Christian Dewhurst – Construction Law
- David Earhart – Corporate Law
- Glen Eichelberger – Trusts and Estates
- Marcus Fettinger – Employment Law (Management) and Labor and Employment Litigation
- Michael Gillman – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
- Cary Gray – Commercial Litigation
- J.J. Hardig – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Defendants), Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants)
- Vernon Howerton – Construction Law, Construction Litigation
- Jonathan Hyman – Commercial Litigation
- Phillip Jordan - Energy Regulatory Law
- Russell Jumper – Construction Litigation
- Aaron Kaufman – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation
- Kristen Kelly - Insurance Law
- Michael Kelsheimer - Labor and Employment Litigation
- Dan Kroll – Tax Law
- Andy Landry – Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants), Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions (Defendants)
- David Leonard – Commercial Litigation
- Norm Lofgren – Trusts and Estates
- Mary Mason – Trusts and Estates
- Andy Meyercord – Corporate Law, Healthcare Law
- Robbie Morris – Real Estate Law
- Jim Moseley – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation
- Brock Niezgoda - Corporate Law
- Jim Ormiston – Commercial Litigation
- Michael Overstreet - Tax Law
- Ralph Perry-Miller – Real Estate Litigation
- David Peterman – Corporate Law, Venture Capital Law
- Lindsey Postula – Real Estate Law
- Emily Radke - Trusts and Estates
- Jim Reed – Commercial Litigation
- Tom Rhodus – Tax Litigation and Controversy, Tax Law
- Greg Sampson – Trusts and Estates
- Kyle Sanders – Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, Family Law Mediation
- Charlie Sartain – Commercial Litigation, Energy Law
- Joshua Smeltzer – Tax Litigation and Controversy, Tax Law
- Pat Souter – Healthcare Law
- Ken Stone – Commercial Litigation, Health Care Litigation
- Skyler Stuckey – Commerical Litigation, White-Collar Defense
- Anna Virene – Banking and Finance Law
- Joe Virene – Construction Law, Construction Litigation
- J.P. Vogel – Construction Law, Construction Litigation
- Brian Waters - Insurance Law
- Jeff Watters – Trusts and Estates Litigation
- Lydia Webb – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation
Kyle Sanders was named the 2026 "Lawyer of the Year in Houston" for Family Law Mediation. This distinction is awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one attorney is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each specialty and location.
Gray Reed attorneys named "Ones to Watch" include:
- Julia Bobbitt - Construction Law
- Jeffrey Bourdon - Trusts and Estates
- Emily Bowlin - Real Estate Law
- Tatianna Brannen - Construction Law
- Max Brown - Commercial Litigation, White-Collar Defense, Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants)
- Ashley Dehart – Family Law
- Stephen Dwyer - Insurance Law, Construction Litigation
- Maria Fuentes - Real Estate Law
- Seth Granda - Labor and Employment Law (Management), Labor and Employment Litigation
- Patrick Kelly - Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Bankruptcy Litigation, Construction Litigation, Real Estate Litigation
- Gabe Oxford – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Construction Litigation
- Rachel Poynter – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Healthcare Law
- David Pruitt - Commercial Litigation
- Graham Quinn – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law
- Samuel Rajaratnam - Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants), Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)
- Constanza Recchini - Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Emily Shanks - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bankruptcy Litigation
- Jeremy Walter - Commercial Litigation, Energy Law
About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers has been regarded by lawyers and the public for more than 40 years as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. Thus, recognition by Best Lawyers signifies excellence in practice. Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America is based on comprehensive peer-review surveys, which this year, comprised of more than 16.1 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. This year alone, almost 58,000 voters responded to Best Lawyer surveys.
About Gray Reed
As a full-service Texas law firm, with a comprehensive range of litigation and transactional practice groups, Gray Reed’s 150 attorneys focus on understanding our clients’ businesses and industries. We are equipped to support companies and high-net-worth individuals with sophisticated legal needs. Through our subsidiary, Gray Reed Advisory Services, we extend our support with expert consultants who provide strategic business solutions tailored to each client’s objectives. Discover what sets us apart at www.grayreed.com and www.grayreedadvisory.com.