HOUSTON – A dozen lawyers with AZA are being recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the nation’s oldest peer review guide to leading lawyers.

AZA partners Joe Ahmad, John Zavitsanos, Demetrios Anaipakos, Amir Alavi, Todd Mensing, Sammy Ford IV, and Tim Shelby were all rated for commercial litigation along with Of Counsel Shawn Bates. Mr. Ford also earned honors for his work in personal injury litigation on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants; Mr. Mensing received additional recognition for his construction litigation work. 

Firm partner Jane Langdell Robinson was recognized for her appellate expertise. Partner Scott W. Clark and Of Counsel David Warden were selected for their intellectual property litigation skills. Mr. Warden and firm partner Michael McBride both earned honors for their patent litigation work. 

Best Lawyers honorees are selected through a rigorous survey based on confidential evaluations from lawyers in the same or related specialties and within the same geographic areas. 

Three of the firm’s name partners have earned this honor for more than a decade: Mr. Ahmad was first selected in 2003, Mr. Zavitsanos in 2006 and Mr. Anaipakos in 2010. 

Twelve young firm associates and partners earned the special distinction as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, which recognizes top attorneys under age 40. Those honorees are Weining Bai, Cameron Byrd, Nathan Campbell, Justin Chen, Taylor Freeman, Shahmeer Halepota, Louis Liao, Kyril Talanov, Monica Uddin, Jordan Warshauer, Kelsi Stayart White and Patrick Yarborough. Messrs. Freeman, Halepota, Liao, and Ms. Warshauer are being recognized this year for the first time.

AZA is also on the U.S. News – Best Lawyers list of Best Law Firms, ranked in the top tier of area metropolitan firms for commercial litigation. 

AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., is a Houston-based law firm that is home to true courtroom lawyers with a formidable track record in complex commercial litigation, including energy, healthcare, intellectual property, and business dispute cases. AZA is recognized by Chambers USA 2021 among the best in Texas commercial law and intellectual property; by U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms as one of the country’s best commercial litigation firms for nine years running; has been named Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer; and was previously dubbed by Law360 a Texas Powerhouse law firm. National corporate counsel named AZA one of the country’s best in client service among law firms serving the Fortune 500.