Weslaco Business Lawyers

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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.

Martin C. Law is an associate in the litigation section of Patout & Shaw, PLLC. His primary practice areas are arbitration, mediation, oil and gas, commercial law, real estate litigation and development, construction law, and consumer transactions. While in law school, Mr. Law was awarded the Lawrence C. Hoff Jr. Memorial Scholarship and the Dean’s Scholar Award. Mr. Law actively participated in the school’s award winning advocacy program, which culminated in a first place finish at the 2013 FINRA/St. John’s Securities Dispute Resolution Competition. He was an active member in the Oil and Gas Law Society, the Environmental Law...

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...

Pamela Hailey-Petty is an experienced attorney and owner of Hailey-Petty Law Firm, PLLC. She has legal offices in both Austin and San Antonio. Since 2014, Mrs. Hailey-Petty has helped numerous Texans organize their futures through her knowledge and expertise in estate planning law. She also regularly provides legal counsel to clients navigating the probate process and to those interested in business formation.

Prior to her career as an attorney, Mrs. Hailey-Petty worked for the Governor of Texas. During her time at the Governor’s office, she served as the Investment Manager and Deputy Director of the 300-million-dollar Emerging Technology Fund.

Mrs....

I have twenty-seven years of practice in litigation in various areas of the law including business, family and divorce, probate, real estate and creditor's rights. I also handle transactional matters including small estate drafting, real estate and contracts. I am the attorney for the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, handling all economic development matters for the City of Seguin. I was the Seguin City Attorney for 9 years.

I have a B.A. in History from UT Austin, a J.D. from the University of Houston and a Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. I have...

Maricela Garcia is the founder and principal attorney of Garcia Legal Team, PLLC. As a first-generation Mexican-American raised in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Maricela’s upbringing reflects the resilience and determination of her immigrant parents, who came to the United States in pursuit of a brighter future for their family. She is married to a proud U.S. Navy veteran and is the mother of four daughters, who inspire her daily commitment to integrity and perseverance. Maricela’s parents, despite limited formal education, instilled in her the value of hard work and the transformative power of education. These lessons shaped her...

Attorney J. Philip Collier has been influential attorney in the construction arena in South Texas. Established in 1991, his firms has in-depth knowledge of commercial construction practices, positive trial experiences, and a commitment to consistently provide favorable solutions to his clients problems. Philip Collier has been nominated by his peers as one of the best construction litigation attorneys in San Antonio for the years 2009 and 2010. S.A. Scene Magazine. Philip Collier began his career working for general contractors who built Wal-Marts and Taco Bell restaurants in multi-state venues. His ability to blue prints, and his understanding of the construction contract...

Practicing in San Antonio and South Texas.

Trent Nichols is a 7th generation Texan born and raised in rural Central Texas. When it came to work, he learned and adopted the values that run deep through the people this great state was built on: Work Hard. Work Smart. Work Honest. Those same values define the approach to legal representation at the Law Offices of Trent Nichols. Trent has dedicated his career to serving, supporting, and fighting for his clients, relying on his wealth of knowledge and experience in business and a tenacity to achieve results. Trent focuses his practice on what he knows best: Business Law, Civil...

For the last 15 years, Dan spent his time helping San Antonio small businesses and real estate investors achieve their dreams. “An attorney is a small business,” said Burke. “That’s why I take real pride in helping my clients grow. We’re all on the same team.”

After working with large law firms and companies, Dan found that helping small businesses improve their processes, grow and thrive was his calling. He now enjoys providing San Antonio with personal and affordable legal services for business, real estate and probate needs.

JASON J. JAKOB, ESQ. Mr. Jakob is a Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Diaz Jakob, LLC. His practice is focused on business and corporate litigation, commercial transactions, constitutional law, family law and civil litigation. Mr. Jakob received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from University of Houston Law Center, and his Bachelor's degree from University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude. After attending law school he served as a General Counsel of Core Funding Group, L.P., until starting his own law firm in 2006. As General Counsel, Mr. Jakob managed the legal department of the company....

More than 20 years as a trial lawyer and litigator in federal and state courts, both for the defense and as plaintiff, handling maritime and admiralty cases, oilfield cases, transportation cases, product liability cases, insurance cases, commercial disputes, suits against federal and state governmental entities and personal injury and wrongful death cases. Licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and Texas.

Former Justice, 13th Court of Appeals Visiting Judge, 5th Administrative Region EDUCATION: • St. Mary's University School of Law, JD, 1987 o Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Fraternity. o Sr. Associate Editor of St. Mary's Law Journal (published). o Tie for American Jurisprudence Award in Contract Law. o American Jurisprudence Award in Police Misconduct-Civil Rights Litigation. • University of Texas at Austin, BA in Zoology, 1983. CERTIFICATIONS: o Basic and Advanced (Civil & Family) Mediation Certificates - Mediators & Arbitrators of America. o Basic and Advanced Arbitration Certificates - Mediators & Arbitrators of America. o TMCA Credentialed Mediator by the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. o National Judicial College’s Advanced Skills for Appellate Judges...