Austin County Business Lawyers

For almost 25 years, I have represented men and women accused of crimes in state and federal courts. Before opening my office, I served as a CIA officer for 5 years. I have also served as a special prosecutor. Very few attorneys have handled as many federal criminal cases as I have. Don’t be fooled by lawyers who spend more time and effort on advertising than they do on representing clients.

After serving as law clerk on the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for two years, entered private practice of law in 1972. Practice includes transactional commercial and residential real estate, small business, wills and estate planning, and franchising law.

Sam Haren practices primarily in the area of business litigation. He was born and raised in Belton, Texas. Sam began his career as a securities attorney with Andrews Kurth, LLP from 2007 to 2009. He then took a position with the Texas Finance Commission from 2009 to 2010 where he enforced financial regulations against various types of lenders. In early 2010, Sam returned to private practice in the commercial litigation firm of Fernelius Alvarez PLLC. In 2012, Sam joined Hawash Meade Gaston Neese & Cicack LLP, where he focuses on commercial and insurance litigation.

Admitted to Bar: 1984, Texas and Oklahoma Practice: Litigation; Oil and Gas. Experience: Mr. Ballentine has 35+ years of commercial litigation experience, primarily concerning disputes over upstream and midstream energy contracts, such as exploration agreements, joint operating agreements, wellhead sales agreements, gas processing contracts, natural gas purchase and sales agreements, maintenance and service agreements, natural gas and natural gas liquids transportation agreements and other related contracts. He has represented energy clients in complex litigation, including class actions in both state and federal courts, as well as litigation over state, federal and private mineral royalty claims, natural gas measurement False Claims Act qui...

Experienced bankruptcy and business lawyer.