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About
Provided by John Zavitsanos
Practice Areas
John Zavitsanos is a highly regarded trial lawyer who loves trying cases and loves winning. He has achieved success for a multitude of clients – both defendants and plaintiffs, from big energy companies to lone whistleblowers battling the odds.
He has tried almost 100 cases to verdict in litigation that runs the gamut: financial services, oil and gas, construction, complex commercial disputes, director and officer liability, non-compete and trade secret disputes, and defamation/business disparagement. He is the primary author of O’Connor’s Texas Rules * Civil Trials 2018-2021, the premiere civil trial rules guide for Texas lawyers and judges.
He has learned from every jury trial by surveying the jurors after the case and learning what conventional wisdom has outlived its usefulness. That’s a lot of input since even just he has tried more than a dozen cases in the last few years.
And his willingness – delight, actually – at trying a case with confidence has impressed numerous heavyweight clients. As one happy customer put it, “I find that many large law firms are willing to capitulate too quickly and pressure me to settle too soon.” He said he knows that Mr. Zavitsanos is “serious about going to trial.”
Mr. Zavitsanos’ considerable talents have been recognized by every possible legal rating service. For 18 consecutive years, he’s been listed by Best Lawyers in America. He’s recognized for his General Commercial Litigation work in Texas by the highly respected Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, published by London-based Chambers and Partners. He was also named a Benchmark Litigation Star in 2016-2022. And he is a Litigation Counsel of America Senior Fellow. And he was named a Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America for 2021 with a focus on commercial litigation, intellectual property, and securities.
He has achieved the highest possible peer rating, AV Preeminent, by Martindale-Hubbell, the premier legal directory, for his Business Litigation practice. He’s been named by his peers as one of the top 100 Texas Lawyers on the annual Texas Super Lawyers list for the past eleven years. And he is board certified in civil trial law by both the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an accomplishment held by less than 2 percent of all practicing lawyers in the state of Texas.
THE RESULTS OF SOME OF MR. ZAVITSANOS’ RECENT CASES
In 2021, Mr. Zavitsanos won a $62.65 million verdict from a Nevada jury in a nationally watched case for emergency room physician group clients who were underpaid by United Healthcare, the largest insurer in the nation. The jury in this seven-week trial unanimously found malice, oppression, and fraud in the underpayment of the doctors. This verdict against a cluster of United Healthcare affiliates will serve as a bellwether for more than two dozen similar cases around the nation against various insurers.
In 2021, Mr. Zavitsanos successfully represented emergency room physicians in obtaining a $19.1 million Houston jury verdict against a large insurance company in the first case in the nation to litigate emergency room physicians’ out-of-network pay from private insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act.
In 2021, Mr. Zavitsanos successfully represented the estate of a red snapper fisherman who had been cheated out of $1 million. We obtained $5.1 million for his heirs just when the jurors started to deliberate the four weeks of testimony they had heard. The pre-trial offer was $0.
In 2020, Mr. Zavitsanos successfully represented emergency room doctors in obtaining a $9.4 million jury verdict against an Arkansas insurance company in a breach-of-contract case in which the insurance company grossly underpaid emergency room doctors. AZA was hired six days before trial. AZA will be representing more emergency room doctors’ groups against insurance companies across the country that have been systematically stripping doctors of their pay. See the Texas Lawbook story on this win Six Days Notice, Six Witnesses, Six Jurors, 150 ER Doctors, Two Ticked Off In-House Counsel and a $9.4M Verdict (subscription requited). It is in the 2020 Top 100 Verdicts as calculated by Verdict Search. It is was a 2020 Top 10 Verdict nationally.
Career
HONORS & DISTINCTIONS
Board Certified, Civil Trial Advocacy Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
Board Certified, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Leader in Texas General Commercial Litigation in the 2014- 2021 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Chambers USA Texas Trial Lawyers Spotlight honor 2021
The Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2022
National Elite Trial Law Firm 2021 Award Winner
2019 Nicholas J. Bouras Award for Extraordinary Archon Stewardship presented by the National Council of the Order of Saint Andrew
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America for 2021 with a focus on commercial litigation, intellectual property, and securities.
Litigation Counsel of America Senior Fellow including Trial Law Institute, Diversity Law Institute and Order of Justitia
Houston Bar Association Speakers Bureau Committee for the 2020-2021
Benchmark Litigation Star in 2016-2022
Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2021
Top 100 Texas Lawyers, 2011-2021
Top 100 Regional Business Litigators, 2007-2016
Who’s Who in American Law
Million Dollar Advocate Forum
Outstanding Lawyers of America, 2003 – present
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
Texas Bar Foundation Fellow
Who’s Who in Energy, 2011-2014
College of the State Bar of Texas, 2005
Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND CLE PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Zavitsanos’ authorship and presentations at seminars include:
Primary author of O’Connor’s Texas Rules * Civil Trials 2018-2021
“How to Command a Room: Impactful Presentations to Juries and Clients,” Houston Bar Association seminar, February 2022
“Strategies from Trial Titans: Trying a Case to the Modern Jury of the 2020s,” Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, September 2021
“Civil Case Update,” Texas Center for the Judiciary Spring Regional Conference, May 2021
“Live Jury Trials in the Time of Covid: Lessons from the Front Lines,” Litigation Counsel of America webinar, November 2020
“How the Pandemic is Impacting the Future of Jury Trials in Texas,” Texas Lawbook webinar, Houston, October 2020
“The Art of Business Litigation: A Conversation,” ALM’s Texas Business Litigation CLE presentation, Houston, March 2020
Contributing author of Texas Business Litigation 2019, published by Texas Lawyer
“The Art of Business Litigation,” University of Houston Law Center CLE, Houston, November 2019
“Opening Statements in David vs. Goliath,” America Bar Association, Litigation Section, New York City, May 2019
“Tactical Considerations in Business Trials,” Houston Bar Association, Litigation Section, Houston, April 2019
“Mining for Silver: Discovery Update,” 2019 HBA Civil/Appellate Bench Bar Conference, Houston, April 2019
“Voir Dire Panel Perspective – Effective Voir Dire and Opening,” Texas Bar CLE, Houston, October 2017
“Lies in Business and Under Oath” CLE course in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 2016
“Punitive Damages in Commercial Litigation: Pursuing and Defending Claims – Leveraging Pretrial Motions, Discovery and Trial Strategies, Navigating Constitutional Restraints” webinar, Strafford Publications Inc., April 2014
“Witness Credibility in Trial and Depositions,” Texas Lawyer’s In-House Counsel Summit, April 2014, November 2013, May 2012
“Witness Credibility at Depositions and Trial – Do’s and Don’ts,” State Bar of Texas – Texas Minority Counsel Program, 18th Annual Conference, September 2010
“Lessons Learned from Trying a Breach of Fiduciary Case,” Houston Bar Association, Litigation Section, December 2008
“Cross Examination,” University of Houston Law Foundation, Civil Litigation, February 2008
Credibility and Impeachment – University of Houston Law Foundation; Advanced Evidence and Discovery, November 2007
Witness Credibility – How To Prepare, Achieve, And Destroy It; Lorman Education Services, June 2006
Preparing Your Witness for Deposition and Trial, Houston Bar Association, March 2006
Types of Claims and Their Values, Houston Bar Association, September 2005
Preparing Your Witness for Deposition and Trial, Houston Bar Association, November 2004
Witness Credibility – How To Prepare, Achieve, And Destroy It, Lorman Education Services, September 2004
Credibility and Impeachment: Fundamentals of Direct and Cross- Examination, University of Houston Law Foundation – How to Offer and Exclude Evidence, September 2002
Preparing Your Witness for Deposition and Trial, University of Houston Law Foundation, June 2002
Punitive Damages – Phase II, University of Houston Law Center – Litigation and Trial Tactics, December 2000
Asserting, Contesting and Preserving Privileges Under the New Rules, University of Houston Law Foundation – Advanced Civil Discovery Under the New Rules, June 2000
Articles, highlights and press releases
67 items provided by Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing
AZA Co-founders Ahmad and Zavitsanos Named Lawdragon Leading Lawyers in America
Joe Ahmad and John Zavitsanos lamed leading lawyers in United States
Jury Refuses to Find Against Odessa Pumps; Awards It $2.4 Million
AZA's client was sued and the plaintiff took nothing but the AZA client was awarded $2.4 million in fees.
AZA Named for 12th Year to List of Best Law Firms
Clients praised AZA winning its 12th year on the Best Law Firm list.
Jury Awards AZA Client Mid Main $32.5 Million in Midtown Construction Case
Texas law firm AZA wins millions in counterclaims for client who was sued
Ten AZA Lawyers Make 2023 Super Lawyers List; Two are Top in Texas
Houston boutique trial firm AZA gets 10 lawyers on Texas Super Lawyers list.
Nine AZA Lawyers Named 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators
National list of leading litigators includes nine from AZA
Texas Lawyer Honors AZA on Watch List for Diversity and Appellate Practice
AZA was awarded both for its amazing new appellate practice and its firm diversity by the Texas legal media.
Twenty-Six AZA Lawyers Honored as Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch
Twenty-six AZA lawyers, more than half of all the attorneys in the litigation boutique, were honored in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the nation’s oldest peer review guide to leading lawyers.
Thirteen AZA Attorneys Earn Texas Rising Stars Honor
Younger lawyers at AZA continue to be recognized with awards
Texas jury returns nearly $9M verdict in conspiracy against energy giant
AZA won yet another jury trial. This was a trade secret theft case for an international energy sector giant.
Ten AZA Lawyers Ranked among US Best for Commercial, Intellectual Property, Appellate and Personal I
AZA's top lawyers once again recognized for their expertise by national award group in U.S.
AZA Represents Ben & Jerry’s in International Lawsuit Against British-based Parent Company
This famous confection company interviewed a lot of law firm and picked the trial lawyers at AZA for this international case.
Texas Lawyer Magazine Yet Again Names AZA Litigation Department of the Year
For the third time AZA is named best boutique sized litigation firm in Texas by the state legal news.
Vault’s 2023 Career Guide Puts AZA among Top Midsize Firms in U.S. & Top 4 in Texas
Once again AZA is rated as a great place to work by it's associates and it came in high on a national survey.
John Zavitsanos Named to Lawdragon’s 500 Top Plaintiff Financial Lawyers List
AZA's John Zavitsanos has been named yet again to a national list of the best trial U.S. lawyers.
AZA Wins for Healthcare Clients Earn Top Verdict Rankings in Texas, US
Once again AZA makes the national and state top verdict lists.
AZA Selected as a Finalist for National Elite Trial Law Firm 2022
The firm and lead lawyer John Zavitsanos were nationally honored as a best trial firm in the insurance category.
AZA’s John Zavitsanos Named National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Trailblazer
AZA co-founder John Zavitsanos wins another national award for his jury wins for emergency room doctors around the U.S..
Zavitsanos One of Law360’s 10 National ‘Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar’ for Groundbreaking Healthcare
AZA's co-founder John Zavitsanos is one of only 10 lawyers named nationally to this honor.
AZA Victorious in $62 Million Nationally Watched TeamHealth Trial Against Insurance Giant United Hea
AZA won a case for ER doctors that will alter the litigation landscape in their suits against insurers around the U.S. .
AZA Named to Best Law Firms List for 10th Year by US News – Best Lawyers
Our clients bragged about us so much AZA made the Best Law Firm list the 10th year in a row.
AZA and Three Name Partners Earn Honors in Benchmark Litigation’s 2022 Guide
The AZA firm and name partners Ahmad, Zavitsanos and Anaipakos all honored by Benchmark Litigation.
Ten AZA Lawyers Make Super Lawyers List; Four Rank among Top 100
AZA has 10 lawyers named among the best in Texas by the Super Lawyers group with the two co-founders both listed among the Top 100 lawyers in Texas and four total lawyers named among the Top 100 in Houston.
Three AZA Partners Make Lawdragon’s 500 Top Plaintiff Financial Lawyers List
AZA get recognized once again on a national list for excellence.
Twelve AZA Lawyers Ranked among US Best for Commercial, Intellectual Property, Personal Injury Litig
Best Lawyers showered 24 AZA lawyers with awards. 12 to partners and 12 more to up and coming partners and associates.
AZA’s John Zavitsanos Interviewed on national NPR radio about office opening during the pandemic
Our co-founder was featured on national radio talking about the firm opening and requring CoVid vaccines.
AZA Selected as a National Elite Trial Law Firm 2021 Award Winner
AZA was one of only 21 law firms honored nationally for practice area work by the National Law Journal as National Elite Trial Law Firms for 2021.
My Office Reopened at the Height of the Pandemic. We’ve Thrived.
The New York Times ran a guest essay by AZA's managing editor John Zavitsanos about how the law firm flourished in 2020.
Houston Jury Sends U.S. Insurance Companies a Strong Message on Behalf of Emergency Room Doctors
In a nationally watched case, in the first case in the nation to litigate emergency room physicians’ out-of-network pay from private insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act, AZA won big with a Houston area jury.
Houston-Area Lawyer Sanctioned $150,000 for Filing Groundless Lawsuit Against AZA Client
AZA client gets sued and winds up with equivalent of $450,000+ and defense lawyer and defendant sanctioned.
AZA Co-founders Ahmad and Zavitsanos Named Lawdragon Leading Lawyers in America
Joe Ahmad and John Zavitsanos lamed leading lawyers in United States
Jury Refuses to Find Against Odessa Pumps; Awards It $2.4 Million
AZA's client was sued and the plaintiff took nothing but the AZA client was awarded $2.4 million in fees.
AZA Named for 12th Year to List of Best Law Firms
Clients praised AZA winning its 12th year on the Best Law Firm list.
Jury Awards AZA Client Mid Main $32.5 Million in Midtown Construction Case
Texas law firm AZA wins millions in counterclaims for client who was sued
Ten AZA Lawyers Make 2023 Super Lawyers List; Two are Top in Texas
Houston boutique trial firm AZA gets 10 lawyers on Texas Super Lawyers list.
Nine AZA Lawyers Named 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators
National list of leading litigators includes nine from AZA
Texas Lawyer Honors AZA on Watch List for Diversity and Appellate Practice
AZA was awarded both for its amazing new appellate practice and its firm diversity by the Texas legal media.
Twenty-Six AZA Lawyers Honored as Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch
Twenty-six AZA lawyers, more than half of all the attorneys in the litigation boutique, were honored in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the nation’s oldest peer review guide to leading lawyers.
Thirteen AZA Attorneys Earn Texas Rising Stars Honor
Younger lawyers at AZA continue to be recognized with awards
Texas jury returns nearly $9M verdict in conspiracy against energy giant
AZA won yet another jury trial. This was a trade secret theft case for an international energy sector giant.
Ten AZA Lawyers Ranked among US Best for Commercial, Intellectual Property, Appellate and Personal I
AZA's top lawyers once again recognized for their expertise by national award group in U.S.
AZA Represents Ben & Jerry’s in International Lawsuit Against British-based Parent Company
This famous confection company interviewed a lot of law firm and picked the trial lawyers at AZA for this international case.
Texas Lawyer Magazine Yet Again Names AZA Litigation Department of the Year
For the third time AZA is named best boutique sized litigation firm in Texas by the state legal news.
Vault’s 2023 Career Guide Puts AZA among Top Midsize Firms in U.S. & Top 4 in Texas
Once again AZA is rated as a great place to work by it's associates and it came in high on a national survey.
John Zavitsanos Named to Lawdragon’s 500 Top Plaintiff Financial Lawyers List
AZA's John Zavitsanos has been named yet again to a national list of the best trial U.S. lawyers.
AZA Wins for Healthcare Clients Earn Top Verdict Rankings in Texas, US
Once again AZA makes the national and state top verdict lists.
AZA Selected as a Finalist for National Elite Trial Law Firm 2022
The firm and lead lawyer John Zavitsanos were nationally honored as a best trial firm in the insurance category.
AZA’s John Zavitsanos Named National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Trailblazer
AZA co-founder John Zavitsanos wins another national award for his jury wins for emergency room doctors around the U.S..
Zavitsanos One of Law360’s 10 National ‘Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar’ for Groundbreaking Healthcare
AZA's co-founder John Zavitsanos is one of only 10 lawyers named nationally to this honor.
AZA Victorious in $62 Million Nationally Watched TeamHealth Trial Against Insurance Giant United Hea
AZA won a case for ER doctors that will alter the litigation landscape in their suits against insurers around the U.S. .
AZA Named to Best Law Firms List for 10th Year by US News – Best Lawyers
Our clients bragged about us so much AZA made the Best Law Firm list the 10th year in a row.
AZA and Three Name Partners Earn Honors in Benchmark Litigation’s 2022 Guide
The AZA firm and name partners Ahmad, Zavitsanos and Anaipakos all honored by Benchmark Litigation.
Ten AZA Lawyers Make Super Lawyers List; Four Rank among Top 100
AZA has 10 lawyers named among the best in Texas by the Super Lawyers group with the two co-founders both listed among the Top 100 lawyers in Texas and four total lawyers named among the Top 100 in Houston.
Three AZA Partners Make Lawdragon’s 500 Top Plaintiff Financial Lawyers List
AZA get recognized once again on a national list for excellence.
Twelve AZA Lawyers Ranked among US Best for Commercial, Intellectual Property, Personal Injury Litig
Best Lawyers showered 24 AZA lawyers with awards. 12 to partners and 12 more to up and coming partners and associates.
AZA’s John Zavitsanos Interviewed on national NPR radio about office opening during the pandemic
Our co-founder was featured on national radio talking about the firm opening and requring CoVid vaccines.
AZA Selected as a National Elite Trial Law Firm 2021 Award Winner
AZA was one of only 21 law firms honored nationally for practice area work by the National Law Journal as National Elite Trial Law Firms for 2021.
My Office Reopened at the Height of the Pandemic. We’ve Thrived.
The New York Times ran a guest essay by AZA's managing editor John Zavitsanos about how the law firm flourished in 2020.
Houston Jury Sends U.S. Insurance Companies a Strong Message on Behalf of Emergency Room Doctors
In a nationally watched case, in the first case in the nation to litigate emergency room physicians’ out-of-network pay from private insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act, AZA won big with a Houston area jury.
Houston-Area Lawyer Sanctioned $150,000 for Filing Groundless Lawsuit Against AZA Client
AZA client gets sued and winds up with equivalent of $450,000+ and defense lawyer and defendant sanctioned.