MCGINNIS LOCHRIDGE - Key Persons
Alejandra primarily specializes in litigation, with a particular emphasis on the oil and gas industry. She represents oil and gas exploration and production companies, royalty owners, and mineral owners in a variety of litigation matters. Prior to joining the Firm, Alejandra served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David Counts of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Midland/Odessa and Pecos Divisions. During this time, Alejandra managed half of the civil and criminal dockets, prepared orders on wide-ranging issues, and assisted in preparation for evidentiary hearings, jury selections, and trials. As a law clerk, Alejandra gained practical familiarity with the litigation process and a unique understanding of the judicial system.
Experience
The Honorable David Counts, U.S. District Judge - U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas - Judicial Law Clerk
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Law Clerk
Cokinos | Young, P.C. - Law Clerk
NuStar Energy L.P - Litigation & Regulatory Intern
The Honorable Xavier Rodriguez, U.S. District Judge - U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas - Judicial Intern
The Honorable Ignacio Torteya, III, U.S. Magistrate Judge - U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas - Judicial Intern
Andrew's practice focuses on civil litigation, including intellectual property, constitutional, product liability, and commercial disputes. He represents a diverse set of clients, including governmental entities, corporations, and individuals. Andrew offers his clients a broad perspective on litigation matters, having significant experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Andrew's experience spans state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels, arbitration, and administrative forums.
Andrew is an integral member of the McGinnis Lochridge Products Liability Group which was named the 2015 Product Liability Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer.
Experience
Intellectual Property
April is a trial attorney working for defendants and plaintiffs in complex civil litigation. Her litigation experience encompasses matters as diverse as oil and gas, contractual disputes, fraud, trade secrets, construction, leases, property law, mining, employment, collections, probate, trusts and estates, family disputes, and wrongful death and personal injury. She devotes a substantial portion of her practice to representing attorneys defending legal malpractice claims.
April represents clients in various dispute resolution processes before or in place of litigation, as well as throughout the trial, appeal and collection processes. She has used mediation frequently to reach successful resolutions in trust, probate and family dispute cases, as well as in commercial, contract, and other disputes. Where litigation is needed, she has served as first- and second-chair trial attorney in a variety of matters. In addition to trials, April's work includes preliminary matters such as temporary restraining orders, temporary injunctions and other emergency motions in trial and appellate courts. She has also arbitrated claims to conclusion, collecting on arbitration awards and judgments following trial and appeal.
April is a former briefing attorney for the Third Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas. She handles appeals, including motion practice, mandamus filings, briefing, and argument. She has worked on matters before the Supreme Court of Texas and Court of Appeals across the state and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Geographically, April primarily practices in Austin, Houston and the Dallas area, although much of her work has been in San Antonio, Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley and across South Texas.
April serves as General Counsel and Loss Prevention Partner for McGinnis Lochridge.
Experience
Professional Liability Litigation
April's experience in this area includes:
Representing large Texas firms and individual lawyers in lawsuits in federal, state and bankruptcy courts, defending against allegations of negligence, legal malpractice, fraud, misappropriation of funds, and breaches of duties to parties and court, and family law and property law matters.
Representing a large Texas firm regarding time-sensitive questions about ongoing legal advice to a client with immediate employment, contract, trade secret and intellectual property concerns.
Defending a large Texas firm and individual attorney in state court against claims of conspiracy and breach of fiduciary duty, in transactional representation and healthcare law work.
Defending an attorney and firm in state court against claims regarding breaches of duties of loyalty and care. The claims alleged multiple representations of a business entity and principals in real estate and business matters, and were settled before trial.
Representing an attorney defendant in a state court suit involving allegations of legal malpractice in connection with an administrative matter and dealings with a Texas agency.
Defending firm and attorneys in dismissing federal suits alleging fraud and civil rights violations.
Representing various defendants in removals of legal malpractice or breach of fiduciary duty claims and changes of venue to appropriate courts.
Defending attorneys and firms in response to written discovery, depositions, subpoenas, and trial testimony.
Work on the successful defenses of individual Texas attorneys in response to grievances filed, including work on preliminary stages, briefing, discovery disputes, and hearings.
Defending departing attorney against claims by firm, including addressing temporary restraining order and proceedings in multiple courts, and legal and ethical issues surrounding fee agreements, with successful negotiated resolution.
Representing firm in suit against departing attorneys concerning issues of firm property, billing, and fee agreements, and involving temporary restraining order, with successful mediated resolution.
Representing partner in law firm dissolution and related suit, with multiple temporary orders, to successful settlement.
Ashley's practice focuses on commercial litigation with an emphasis on onshore / offshore energy disputes and construction defect matters. Ashley represents both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state court.
Prior to joining the firm, Ashley's experience included defending healthcare facilities and providers in medical malpractice lawsuits and representing employers and carriers in federal workers' compensation claims under the Defense Base Act.
Job Titles:
- Prominent Austin Attorney
- Special Counsel / Austin
Ashton has practiced law for more than 30 years. His current primary practice includes employment law, including counseling, investigations and litigation, representing clients with matters before local governmental departments; and commercial litigation.
In 2018, Ashton returned to McGinnis, where he was a partner and led the employment law practice group, and also handled commercial litigation matters. His diverse clients have ranged from fortune 100 companies, technology, educational, health and wellness, and utility companies.
Ashton's employment law practice has included counsel and litigation about state and federal employment statutes, including the Texas Commission of Human Rights Act, Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act. He has advised employers on noncompete covenants, unemployment insurance, and wage and hour issues; and investigated allegations of employee misconduct.
During his leave from McGinnis Lochridge, Ashton served the Central Texas region in several capacities. He was Police Monitor for the City, provided impartial to oversight of APD's conduct, practices, policies; and internal investigations; and enhance earned trust between Austin Police Department and the community. He was also an executive at Ascension Health (fka the Seton Healthcare Family), where he focused on advocacy and community engagement. Most recently he served as a Policy Advisor for Austin Mayor Steve Adler, where, among other things, he co-led initiatives focused on equitable and holistic development, such as mixed-income housing, education, health and wellness, and public safety, in Austin's historically underserved region; and the Mayor's Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities. Prior to his original stint at McGinnis Lochridge, Ashton was Chief of the Trial Division for the Travis County District Attorney's Office.
Ashton's contributions to the well-being of the Central Texas region have been widely recognized. He has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions, including Austin Bar Association's Distinguished Lawyer Award, the Austin Black Lawyers' Association Legacy Award, First Tee of Austin's Judgment Award, the University of Texas at Austin Dr. James Hill Leadership Award, the American Heart Association Power Award, the AISD Charles Akins Award, the University of Texas Thurgood Legal Society's Distinguished Alumni Award, the Austin NAACP Outstanding Service Award, City of Austin Distinguished Service Award, and the Austin Metropolitan YMCA Will W. Miller Volunteer Leadership Award. Examples of his servant leadership include service as President of the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, Executive Board of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; steering committee for the creation of the Austin/Travis County Sobering Center, and Co-Chair of the AISD Bond Oversight Committee.
Ashton's service to the Central Texas community continues. Currently, Ashton is the Executive Pastor at Agape Christian Ministries, a member and past president of AARO; a board member of HousingWorks Austin and E3 Alliance, and a member of the University of Texas Dell Medical School's Admissions Committee.
Ashton has co-founded Equidad ATX, a nonprofit with the mission of creating sustainable neighborhood revitalization in Austin; and is working with Leadership Austin to co-convene Pacific Education Group's Beyond Diversity - Courageous Conversations About Race seminars for community members and industry leaders, including members of the legal profession.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Partner / Houston
Austin Brister represents oil and gas operators, non-operators, and mineral owners in oil and gas disputes. Austin has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courtrooms across Texas, including courts in South Texas, West Texas, East Texas, and Central Texas. Austin seeks out creative and practical business solutions before resorting to litigation. But, when necessary, Austin works hard to implement aggressive strategies in the courthouse.
Austin has successfully handled disputes concerning mineral and leasehold title, adverse possession, surface trespass and damages, royalty calculation and payment issues, issues arising out of purchase and sale transactions, operator/non-operator disputes, breach of joint operating agreement, lease termination/saving disputes, and retained acreage disputes. Austin has taken and defended depositions of witnesses ranging from expert witnesses, chief operating officers, lawyers, engineers, drilling rig operators, and equipment operators.
Austin is an active member of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, where he currently serves as a Trustee-At Large, Co-Chair of the Oil and Gas and Landman's sections for the Annual Institute, and on the Foundation's Programs Committee. Austin is also on the Advisory Board for the Institute for Energy Law. Austin frequently publishes articles and gives presentations on upstream oil and gas law. In recent years, he has published several articles within the Texas State Bar OGERL Section Report, authored multiple articles and gave presentations for Annual Institutes and other programs for the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, authored and presented a paper for the Louisiana Mineral Law Institute, co-authored papers for the Institute for Energy Law, and published articles within AAPL's Landman Magazine.
Austin is a member of the firm's General Litigation practice group. His practice focuses on resolving disputes of all kinds on behalf of individuals, companies, and governmental entities in state and federal courts. Austin has handled disputes across a variety of industries, including construction, oil and gas, insurance, healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, and technology. From drafting critical motions to trial advocacy to appeals, Austin is comfortable in all phases of litigation.
Each and every dispute is different, and Austin knows this. As a result, he does not employ a one-size-fits-all approach to litigation. At the outset of each matter, Austin works with his clients to identify key objectives and develop a pragmatic and cost-effective litigation strategy. With a plan in place, Austin takes action on behalf of his clients, and continues working (both in and out of the courtroom) until a resolution is reached.
In addition to his litigation practice, Austin has significant experience representing clients before state and federal administrative agencies - including the Public Utility Commission, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, the Texas State Securities Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
More than anything, Austin enjoys representing local companies and is proud to be part of a firm that has served the city for more than 95 years.
Austin is a native Texan and has called Austin home for the majorty of his life. Austin is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a cum laude graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law. Prior to joining the firm, Austin worked for another Texas-based firm where he maintained a diverse litigation and administrative practice. Prior to law school, Austin worked for the non-profit Young Life in Dorado, Puerto Rico.
Experience
State Court
Job Titles:
- Board of Directors, Legal Counsel, Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board Member
Bill has broad experience with governmental entities, school boards, business associations and companies in many different industries. He has served as general counsel to a statewide professional organization of dentists and to a regional passenger rail district. Bill counsels school and education-based clients on a wide variety of matters and has served as the primary lawyer for both a major school district and a major community college for more than 10 years.
For more than 50 years, Bill has helped clients work with all areas of city and county government regarding a wide variety of municipal corporation and zoning matters. He is highly experienced in the organization, governance, financing and acquisition of all types of corporate, partnership and nonprofit entities. Bill has represented municipal authorities in the issuance of bonds and other debt. He has assisted clients in the development of new telecommunications networks and services, involving extensive regulatory and statutory concerns. Bill has also represented numerous clients involved in major commercial and residential real estate projects in matters ranging from providing financing and obtaining approvals all the way to acquisition construction and sales.
Experience
In more than five decades of law practice, Bill has acquired a wealth of experience which includes:
Job Titles:
- Special Counsel / McAllen
Job Titles:
- of Counsel / Attorney Development & Recruiting Manager / Austin
Stacy started her employment law journey at McGinnis Lochridge as a Summer Associate in May of 2022. She worked on various employment law matters, such as researching various employment law issues, drafting memoranda and severance agreements, and preparing training presentations. Stacy also externed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, in which she performed legal research and analysis for various bankruptcy issues, including an automatic stay, a turnover, and evidentiary matters. In addition, she has experience in criminal law, including discovery review, preparing memoranda on various criminal law issues, and drafting motions to set bond.
Outside of the law, Stacy enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading a good book, baking, and playing video games.