Skidmore Business Lawyers

Matthew G. Messerli is the founding attorney of The Messerli Law Firm, PLLC. Prior to pursuing his legal career, Attorney Messerli earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and his Master’s in Finance (MSF) from the Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He has accumulated more than a decade of experience as a business consultant and operator. Attorney Messerli later spent several years serving as a financial advisor to high-net-worth individuals and businesses before earning his Juris Doctorate (JD) from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman Law School in Dallas, Texas. His unique blend of...

AV Rated
40 plus years of experience
Less than 14% of attorneys throughout the entire United States are “AV” Rated
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We have limited our practice to Estate Planning and Taxation. And we are dedicated to giving you the legal solutions and tools you will need to plan and build for your future with confidence.


Member of The College of the State Bar of Texas
The College of the State Bar of Texas is an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained attorneys in Texas. Members are qualified attorneys who are interested in both high ethical standards and improved training for...

A founding partner of Steckler Wayne Cochran PLLC (“SWC”), Stuart Cochran is a civil trial lawyer with almost twenty years of experience litigating, trying, arbitrating, and mediating complex commercial, class action, and personal injury cases in state and federal courts across the nation. Stuart has a nationally-recognized consumer class action practice, and he is frequently brought in to cases outside of Texas due to his experience. More locally, Stuart handles complex commercial cases and catastrophic personal injury cases. Stuart’s practice is unique in that he handles cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. Stuart has helped recover...

I'm a native Texas who is passionate about attaining the best result possible for my clients under the given facts and law; I do not practice law for any other reason than to relentlessly give my clients the professionalism they are owed- but also to be a counselor in a time of strife. If I take your case, it means as much to me as it does to you. Because, I know nobody wants to face criminal jeopardy, whether it be a criminal charge against them, or a civil matter that may require litigation or a simple workout...

Marla Morgan Mundheim has over 26 years of experience in estate planning, trusts, real estate, small business, negotiations, probate, and contract development. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri in 1992 and attended Law School at Oklahoma City University School of Law, where she graduated with honors in 1996. She was admitted to the Texas State Bar in November of 1996. While in law school, Marla earned the Excellence for the Future Award in Wills and Estates from the Center of Computer-Assisted Legal Instructions (CALI), served as Research Editor for the Law Review, and was recognized for...

Gabriela is an experienced multilingual attorney based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Her experience includes working with a broad spectrum of clients, from family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies, to achieve the client’s goals with the utmost efficiency and professionalism.

KC Ashmore is a dedicated attorney and proud United States Coast Guard veteran who served in Search and Rescue from 1992 to 1996, embodying the motto "Semper Paratus" (Always Ready). Residing in Rockwall, Texas with his wife and children, KC balances family life with his legal career. When not practicing law, he enjoys quality time with family, outdoor activities, and motorcycle rides. KC's commitment to service extends throughout his community involvement. He actively participates in Habitat for Humanity building projects, serves on the Rockwall Bar Association's Board of Directors, and previously chaired the Dallas Bar Association's Home Project benefiting Dallas Area Habitat...

We provide business advice concerning business formation and governance, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and other business law matters. We prepare, review, and negotiate all types of commercial contracts. We also help business owners and executives plan for growth and expansion.

We also provide legal services in virtually all aspects of commercial real estate. Our firm has extensive experience in real estate development activities, particularly in the development of office, shopping centers, and retail facilities. Additionally, we provide advice and services regarding commercial leases to property owners and tenants, including the preparation of legal opinions for commercial closings.

From the courtroom to the boardroom, Braden M. Wayne provides corporate litigation and business counsel services to an array of clients, from financial institutions and healthcare providers to third-party insurers and retailers. A native Dallasite, Braden has a passion for helping local businesses navigate the corporate and legal terrain of North Texas. Prior to rejoining SettlePou, Braden served as General Counsel for one of the largest diamond wholesalers and jewelry retailers in the country, where he was responsible for all legal matters, human resources, real estate acquisitions, and enterprise growth. Braden is a member of SettlePou’s...

Cassie works to distill the complex legal issues to ensure the best possible resolution for her clients. She understands that many of these issues are emotionally-charged and works with her clients to make the best business decision.

Cassie represents companies and individuals in a wide variety of commercial disputes. Her current practice is focused on real estate, including title curative work, commercial property, landlord-tenant disputes, development issues, purchase and sale agreements, and breach of contract and business tort actions. Additionally, Cassie assists businesses in creating, implementing, and enforcing technology practices to protect confidential information and establish standards for use and access...

Houston Attorney Pete Patterson has been practicing law in the state of Texas for over 25 years, with a focus on oil and gas law, business litigation, and personal injury cases. Mr. Patterson was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990 after receiving his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, where he was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Barristers. In his legal career, Mr. Patterson has amassed over $150 million in verdicts, settlements, judgments, and recoveries for his clients. He maintains membership in a number of respected associations, including the American Board of Trial...

Joey Leak has a diverse litigation and business practice, representing clients ranging from individuals and local companies to regional and national firms. His transactional practice includes general business and real estate matters, as well as private equity fund formation and offerings. An experienced litigator, Joey is also able to assist his clients in a broad range of commercial matters, including those involving breach of contract, fraud, embezzlement, property disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, partnership disputes, and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

I am a 6th generation Texan and blessed because all of those generations were hard-working farm laborers--good people. I was born in the Texas Panhandle, in the small cattle town of Hereford and raised on an onion field in Rio Grande City, right on the Texas-Mexico border.

I studied business and economics for almost 10 years before I decided I needed a law degree to complement my profession as a consultant. Along the way, I learned that business, economics, law and onion fields all have one important thing in common: roots.

My life is God, family, and my profession, and...

Jodi Lazar practices family law exclusively and represents clients in both the traditional litigation and collaborative law models, depending on the client’s needs.

Jodi is also an Adjunct Professor in the Advocacy Department at The University of Texas School of Law, where she teaches Intensive Trial Skills and works with the Interscholastic Mock Trial Program.

EDUCATION
The University of Texas School of Law, 1988
The University of Texas at Austin, 1985

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & HONORS
Member, State Bar of Texas (Family Law Section)
Member, Oregon State Bar
Member, American Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member, Austin Bar Association (Family Law Section)
Member, College of the State Bar of Texas

COLLABORATIVE LAW...

Mike began his legal career as a prosecutor at the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s office representing the State of Texas in the prosecution of Misdemeanor and Felony criminal cases. He learned to prepare cases for trial and go to trial on a wide variety of criminal matters. Mike was then recruited by a leading employment law firm, Aaron Pena & Associates in the Rio Grande Valley representing clients in all aspects of employment litigation. During his tenor at Aaron Pena & Associates he learned the civil aspect of litigation. Mike handled cases from the inception of...

From a family of distinguished public servants, after obtaining his law degree from UT Law School, Gregory honed his legal skills for 20 years at Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP, in McAllen, where he practiced a broad range of property law, including estate planning and probate. He has represented individuals, businesses, national and State banks, and local government entities on all sides of transactions. Gregory is a member of the State Bar of Texas , a member of the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and is certified in Professional Fiduciary Management...

Michael M. Probus, Jr. received his law degree with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1988. Mr. Probus served as judicial law clerk for the chief judge for the United States District Court in Houston, Texas during his first two years as an attorney, then he returned to Austin for the private practice of law. In 1997, Mr. Probus founded his own law firm. Mr. Probus has been listed in Who's Who in American Law since 1996.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Joe Lassen served as a police officer with the New York City Police Department and retired as a Lieutenant after 20 years of service. He received his Bachelor of Science in 1993 from the John Jay College in Legal Studies and his Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2002. While in law school, Joe worked for the NYPD’s prosecutor’s office, handling high profile corruption cases. Joe was a first responder on September 11th at the World Trade Center and shares a special affinity for all military branches and first responders.

Joseph Lassen started practicing law...

Texas Attorney Nathaniel Gilbert practices in the area of estate planning and real estate.